Chapter 176

“That brat!” Olivier Horvath harshly placed his phone on the table. He leaned back and loosened his tie. “This is my fault,” he said, rubbing his face. “He hates me. He’s hated me since he was a boy.”

Margarette sat on the couch, legs crossed, arms folded. “You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “Liam was spoiled by your father. That’s all.”

He remained silent. Margarette had been with him when he called Liam and heard Isabella’s words.

“He only listens to Philip,” she continued. “It’s always been that way. Your father never disciplines him; he lets it slide. But with Eli…”

She paused, her lips trembling. “He’s so cold to Eli. It’s like he doesn’t even see him. That child has done nothing wrong. My poor Eli.”

She covered her face. “It’s not fair. Why blame a child for the past?”

Olivier slammed his hand on the table. The sound echoed. “I’ll talk to him myself.”

Margarette shook her head and stood. “Don’t. It’ll only make it worse.”

“He can’t talk to me like that.”

“Showing up now won't fix anything. He’ll push you away. And it seemed like he dotes on Isabella… perhaps this was her way of protecting him.”

Olivier remained standing. Margarette wiped her eyes. “Maybe I’ll talk to him, or Isabella Rossi. He seems close to her.”

“What about her?” He recalled her answering his phone. As far as he knew, Isabella grew up with Liam.

“I don’t know. They looked comfortable. Do you think they married?” She walked toward the hallway, then turned back. “I’ve never seen him act like that before.”

Olivier’s jaw tightened. “He wouldn’t marry someone without telling me. I’m still his father.”

Margarette didn’t answer. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.

Olivier took a deep breath. “Get ready. We’re going to the old house for dinner with Father.”

Margarette opened her mouth to protest, then closed it.

“You’re not even going to ask me about my father?” Liam asked, slicing apples in the kitchen.

Izzy didn’t look up from her book. Curled on the couch, her legs rested comfortably on Liam’s lap, a blanket tucked around her. She looked content.

“You’ll tell me when you’re ready,” she said, turning a page.

Liam smirked, placed the apple slices on a plate, and handed them to her silently.

Chapter 176 (continued)

“You know,” he said, settling to support her legs, “your idea of a Saturday like this is actually really good.”

Izzy smiled and took the plate. “Thank you for the apples.”

She took a bite. “Now that I only have a week until I’m jobless, I figured I should get used to this lifestyle.”

Liam leaned back, watching her eat.

“Are we having dinner at Grandfather’s tonight?” she asked, setting the plate down.

Liam looked at her. “You already told my father we’re not going.”

“Is that what you want too?” she asked, facing him.

He paused. “I’d rather spend the weekend with you. But if you’d rather go, I won’t stop you.”

Izzy kept her eyes on him, waiting.

“Then no,” she said. “I’d rather stay here. With you.” She settled deeper into the cushions. “We can go tomorrow or Sunday.”

Liam nodded. “That’s fine.”

He reached under the blanket and began massaging her legs. She closed her eyes and let him continue. The room was quiet, except for the occasional page turn or the heater’s hum.

Izzy placed her book on her chest. “I might not hate being jobless as much as I thought,” she muttered.

Liam remained silent, focused on her legs. Then he said, “My father… never liked me.”

Izzy raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“He said I looked too much like my mother.”

Izzy looked surprised. Liam looked like his mother?

“I do look like her. My mother was beautiful.” Liam smiled. “I grew up with my grandfather and yours. My father was in Europe most of the time. He’d stay for months, sometimes missing holidays and birthdays,” he said.

Liam leaned back, one arm draped over the cushion. He looked at the ceiling before speaking again.

“When I was younger, I used to wait for him to come home on my birthday.”

Izzy remained still, watching him.

“I’d get gifts. Watches. Gadgets. One year, he sent a signed jersey from a team I didn’t even like. But he never showed up.” Liam exhaled. “At first, I was happy. I thought maybe something came up. Maybe next time.”

Izzy pulled the blanket higher, watching him.

“Then I stopped expecting anything. I’d open whatever was delivered, say thank you, and that was it. It became routine.”

He paused; his hand rested on her shin.

“And then he had another son,” Liam continued. “I was older, but I remember wondering if that kid looked like him. Maybe that’s why he spent more time with him.”

Izzy’s expression didn’t change. She offered him another apple slice.

Liam took it and bit into it silently.

“I don’t think like that anymore,” he said after a moment. “Now, I just don’t care.”

Izzy looked at her legs, then at his hand.

“You still waited, though,” she said.

“Yeah,” Liam nodded. “I did.” He smiled. “But those things are remnants of the past,” he leaned closer, his face inches from hers.

He looked at her, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“But you’re here now,” he said. “And I’d rather spend a quiet weekend with you than wait for anyone else.”

Izzy met his gaze. She didn’t speak, but didn’t look away.

Liam’s thumb brushed her cheek. “I don’t need anything else. Just this. You and me, like this… it’s enough.”