Page 70 of Begin Again, Part 1

"I didn't think you were," Eden replied. "I don't want to come back here again."

"I'm afraid that's not an option," he said, his mouth curling into a small smile.

The elevator doors dinged open before she could say anything else. Liam stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked ahead, not pausing to check if she was following him.

They were greeted by the warm afternoon sunshine outside, and Eden had an uncontrollable urge to go for a walk. She felt bruised and bloody—two emotions she never wanted to feel again after Simon. The circumstances of her breakup and whatever this was between her and Liam were very different. But the sound of her heart-shattering in her chest was the same. She needed a minute, a second, an hour, anything, to be alone with her heartbreak and pick up the shattered remains of her heart. She needed a moment to stitch herself together again.

Yes, a walk would do her a lot of good.

"Mr Anderson," Eden said from behind him, blinking away her tears.

"What is it?" Liam asked, his focus on his Rolex as he checked the time.

"I'll walk back to the office. It's not far from here."

He held the passenger door for her. "Why? The car's already here."

"I need a minute," she whispered, praying he wouldn't ask too many questions and let her go without a fuss.

But he didn't. "For what?"

"It's such a nice day," she smiled, squinting at the sky, her vision blurred by the sunrays and her tears. "It's a good day for a walk."

And to get over you, she added silently.

Liam stared at her for the longest minute of her life, a multitude of emotions flitting across his face, before he took off his blazer and tie and threw them in the back seat and closed the door.

"Okay, let's go."

"No." Eden stepped back from him. This was her walk. Her time. Her sanity. She didn't want company. "I want to be alone."

"Eden—"

She inched away, her heart aching anew at the sound of her name on his lips. It was the first time he'd ever said her name. Up until now, it was always Ms McBride or Princess. It was nice hearing it from his lips. She just wished it wasn't the same mouth that had lashed out at her.

She carried on. "You must have a lot of meetings. You should head back to the office."

"Eden—" Liam said again, but she ignored him. She didn't want to hear his pleas or see the look of regret in his eyes.

"Besides, your security detail won't allow you to walk."

"I don't give a shit about the security," he growled and took a step towards her.

Eden held up her hands, her lower lip trembling as her shoulders sagged. "I really need a minute."

This time she couldn't stop the waterworks. She spun on her heel and stumbled on the cobblestone path, her glasses foggy from her tears.

It took her several minutes to realise that the broken sobs came from her, and the pitiful stares she saw all over the sidewalk were meant for her.

"Oh, God!" she said as she held on to a streetlamp and tapped her heart, wishing it would stop aching.

She was such an idiot for coming back to Rock Castle with stars in her eyes and naive hope that there might be a chance. Not for her and Liam. But for Aiden to at least know his father.

She was devastated for her son. One stupid decision had robbed him of a chance to have a relationship with his father.

As much as she wanted to blame Liam for their complicated relationship, it was as much her fault as his. If she'd told him the truth from the beginning, maybe he wouldn't hate her so much. Now they were both too far gone in a hell of her own making, and the only way to go was forward.

"Miss, are you okay?" A kindly older gentleman stood beside her. Eden nodded, but her tears continued to flow, her narrow shoulders quivering.

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