Our lips were just an inch away when "Dad, Mommy."

Instantly my eyes opened. I looked from where the voice came to see Ryan standing at the kitchen door. Liam left my waist, I moved away from him, clearing his throat.

"Sorry to disturb both of you." Ryan said shyly.

I looked down embarrassed.

Shit! What was I doing? Kissing the devil. What's wrong with me?

"No. I-It's okay. Come inside. I have made something for you." Liam said avoiding eye contact with me.

"What?" Ryan asked excitedly.

Wait, he made? He just ruined everything.

"No. Ryan wait." I said stopping him from going to the cupcakes. "I'll just do the icing then you can have it. Your Dad has just ruined everything."

I glared at Liam. He glared back at me.

"See this cupcake looks perfect. Ryan see it yourself." Liam said looking at the cupcake.

"Perfect? Liam, this cupcake looks dead. Look how you have done the icing."

Ryan started laughing. Me and Liam we both turned to him in confusion. Maria too came into the kitchen, at first she was shocked looking at me and Liam then she too started laughing. Ryan sat on the stool while laughing holding his stomach.

"What's so funny?" Liam asked.

"D-Dad you both look so funny with cream all over your faces." Ryan said trying his best to not laugh.

I looked at Liam and he looked at me more like glared at me.

"I'll just finish the icing then I'll get cleaned up." I said then I stop when I saw Liam was about to say something "And I don't need your help." I said quickly so that he doesn't 'care' anymore for me.

Because of his 'care' my three cupcakes got wasted.

"I was saying that I'll go and get cleaned. I am not interested in helping ungrateful people." Liam said again with a glare and left the kitchen.

Ungrateful? Did he just call me that?

Well, you can't deny that. You are ungrateful.

Shut up. Stupid consy.

"Bloody Devil Parker." I mumbled.

When my eyes fell on Ryan he was pressing his lips tightly, trying not to laugh. I glared at him, he giggled and ran from the kitchen.

"UGH!! Everyone here is irritating." My eyes then landed on the mess that was created in the kitchen. I sighed. "I have so much work to do."

I then went back to my cupcake making.

When I was done cleaning the kitchen and making the cupcakes, I went up to the room to get cleaned up. When I came down I saw both Ryan and Liam sitting on the stool in the kitchen and enjoying the cupcakes. I went to both of them, and they just ignored me. Both of them kept eating the cupcakes happily.

"Mmm... Dad this is so good." Ryan said while moaning.

Huh! Of course, it is. After all I have made it.

I smirked internally.

"Of course, it is. After all I have made it." Liam said taking another cupcake in his hand.

Wait. What? Are you kidding me right now? I have made it.

I marched towards him and stood beside the stool, in which he was sitting "I have made them not you."

Liam just ignored me and kept eating. "Liam, I am talking to you."

Ignored.

"Liam, you are lying to him."

Ignored.

Ryan started giggling.

I glared at Liam, but he didn't look at me even once. "Fine, keep ignoring me. I don't give a f-" Liam didn't let me complete my sentence and pulled me by my waist, my eyes widened. He smirked looking at my shocked face, then he stuffed the whole cupcake that was in his hand in my mouth.

"Rule no. 7 Bella, remember."

I nodded quickly.

"Good. Now continue what you were saying?"

I was saying that I don't give a fuck about it. But if I say that you are going to punish me. So Bella, darling be quiet.

I shook my head and focused on gulping the whole cupcake that he stuffed in my mouth. Liam smirked and took another cupcake and started eating, I glared at him and as usual he just ignored me.

I was done with the cake I gulped it down with a lot of difficulty, I said "You are such a devil Liam. How ca-" and here comes another one.

Liam stuffed another cake in my mouth.

My eyes widened and he smirked again. I tried to chew it as fast as I could and finish it, so that I can shout at him but as soon as I gulped it and opened my mouth to scold him he again stuffed another cake in my mouth.

"Stop Bella, I know the cupcakes are really tasty, but if you keep eating all the cakes like this what will we eat. Stop it Bella, you have already eaten three of them, now we can't give you anymore."

I stared at him in disbelief. Ryan giggled.

This man is so annoying.

After sometime when all the cupcakes were finished, Liam got up from his seat and said "You can thank me later for the cupcakes." Then he walked out of the kitchen.

I glared at him.

Ryan came to me and said "Dad was just teasing you Mommy. The cupcakes were so yummy. Thank you."

I smiled and kneeled down in front of him. He kissed my cheek.

"Glad you liked it."

"I love you to infinity Mommy."

"I love you to umm... ya to infinity square."

He hugged me then ran out of the kitchen.

I smiled to myself then I went to the rooftop. I stopped on my track when I saw Liam sitting on the couch with a glass of wine in his hand. I went closer to him, and took a seat beside him.

We both were sitting there quietly not saying anything, not looking at each other but just enjoying the view. Finally I looked at Liam to see him staring at the view.

This side of Liam, I mean the side that I have seen in these few days, the nice Liam Parker. It's nothing like he was before, now he cares for me. I don't know if this side of yours is real or you are just playing with my feelings but whatever it is, I don't want it to end. I love this Liam Parker.

I don't know what are you doing to me Liam, I don't know what is this feeling, but I like being with you. I like taking care of your needs, I like it when you pull me close to yourself, I like it when you tease me, when you scold me. I like each and every moment I spend with you.

These feelings are so new to me. I have never felt like this for anyone. No one has made me this nervous, my heart hasn't beaten for anyone like it beats for you.

