Chapter 141Liam took a step toward her. “Mia, please—”However, before she could even stop herself, Mia lost control and swung her arm across his face, slapping him hard with a stern look on her face. The sound echoed loudly through the house, but Liam didn’t flinch. He just stood there, his jaw tight, and his eyes dark with a strange look that Mia couldn’t read. It wasn’t surprise, nor fear. It was almost as if he had expected it. Somewhere deep down, he knew that once he told Mia his secrets, she would not be able to handle it.Mia’s hands trembled. “I told you things I’ve never told anyone,” she whispered, trying to process everything. She could not believe it. Everyone was right about him, even that no-good loser, Victor. This whole time, Liam had been hiding his true self from her, and she couldn’t understand why or even wish to know. “I let myself believe in you. In us. But you were just using me, weren’t you?”“No.” Liam quickly said, his voice was raw, desperate. “Mia, it wa

Mia heaved a deep breath but did not accept Laura’s invitation. She knew no amount of screaming was going to help her feel better about this situation. Despite Laura’s calmness through this, there was no assurance that nothing could happen to Liam. If anything, it only made her feel what he was doing was even more dangerous if the people around him felt so nonchalantly about it.Still, she could not confront Laura instead. Her mind was in a frenzy. Nothing she did or thought about had made this better, and after some time, she heaved a deep sigh and turned to Laura, “I don’t get how you do it,” she admitted. “How you’re just… okay with all of this.”Laura hummed, considering her words. She could see that this was still something Mia was dealing with and even though she didn’t feel so disturbed about it herself, she still remembered her first time finding out what Liam does and the risks associated with it. “I wasn’t always.” She said, trying to offer Mia some comfort and level ground.

Mia waited anxiously, checking the time every few minutes. Liam was supposed to arrive any moment now and her nerves were all over the place. Suddenly the screeching sound of tires against the gravel snapped her out of her thoughts. Without hesitation, she jumped up from the couch, her heart hammering in her chest. Laura, who had been leaning against the fireplace, pushed herself upright, already reaching for the gun tucked into her waistband. Mia barely noticed. She was already moving, rushing toward the front door before Laura could stop her. And then the door swung open, revealing Liam on the other side. For a split second, Mia couldn’t breathe. He was alive and standing right in front of her, but she felt like she had seen a ghost.Liam was bruised, blood splattered on his clothes and a small cut running along his jaw. Nevertheless, relief flooded through her, and before she could even think, she ran to him.At that time, she didn’t care that she was still mad at him, didn’t care

The drive to the city council was quiet, filled with unspoken tension. Mia sat in the backseat, her mind drifting about her place in all this. She had tried to convince herself that she could do this. If she truly wanted to be with Liam, she had to be able to navigate his world. But still, it was easier said than done. At the end of the day, this was not her usual life. She’d never even held a gun or fought anybody? How was she supposed to fend off against thugs, mercenaries, and skilled assassins?“You okay?” Liam’s voice interjected as he glanced at her through the rearview mirror.“Yeah-um… yeah,” Mia muttered and shifted her gaze away, refusing to say anything else. This was bigger than her now and even though she wasn’t sure how she could help, there was no backing out.Liam drove steadily, occasionally glancing at her, his face filled with worry. It was clear, Mia was anxious about all of this, but deep down a part of him wanted her here. Liam thought that maybe just maybe, if s

Jonah turned to Liam with a slight smirk, “Isn’t that so, Mr. Moran?” He paused, but Liam didn’t speak.“Councilmen, I’m sure you have all seen the reports on the news. Mr. Moran has been actively trying to smear Peter’s reputation for reasons I don’t fully understand. That’s why he’s doing this again. I assure you that the building poses no threat to this city, and this is just an attempt from a man who holds personal bias. Surely, we can’t let him have his way.” Jonah said and sat down.The council head shifted his gaze to Liam, his eyes narrowing slightly, “Do you have any other thing you want to add?” The man asked.Liam hesitated for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Mia. He gave her an appreciative nod, “Go ahead.”Mia heaved a deep breath and stood up, “If I may, councilmen,” she started, shifting her gaze across the room, “Some of you may know me. I’m Mia Stevens, the first daughter of the Stevens family. Recently my family has been caught in a chaotic web with the Nelsons as