CHAPTER TWENTY–FOUR

LIANA’S POV

As bsoon /bas my stepmom left the room, I sat back on the bed and released a huge sigh of relief. My heart was pounding hard

in my chest. She was already starting to suspect. I could see it in her eyes. The way she looked at Ryan, her gaze wasn’t just warm or surprised. It was as if she bwas /bstudying him, piecing things together.

And honestly, it didn’t take much.

Ryan looked so much like Killian. Too much. The same deep eyes. The same sharp chin. Even the same way he frowned when he was confused. It was ring, and no matter how much I tried to deny it or pretend, it was clear. Anyone who looked closely would see it.

Iid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. bMy /bmind was running wild, trying to think of ways to brush it off if she asked. She hadn’t said anything directly, but from the look of things, she was getting serious about it.

I stayed upstairs for a bit longer, trying to calm my nerves. Then I finally decided to take a quick bath. I didn’te with any extra clothes, bso /bI slipped back into the same blue blouse and jeans Killian had bought for me earlier. I didn’t care.

When I came downstairs, I could hear voices andughter from the dining room. Ryan’sughter.

I stepped in quietly and saw them all gathered around the table. Ryan sat between Killian and my stepmom, talking excitedly with his hands waving around Killian was helping his mother dish out some food, and for a second, it looked… normal. Like we were a real family.

“And then Miss ra said I drew the best rocket in the ss,” Ryan was saying proudly, his little hands moving excitedly. ” She said my colors were really nice, and she put my picture on the board!”

“Wow,” Mother said with a warm smile. “That’s amazing, sweetheart. Your teacher must really like you.”

“She does!” bRyan /bbnodded/b. “She bsays /bI’m always polite and very smart. One time she even told me I could teacher or maybe even a pilot.”

Killian chuckled. “With byour /bbrain, byou /bcould be all three.”

Ryan beamed. “Thanksb, /bMr. Killian.”

Mother smiled as she scooped rice onto Ryan’s te. b“/bbYour /bteacher taught you well. Polite and confident.”

Then Ryan paused for a bsecond/b, looking thoughtful. “Grandma, is Mr. Killian Mommy’s brotherb?/bb” /b

bMy /bbreath caught.

Killian’s bspoon /bpaused midb–/bair. Mother blinked, ncing at him, then at me.

This

a scientist or a

Ryan continued, oblivious to the tension in the room. “Because if he’s Mommy’s brother, then he’s my uncle, rightb?/bb” /b

Mother gave a slow nod. “Well… byes/bb, /btechnically that’s how it works.”

Ryan looked bat /bher, then tilted his headb. /b“But that’s not what Mommy said.”

Killian stiffened slightly but kept setting the btes/bb. /bbMy /bstepmom looked curious. b“/bOh? What did Mommy bsay/bb?/bb” /b

bRyan /bbnodded /bbseriously/bb. /b“She said Mr. Killian bisn’t /bmy uncle. But he’s her brother! So he’s bsupposed /bbto /bbe my buncle/bb, /brightb? /bbI /bbtold /bherb, /bbbut /bshe said it’sb…/bb“/b–he frownedb, /btrying to bremember-/bb“/bpli…plika… bplicated/bb?/bb” /b

I froze where I stood, my heart racing.

Killian turned bquickly /band handed Ryan a bspoon/b. “Here byou /bgo, buddy. Want to help stir the rice?”

Ryan btook /bthe spoon but kept talkingb, /bbarely paying attention. “But it’s notplicated, Uncle Killian! It’s simple! My friends all bhave /bbuncles /bwho are their mommy’s brothers. So I asked my teacher again todayb, /bjust to be sure. And she said yes! That

byour /bmom’s brother is byour /buncle.”

bMy /bstepmom paused, thedle still in her hand. Her eyes were on Ryan. Watching. Listening.

Ryan kept going. “So I think Mommy just didn’t know. Maybe she forgot. Or maybe she’s… dumb.”

My mouth dropped bopen/b.

“Ryan!” I said quicklyb, /brushing to him and covering his mouth gently with my hand.

Ryan looked apologetic instantly. “I didn’t mean dumb like bad dumb. Just like… not smart about uncles.”

Killian chuckled under his breath while reaching to pour water into sses.

“bDon’t /bsay that. Mommy just meant it’s a little tricky sometimes.”

But Ryan pulled my hand baway /bwith a frown. b“/bbNo/bb, /bMommy, it’s not tricky. It’s so easyb! /bLook, let me show you. Todayb, /bMiss ra drew the family tree. I’ll draw it too. There’s byou/b,“–he held up one hand-“and then your brother, bMr. /bKillian, is here. And then me! And Grandma is up here. So Mr. Killian is my…”

“Ryan,” Killian said, his voice quiet but firm. “Why don’t we eat first? You can draw for uster.”

Ryan blinked. “But it’s quick! It’s not hard. I just want Mommy to understand.”

bMy /bstepmom was staring at both of us now. Her eyes flicked from Ryan to Killian, then to me.

I bgave /ba tight smile and ruffled Ryan’s hair. “Alright, baby. Later. bOkay/bb? /bMommy understands.”

He looked a little unsure but nodded. “Okay. But bI /bstill think I should help you. You don’t know

“Sweetheart, maybe let’s talk about something else now, bokay/bb?/bb” /b

“But, Mommy-b” /b

iit /i

right.

i” /i

N

16

“Shhh,” I smiled through clenched teeth. “Let’s just eat now.”

He pouted a little, then nodded. “bOkay/b. But I’m gonna show byou /bthe family treeter. I remember how to byou /band Grandma, and then Uncle Killian is under byou/bb, /band then me.”

Killian cleared his throat and sat beside him. “How about you draw it after dinnerb, /bchamp?b” /b

b“/bbOkay/b!” Ryan grinned. b“/bbBut /bit’s still so beasy/b. Mommy just doesn’t bknow /bbit yet/bb./b”

Mother bturned /bback bto /bher bfood /bquietly. Her face was calm, but her beyes /bheld a storm.

The rest of dinner was bquieter/b. Ryan leaned into his te and began bto /bbeat/b, finally distracted.olliit. It/li/ol

But I could feel mother’s gaze on me the entire time. I didn’t need to look at her to know what she was thinking.

It wasn’t going to be easy hiding this anymore.