Page 55 of Begin Again, Part 2

"I suspected it!" he bellowed. "Suspecting and knowing are remarkably different things, Linda!"

"Why are you so angry with Eden?"

Her question caught him off guard. He blinked at her as he struggled to articulate himself. Linda had all the time in the world. She'd wait.

Another five minutes passed in silence, occasionally shattered by the screeching cars splashing rainwater on the pavement as they sped by five stories below.

"She doesn't trust me," Liam said, breaking the stillness in the room. "That's why I'm so angry. She should have told me when she first found out she was pregnant. Even if I didn't want children back then, it would have been nice to be given a choice. And she should have told me when she came back. I would have been okay with it."

"If she'd told you three months ago, would you have accepted the truth? You hated her, and you couldn't stand being in the same room with her."

"That's not true—" He shook his head, trying to deny the bitterness he'd held on to for two years.

But Linda had saved all the receipts. She got up, looked through one of the filing cabinets behind her desk, and returned with a stack of notebooks.

There were three in total, much to Liam's dismay. Three notebooks in two years. That was a lot of venting.

She pushed the journals in his direction. "All your rage and hate for Eden are in there. Look for yourself if you don't believe me."

He pushed them back at her, refusing to look. "Why are you showing me this?"

"She didn't tell you because she knew you hated her, and co-parenting with you would have been impossible," Linda said as she picked up the new journal and scribbled something.

"It doesn't excuse her actions two years ago!"

"You can't get a free pass for your actions, Liam." She smiled and sipped her drink. She was going easy on it, and he'd already finished his third. It was a good thing she was his therapist and not his drinking buddy. She was a terrible drinker.

"What are you saying?" he asked as he stood up and paced the room. He didn't brave the rain and drive in terrible weather to be reminded of his shitty actions. He came to vent. And he paid Linda to hear his side. But so far, she seemed to be firmly on Eden's, and he couldn't understand why. Was he the only one who had an issue with betrayal and deception? Was he wrong for feeling disappointed and—

"Even when you hated her, Eden still stayed," Linda said, breaking through his inner turmoil. "When you lashed out at her, she took it and treated you with kindness, grace, and humility because she knew one day you'll find out about Aiden, and you'll have to co-parent your son. She stayed because she wanted to help you. She put your needs and your mental well-being above hers."

Liam collapsed on the sofa at her words, and the pain in his heart was back. He closed his eyes and blinked back his tears as he swallowed hard.

"I love her," he admitted. "I love her so much it terrifies me, Linda. But I don't think I can forgive her for what she did. I don't think I can ever trust her after this. How does she hide a whole human being? Who does that?"

"She forgave all your screwups. Perhaps you need to show her the kindness, grace, and humility she afforded you."

"How do I do that?"

"Give yourself time and give Eden time."

Time? Liam scoffed. Time was what he lost with his son. How much more time did he have to give Eden? Another two years?

He stood up and fixed his jacket. "I have to go. Thanks for the chat."

"No assignment this week?" Linda asked from her seat, she wasn't planning to see him out, and he was okay with that. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts and feelings.

"Your assignment this week, Linda," he smiled, but for the first time in two years, it didn't reach his eyes. "Get better whiskey. I can't drink this shit!"

"Says the man who had three shots," she returned the smile and shooed him off. "Remember, Liam, this week's keywords—grace and humility."

Liam nodded, even though he wasn't planning to reflect on them. Screw grace and humility. He wanted Eden's blood. But he wanted her love too. Maybe, more than her blood. Since he couldn't have either at the moment, he might as well make money. A billion, or six, wouldn't hurt. So he returned Clara's call, and his assistant brought him up to speed on the LUSSO deal. Their legal department finally sent through the amended contract. They were now waiting for Randolph and his team.

"Great job, Clara," he told his assistant.

"Thank you, Mr Anderson."

When he heard the smile in her voice, Liam couldn't help but be grateful for Gibby's foresight. If she hadn't hired Clara, he'd be in a pickle now with the way things were with Eden.

---