Chapter 480

Liam stood frozen in place, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. The ache in his chest was unbearable, yet he forced it down. Seeing Rosalind hadn't arrived yet, Evelyn decided she couldn't wait any longer.

"General Blackwood, I'll be leaving first," she said politely, pushing open the heavy oak door into the biting wind.

The cold air hit her like a physical blow. Evelyn shivered as she carefully navigated the snow-dusted path, her boots leaving faint impressions in the thin layer of white.

Liam watched her retreating figure until he couldn't stand it anymore. In three long strides, he caught up with her under the flickering streetlamp, his hand closing around her wrist.

Evelyn's breath caught. She turned slowly, fighting the urge to snap at him. Neither she nor the baby could handle his roughness right now.

His face was stormy. "Why did you lie to me?" The words came out sharp, each syllable dripping with betrayal.

Evelyn blinked. "What lie?"

Liam's bitter laugh sent chills down her spine. "You promised if you returned to Aldenria, we'd remain husband and wife." His voice cracked slightly. "You said you wanted my child, wanted my genes."

The silence between them grew heavy.

Every breath hurt Liam now. "You won't marry me. Won't have my child. Yet you work under me, parade yourself before me daily while giving me no chance at all." His voice dropped to a wounded whisper. "Cassandra Wright, if you never intended to keep those promises, why make them?"

He was shaking now, unshed tears making his eyes glisten in the dim light.

Evelyn's resolve wavered seeing his pain. Twenty years of friendship, over a decade of unspoken love - his devotion had always been absolute. And now it was destroying him.

After a long moment, she stepped closer. Gently, she pried open his clenched fist and laced her fingers through his.

Liam froze, staring down at their joined hands in confusion. Her skin was cool against his burning palm.

"I'm sorry, Liam," she murmured, staring at their intertwined fingers. "I didn't lie to you. I just-"

"Evelyn!" Rosalind's voice cut through the night.

Evelyn turned to see her assistant hurrying toward them. The interruption made her realize how close she'd come to revealing everything in a moment of weakness.

"Rosalind's here to take me home," she said quickly, trying to withdraw her hand. "We'll talk later."

Liam tightened his grip. "Finish what you were saying."

"Not now," Evelyn hedged, panic rising. "Give me a few months."

His brow furrowed. "Months for what?"

"I need to focus on work first. No relationships until I'm stable. Then...then we can revisit this." She tugged at her trapped hand. "General Blackwood, please let go."

He didn't budge. Once he had her, he never wanted to release her.

"Evelyn, let's go." Rosalind arrived, draping a coat over Evelyn's shoulders. Her sharp eyes noted their joined hands. "Problem here?"

"I haven't eaten yet," Evelyn said pointedly to Liam. "I really must go."

Still he held on.

"General Blackwood," Evelyn said firmly, trying to twist free. His grip only tightened, bordering on painful.

Rosalind stepped closer. "Evelyn?"

With one last pleading look at Liam, Evelyn finally wrenched her hand free. The cold night air rushed between them as she turned away, leaving Liam standing alone under the flickering streetlamp, his outstretched hand slowly falling to his side.