Begin Again novel Chapter 157

James was still there, pacing the length of the room when he returned to his office.

Relief and something Liam could only read as pity flooded the other man's face when he saw him.

"Mr Anderson, are you okay?"

Liam waved him off and stalked his way to the bar. Clara's espresso wasn't going to cut it anymore. He needed something stronger.

"Can I pour you a shot?" He turned slightly from the bar to look at James.

The other man shook his head and pointed at his wristwatch. He was still on the clock and didn't like to drink on the job.

"More for me, I guess," Liam said, deciding to forego a glass and drink straight from the bottle. He took it back to his seat and pulled out the photos from the envelope.

For the second time in the space of a few minutes, he thought his heart would give out on him as he stared at his son.

He laughed sadly when he remembered what Eden once said about Aiden looking like his father.

She wasn't lying.

There were no traces of her on their son's face. It was almost as if he had truly made him all by himself. Looking at Aiden was like staring at his own baby photos when he was that age.

"He's adorable, Sir," James cleared his throat, breaking through his thoughts.

"Like his mom," Liam smiled and turned to gaze forlornly at the view beyond the window.

Everything looked the same, but a lot had changed. Things that mattered a few hours ago meant nothing to him now.

He was a father.

He had a beautiful twenty-month-old son who looked just like him with a woman he had hated with a passion until recently.

How did he even begin to make up for the hell he put Eden through over the past few months? Where did he even start to make up for his actions—

His head of security crossed the room and poured himself a shot before he sat on the couch.

"She gave me so many hints along the way," Liam carried on and took a long swig from the bottle. "She tried to make me see the truth, but I was so hellbent on hating her, I couldn't read between the lines."

"You couldn't have known," James tried to console him.

"No!" Liam roared. "I should have known. I should have figured it out from the start. When Eden came for her orientation, she told me she'd never regret the night she spent with me because I gave her the best gift. How could I not have figured it out? How did I not see she's talking about our son—"

His office phone rang, easing some of the tension in the room.

Liam knew it was Clara calling to remind him about his 3:00 PM meeting. But he picked up anyway and assured her he hadn't forgotten about the pitch with Lydia Edwards' handlers.

He hung up and turned back to the other man. "This stays between us. You cannot tell anyone about this, especially my parents and sisters. Things with Eden are complicated right now. As you're well aware, we're still dealing with the shit from Fashion Week. She's very impulsive, and if she feels threatened or frightened or pressured in any way, she'll run. And I can't have that, James. I want to keep them both close to me."

"Of course, Mr Anderson."