Chapter 275

Benjamin swirled the amber liquid in his glass before answering, "You're wrong about that."

Liam exhaled slowly, his fingers tracing the rim of his untouched drink. "Love seems trivial in the grand scheme of things. Marriage or no marriage - it hardly matters in the end."

A dry chuckle escaped Benjamin's lips as he took another sip. He moved toward the leather sofa, sinking into its cushions with one leg crossed over the other.

"You're remarkably composed. The rumors made it sound like you'd be devastated. Doesn't divorce affect you at all?"

Silence stretched between them as Liam reached for a crystal decanter on his desk. He placed it firmly on the coffee table before Benjamin.

"Take this home. I'm not in the mood for company tonight." Liam's voice was clipped as he returned to his paperwork without another glance.

Benjamin studied his friend over the rim of his glass, the alcohol warming his throat but doing nothing to ease the tension in the room.

He'd come expecting shared drinks and confessions, yet found himself drinking alone.

Liam hadn't touched a single drop.

When the room began to tilt slightly, Benjamin set down his glass with a decisive click. "This is pointless. I thought you'd be drowning your sorrows after the divorce, but clearly I misjudged the situation."

Liam's pen continued scratching across documents without pause.

Pushing himself up, Benjamin straightened his jacket. "I'm heading out, Liam. Call me when you're ready for that drink."

The study door clicked shut behind him.

Suddenly, the room felt too quiet, too empty.

Exhaustion crashed over Liam like a wave. He dropped his pen, rubbing his temples as he leaned back in his chair, eyes closing against the dim lighting.

In the stillness, his chest grew heavier with each breath.

Evelyn's face haunted him - that persistent ache behind his ribs that never quite faded.

Not sharp enough to cripple him, but constant enough to make every breath feel like effort.

This longing had become a chronic condition.

Like water slowly coming to boil, the pain had crept up on him until he was drowning in it.

Every moment brought fresh reminders - the ghost of her perfume, the empty space beside him in bed.

He could survive without her. He would survive.

The sudden ringing of his phone shattered the silence. Liam blinked at the unfamiliar number before answering, his voice rough. "Who is this?"

"Liam? It's Evelyn." Her voice sent electricity down his spine.

He sat up sharply, fingers tightening around the phone. "Evelyn? Is everything all right?"

A pause. Then, "Do you still have my phone and documents there?"

"Yes."

"Could you have someone bring them to me?"

Silence stretched between them.

"There's also some clothing I left behind," she continued. "They're still in good condition. Would you mind having them packed with my things?"

Liam exhaled slowly. "The housekeeper is on leave. Ryan and the others are tied up with assignments. You could come get them yourself."

"All right then," she murmured.

His pulse jumped. "When are you free? I can pick you up."

Surprise colored her voice. "Aren't you busy?"

"I am."

"Then I'll manage. I remember the passcode."

"Fine."

The line hummed with uncomfortable silence.

"If that's all..." Evelyn began.

"Wait." The word burst from him before he could stop it.

A soft intake of breath. Then, "Yes?"

That single syllable held more emotion than he'd heard from her in weeks.

Liam stared out the window at the city lights, his throat tight. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. "Those ten years you were gone... were you happy?"