What is it?

Is this what love feels like?

I am so confused.

Is it just like or love?

"Thank you Bella." Liam said snapping me out of my thoughts. "Thank you, for being a good mother to Ryan, someone who he really needed in his life. Someone who could make him happy. And I am really sorry for forcing you into this marriage but I had to do it. I didn't have any other option."

"Liam, it's okay, you don't have to be sorry. In fact I am happy." Liam turned to me with a confused look.

"Happy?"

"Ya. Because of you, I have such a cute and amazing son. I don't have any complains and I don't even blame you for anything. I am glad you forced me at least I can make a small five year old boy happy."

Liam smiled and then again looked in front, he was about to take a sip from his drink when I said "You shouldn't drink so much Liam. It's not good for your health."

Liam stared at me for few minutes then kept the glass on the table. "Happy?"

I smiled and nodded.

Honestly, I was a little surprised by his behaviour. He just kept the glass back on the table, at once. The old Liam, would never do that.

I think I should go back to my room. This sweetness is enough for one day.

I stood up and was about to leave when Liam held my wrist and pulled me, I ended up sitting on his lap.

Here goes my heart beat again, beating like crazy. Liam, removed some strands of my hair and tucked them behind my ears. "Where do you think you are going?"

"R-Room."

"Sit with me, here, for sometime."

I nodded and tried to get up from his lap, "I said sit with me."

"Y-Ya but-"

"Don't move. Stay like this." He said.

Then he pulled me closer to him, holding me tightly. His head rested in the crook of my neck with eyes closed.

"Liam?"

"Don't move." His voice sounded tired.

I traced my fingers through his hair, it always helps in times stress. His hold on my waist tightened. I could feel that it was making him feel good and he didn't want me to stop.

"This feels good." It made me smile.

After few minutes he said "I am tired Bella, I am so tired of handling everything on my own, I am tired of so many responsibilities. I want some rest. I have never felt this relieved for so many years."

While sitting on his lap, I don't remember when did I fell asleep. When my eyes opened by the light of the sun, I saw Liam's face in front of me. We were still in the same position, his hands were possessively wrapped around my waist and I was sitting on his lap. My head was resting against Liam's shoulder and his head was resting on the couch.

I touched my chest, my heart was again racing. I looked at Liam, he was sleeping peacefully.

Last night I got to know one more thing and that is, I care for Liam. I do. I care for him. It hurts to see him in pain.

My eyes became teary, no. No. I managed to get out from his grip and ran to my room. Reaching my room I went to the washroom and locked the door.

I leaned against the door. Tears were rolling down my cheeks.

"No. I can't love him."

"No. This is not love."

"This is not love."

"I don't love him."

"But, what is it then and these feelings don't stop when he is near me."

"I have to stop myself, or I will end up hurting myself. He made it very clear before the marriage itself that I can never be his wife. He can never love me."

"I-I d-don't want to get hurt."

"I am scared of getting hurt. I am scared of loving."

"I have to stay away from him and as he s-said I w-will only be Ryan's mother."

After crying my heart out in the washroom, I took a bath but then realised that I forgot to bring my clothes, I wrapped the towel around my body and opened the washroom door slightly to check if Liam's in the room, but luckily he wasn't. Maybe he was still sleeping. I came out of the washroom and directly ran to the closet, to get my clothes.

Did I tell you guys that I could only see the room from the washroom and not inside the closet? So here I am.... surprise surprise.

Liam was already standing there taking out his clothes. My eyes widened.

Shit! How can I be this careless?

I was about to run when he called "Bella?"

I stopped and turned around to look at him. He eyed my body from top to bottom, which made me feel uncomfortable.

What do you all expect, I am standing in front of him with just a towel covering my body?

I tried to cover my body with my hands bringing my hand to my chest but of course, it didn't work. Liam's eyes then landed on my face, his eyebrows furrowed. I quickly looked away. I stood there in silence with Liam observing my face and me looking away. Finally when Liam was done staring he made his way towards me. I was looking everywhere but not him. He then stood in front of me with one hand in his sweat pocket and the other came up to my chin, making me look up at him. He tilted his head a little, like he was trying to read my mind.

"Why were you crying?"

I thought I washed my face properly.

Stupid Bels but your eyes didn't become normal, they are still red.

I bit my lip then shook my head. "I-I wasn't."

"And now you are lying."

"I-I am n-not."

Liam rolled his eyes then said "Bella, what is it?"

I can't tell him that I was crying because of him, I was crying because my stupid heart cares for him, that my stupid heart beats for him, and that my stupid heart likes him? Not like but I think loves him.

"N-Nothing, I w-was just missing N-Nanny. T-That's it."

"Is it?"

I nodded. He removed his hand, that was on my chin.

"Why are you so stubborn Bella? Though I can't read your mind but I can tell that you are lying."

I looked down.

"Fine, if you don't want to tell me. But about your Nanny, I wanted to inform you that you don't have to worry about her, she'll be safe. My men are keeping an eye on her, wherever she goes, whatever she does."

I just nodded and said "Thank you." in a very low voice.

"You don't have to thank me, it's my way of saying thanks to you, for doing so much, for taking care of Ryan and.... m-me."

With that Liam walked to the washroom.

Wait, did he just thank me for taking care of him too?

No, Bella stop.

Stop thinking so much.

It's not love.

He doesn't love you.

He is being nice because of Ryan.

So stupid heart just stop.

***************************

🙄