Page 10 of Begin Again, Part 2

"Don't say it!" The other three warned her this time.

"Fine! But look at him. They look the same!" Brenda insisted as she crossed her arms defensively over her ample bosom. "Anyone with eyes can see they're related."

"So he didn't meet Aiden?" Eden wanted to make sure she could still salvage this hot mess of a situation. Judging from the heavy stench of alcohol reeking from Liam, he'd drunk a whole distillery, and the likelihood of him remembering any of this was slim. But she couldn't take any chances. Not when she didn't know the levels of his memory recall.

"No, the little one hasn't stirred since I tucked him in for the night."

"Good!" Eden said, a wave of relief and joy rushing through her body with such force it left her swaying on her feet. If she played her cards right, Liam would leave her place none the wiser.

"Thanks, Brenda. I'll handle it from here," she added, dismissing her for the night.

"Are you sure?" The nanny asked, her plump face tight with uncertainty.

"Dead sure," Eden replied as they made their way to Brenda's room, where she spent a few minutes watching Aiden sleep in his crib. She couldn't believe both father and son were under the same roof, mere metres from each other. She leaned over the cot and kissed him on the forehead, her heart bursting with love and calmness she hadn't felt the whole day as she brushed his hair away from his face.

"Why doesn't Mr Anderson know about Aiden?" Brenda asked as she sat on the edge of the bed and watched them. "It's obvious he cares deeply for you."

No, Eden thought sadly, he wants to fuck me, that's all. But she didn't tell Brenda this. Instead, still gazing at her son with love and pride so intense, she thought her heart would shatter into a million pieces in her chest from being so full, she said, "it's complicated."

"Maybe you're complicating it," Brenda reasoned. "It's 10:00 PM, and Aiden's father came here, drunk as a skunk. He kept ranting about his house being empty, and he wanted to be home."

"This is not his home!" Eden glared at her, her irritation rising to the max, unable to understand why she was suddenly Liam's spokesperson.

"Home is where the heart is," Brenda carried on as she took off her robe and slipped under the covers.

She wasn't much older than her, but she had a maturity and wisdom that sometimes made Eden believe she was truly an old soul trapped in a young woman's body.

"His heart is here. This is home."

"No." Eden shook her head. "It's complicated. We hooked up once. I fell pregnant and ran off to the Blue Mountains when I thought he was married. Long story short, Liam's made it clear he doesn't want kids, especially with me. Aiden will only complicate his life. But I plan to tell him once I've finalised the custody agreement."

"I understand." Brenda nodded. "But the truth tends to come out in the most surprising ways, and when we least expect it. Nothing stays hidden forever."

"Thanks for today," Eden said, ignoring her words of doom. She didn't need anyone to tell her she was living on borrowed time. The longer she stayed close to Liam, the more she ran the risk of him finding out about Aiden.

"Good night," she said as she turned off the light and slipped out. Clearly disappointed with her poor life choices, Brenda barely acknowledged her.

Eden returned to the living with newfound energy and conviction. If she wanted all their lives to continue uninterrupted, she had to act fast and get rid of Liam. But one look at her friends still huddled around him like they were performing some ritual or holding a seance told her it would be easier said than done.

Crouching on the floor, her elbows on the edge of the couch, her hands on her chin, Lydia had a front-row seat to all of Liam's hotness.

"Can't we keep him?" she asked.

"He's not a puppy!" Eden snapped. "He has a mansion and penthouse he needs to return to. Wake him up right now."

"No," Sienna refused. "You can't disturb his Royal Hotness while he's resting. Look at how handsome he is when he's asleep. Tell me you're not tempted to keep him."

Of course, Eden was. She wanted nothing more than to snuggle up to Liam and nestle in his arms. But she was still hurt over how he went radio silent for almost a month. He couldn't just come and go as he pleased. Her house was not a home for cowards, and he had proven he was a coward when he chose to run instead of letting her in after their disastrous encounter in his office.

Chapter

Four

CAME TO YOU FOR A REASON

Eden snatched her phone from the kitchen counter and called Clara.

"What's going on?" Liam's assistant sounded sleepy and confused. Not surprising, since most people were usually at this time of the night.

---