NovelEnglishChapter 174
Ella
| hadn't realized how much I'd missed spending one-on-one twith Liam until we were sitting across from
each other at a divey sports bar downtown, sharing a plate of chips and dip while a group of rather rowdy men in
soccer jerseys cheered around a television at the bar.
“You look incredible,” he said, gesturing atwith a tortilla chip topped with chunky salsa. He popped the chip
into his mouth and spoke around it. “Seriously, Ella. There's something different about you.”
| touched my face self-consciously. “It’s just the pregnancy glow everyone talks about. Dr. Evelyn says it's
perfectly normal.”
“No, it's more than that.” Liam leaned back in his chair, studyingwith those perceptive eyes of his.” You're...
I don’t know how to explain it. You seem genuinely happy. Like, actually happy, not just putting on a show for the
cameras.”
The observation caughtoff guard. Was | that transparent? | picked at the appetizer, trying to think of how to
respond.
“Things have been good lately,” | admitted after a few moments. “The morning sickness is awful, but everything
else... Alexander and I have found a rhythm that works.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“A rhythm.” Liam raised an eyebrow. “Is that what we're calling it now?”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“Ella, I've seen you two together at the campaign events. The way he looks at you, the way you lean into him
when you think no one’s watching...” He shrugged. “You both seem happy.”
My cheeks heated up immediately. “We're just getting along better these days. For the baby’s sake.”
“Right. For the baby.”
| took a sip of my virgin daiquiri, trying to cool the flush that was spreading down my neck. The truth was, | had
been happy lately. Happier than I'd been in... well, maybe ever.
But acknowledging that felt dangerous, like I might jinx whatever fragile thing Alexander and | had built
between us.
“He askedsomething the other day,” | found myself saying before | could stop myself.
“Oh?”
“He wanted to know what | would do if there was no contract between us.” The words tumbled out of my mouth
in a rush. “What | would choose if there was no arrangement, no agreement about the election or anything else.”
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Chapter 174
+15 BONUS
Liam set down his drink very carefully. “And what did you tell him?”
“I didn’t get the chance to answer. Gabriel interrupted before | could say anything.” | fidgeted with my napkin.
“But sometimes | wonder if... if maybe he’s thinking about ending the contract. About us just being together as a
real family.”
“And how would you feel about that?”
| was quiet for a long moment, staring down at the cracked vinyl tabletop. “I don’t know,” | finally admitted. “I
mean, | want to hope, but | don’t want to give myself false hope, you know? What if I'm reading too much into
everything? What if he’s just being nice because I'm carrying his child?”
Liam sighed. “Ella, can | say something that might be hard to hear?”
“I know you well enough to know that you'd say it even if | said no,” | laughed wryly.
“You shouldn't let your goals change too much just because of a baby.” He folded his arms. “If Alexander is never
truly going to love you in a romantic way, you still need to think about yourself and what you
want.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Did you have a bucket list when you were sick?” Liam asked.
The question made my chest tighten more than | expected. I'd been so caught up in the excitement of
everything lately that I'd nearly forgotten all about the months I'd spent thinking | would die.
All at once, a wave of memories washed over me. Thoughts of traveling. Running away to the coast. Drinking in
bars. Dancing with handsmen.
©
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