The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical
Chapter 176

Aileen

I know I agreed to wait here for Liam to return, but do I really have nowhere else to be? Thinking about the answer to that question makes me slouch in my seat.

No matter how fast I want things to happen, I can only keep waiting for Meryl to share some more important information with me. It's believed that my parents are right in this town and I can't help but feel like I might've even ran into one of them on the street in just the few days I've been here.

As I reposition my butt in my seat, I grunt from the discomfort in my full stomach. I've never had this much food in my life and I might've gone too far, but Liam said I could order whatever I wanted.

I close my eyes, shaking my head in disbelief at how I'm still here in his suite. He's such a sweet talker that I was actually convinced to wait for him. Never in my life have I ever fallen for someone's charm. It's not even because of that cologne of his or because he asked me to stay while flashing me that smile. It's mainly because he didn't take advantage of my drunk state last night.

How could he seriously want to marry me after only meeting me? I can't imagine myself agreeing to any of this no matter how seductive he is.

While I continue to wait, I search for his name on the internet, the results making my jaw drop - from his net worth, to all his achievements and at such a young age. Every picture that I see of him is absolute perfection, but he looks even better in person. While I keep checking out his pictures, I pause, wondering why I'm doing this in the first place. Does it mean I'm interested? It can't possibly be the case.

Part of me wants to stop looking him up, but another part of me is still curious, especially when I come across an article about who his parents are. Just as I'm about to check it out, the door opens and I flinch at the sight of him.

Since I'm still only in his shirt, I quickly place a pillow on top.

"You're back. I thought the meeting would take longer," I say to him, making sure my phone screen is off.

Approaching me, he says, "I just had to sign a few documents. I see you ordered some food."

I nod, my eyes going round when he crouches right in front of me, glancing at the pillow on my thighs before looking up at my face.

"Have you thought about it?" he asks.

"Yes."

"What's your answer?" He slightly raises his eyebrows.

"Yes."

His lips curve into a smile. "You'll marry me?"

"What? No. I meant spending the weekend with you."

"Oh." He smacks his lips.

"Exactly. I'm not that crazy to just agree to something like this."

He chuckles. "I'm still glad you're giving this a chance."

"Just so we're clear, if I had other things to do, I wouldn't be here right now."

He sighs. "Not sure if I should be offended or glad."

"Be glad."

"Then I'm glad I have you all to myself."

I chuckle, tucking a few hair strands behind my ear. He definitely knows how to use his charm.

"Was the food to your liking?" he asks.

Just as I nod, a message notification on my phone grabs my attention. The sender's ID makes me clench my jaw hard and it only gets worse when I begin reading a long message from Abigail, my adoptive parents' biological child. "Where the fuck are you? Still don't plan on coming back home? Who do you think will clean up in the pigsty and the rest of the farm? You're the one who was born for this, not me. Show some gratitude by not walking out on us, ungrateful bitch!" Before I can even read the rest of the message, an incoming call flashes on my screen and because it's her, I instantly decline the call with a hard press on the button. Being older than her means I deserve some respect, but it's quite the opposite. "Looks like you don't want to talk to whoever that was," Liam points out.

"Oh, it's nothing serious."

"I don't believe you. Whatever it was that you just saw has affected you."

I press my lips together, hating the fact that he's seen right through me once again.

I may not be looking at my phone screen anymore, but the contents of that message are staring me right in the face. And with that in mind, I'm more determined than ever to never go back there. en Narugi

My racing heart skips a beat when Liam suddenly sits beside me, stealing a glance at the whole of me as he subtly licks the side of his bottom lip.

"So, tell me about your family," he says.

While it's not something that I usually talk about, his encouraging eyes make me want to open up to him, so I go for it while still keeping Abigail's text on my mind.

"I'm adopted." My first words come

tumbling out in a rush. "I don't know who my biological parents are or where originally come from and because of that, it's always felt like a part of me is missing."

"That's not what I expected to hear. It must be really tough on you." His expression turns sympathetic, another thing that makes grow curious about his real personality. My heart sinks. "Even if I tell you about it, it still won't even be half of it."

"I'm all ears. I have all day."

"Let's just say my adoptive parents have been anything but supportive. I mean, initially, things were different, but everything changed when Abigail, their daughter came along. I've faced all kinds of hell in their hands and don't intend to take any of that shit anymore."

As everything flashes in my mind, my heart begins to race again and I'm certain I'll burst into tears, something that hasn't happened in a long time.

"Hey," he says, placing his hand on top of mine. "You don't have to tell me the rest if you can't handle it. While I'm curious, you can always do it some other time."

My gaze drifts down to his hand on mine and a flutter in my chest makes me smile a little.

"Thanks. Everything I've been through has led me to this town in search of my parents. I'm trying to replace out anything I can about my past."

"Any luck?"

"Nothing for now. An old friend from Oakbrook Village is helping me out, but it's not enough. She's the main reason I came here."

With a gentle squeeze of my hand, he looks into my eyes and says, "I'm glad this led you here because look where we are."

As our eyes lock, words escape me for a few seconds as I try to figure him out. Something strongly tells me he's a charmer who never takes anything seriously, but here I am, opening up to him. "Why are you so easy to talk to?" I ask him.

"Have you taken a good look at me? Who wouldn't want to talk to me?"

I playfully roll my eyes.

"After learning about your family, I have to admit that I'm disappointed." He turns serious.

"Why?" I raise my eyebrows.

"I was hoping you'd tell me you're secretly a princess. Don't you think that would make it even better with me as your Prince Charming?"

Unable to hold it in, I burst into laughter, placing a hand over my mouth for a second. "Sorry to disappoint you."

It takes me a few seconds to compose myself, unable to believe that I found humor in such a moment. How does he do it? While I can't figure it out, my curiosity about him only deepens. "I've just thought of stuff," he says.

"Tell me." My face brightens up a little, still thinking about his silly joke.

"I'll help you replace your parents."

"Really?"

"I can easily replace anyone in this world. If you want, I can even just assign those people to you so you can still handle it yourself. How does that sound?"

At a loss for words, my mouth hangs open. I'm so thrilled that it takes everything in me not to wrap my arms around him with gratitude.

"Well? Is that a yes?" he asks, flashing his pearly whites.

I nod, my lips curving into a smile. "Thank you so much."

I lean back in my seat, closing my eyes as I take this as a major sign of hope. With the power Liam holds, this should be so easy for him.

While I'm eager to reunite with my parents and replace out why we separated, I also can't help but wonder, what are they like? Are they both still alive? Do I have siblings?