Chapter 3: The Man in the Dark

Liam descended the stairs with a feeling of unease in his chest. Each step brought him closer to the entrance of the house, where his father had already crossed the door, observing the scene with his firm posture and impenetrable gaze.

The music still echoed off the walls, the laughter and the bustle of the party continued, oblivious to the tension forming in the air. No one else noticed his father's presence. No one understood what it meant.

But Liam did.

When he finally stood in front of him, his father observed him with a dangerous calm, his eyes scanning the scene before settling directly on his son.

"Liam."

It wasn't a question. It was a sentence.

Liam swallowed and kept his composure.

"Dad."

The silence between them was suffocating. He didn't look at him with anger, but neither did he look disappointed. His expression was unreadable.

"How did you know I was here?" Liam asked, bluntly.

His father didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped forward, ignoring the occasional glances from the few who noticed his presence.

"Is that what you're most worried about?"

Liam frowned.

"I didn't call you. I didn't tell you where I was. So… how did you know?"

His father sighed, as if he didn't want to answer him yet.

"Let's get out of here."

"Not until you answer me."

His father's eyes flashed with something Liam couldn't quite figure out. It wasn't anger. It wasn't frustration.

It was… caution.

"Liam, let's go."

Liam didn't move.

"If you don't tell me why you're here, I'm not going anywhere."

The air around him grew tense. His father watched his expression, assessing him, measuring his words.

"Someone told me where you were."

Liam felt a chill run down his spine.

"Who?"

His father kept his gaze fixed on him.

"A man who said he knew me."

Liam's stomach tightened.

"What was his name?"

His father shook his head.

"He didn't say. But he knew things. He knew you were in this house. He knew who you were. He knew… too much."

Liam felt his breathing get heavier.

This wasn't normal.

This wasn't just his father following a paternal instinct.

Someone had sent him here.

A chill ran down his skin.

"What did he look like?"

His father exhaled slowly, as if he didn't want to say it out loud.

"Tall. Black suit. Dark hair. He looked at me like he'd known me for years. But I… I'd never seen him in my life."

Liam felt the air in the room get colder.

This was no coincidence.

Someone was following him.

Someone knew who it was.

And most disturbing of all…

Someone wanted his father to find him.

A noise behind him brought him out of his thoughts. He turned slightly and saw Ethan standing in the shadows, watching the scene with an expression that was no longer playful.

It was serious.

Too serious.

As if he knew something too.

Liam felt like his world, so carefully constructed, had just changed forever.

The air around Liam felt heavier. His father stood there, firm, his posture impeccable and his expression inscrutable. Nothing seemed out of place, but something didn't quite fit.

"Did a stranger tell you where he was?" he asked, not taking his gaze off his father.

The man nodded, as if he saw nothing strange in the situation.

"He called me." I didn't recognize his voice, but I knew details… too many details.

Liam felt a chill run down his spine.

Was someone else watching him?

Or worse yet… was someone watching his father?

"And it didn't seem suspicious to you?" he insisted.

His father exhaled slowly.

"Of course it did. That's why I came."

Liam gritted his teeth. Something inside him told him there was more than his father was letting on. But now wasn't the time to push.

Instead of questioning him further, he forced his shoulders to relax.

"I'm fine, Dad. Nothing happened."

His father looked at him for a moment, as if evaluating the truth of his words. Finally, he nodded.

"Let's go."

Liam took a quick look around the house. The party was still going on, the sound of music, laughter, and murmuring hadn't stopped. But his mind was already somewhere else.

He wanted answers.

But not tonight.

He turned his head slightly and saw Ethan still on the terrace, his silhouette silhouetted against the dim light. His expression no longer held that playful spark it once had. Instead, his gaze was sharp, focused on him.

Liam paused for a second before following his father.

Ethan didn't say anything, but with a slight nod, he made it clear that he knew.

Liam didn't understand what that look meant, but deep inside, a certainty formed.

This wasn't the last time he and Ethan would talk about this.

Without saying anything else, he walked away from the house and followed his father to the black car, still wondering…

Who had really been watching him tonight?

And most importantly…

Why?

The black car drove silently down the empty road.

The city lights flickered in the distance, reflecting off the vehicle windows. Inside the car, the atmosphere was tense, almost suffocating.

Liam stared out the window, watching the streets pass by in a blur. His mind was still stuck on the same question. How did his father know he was at the party?

The excuse he had given him made no sense.

An unknown man called out to him. He told him exactly where he was. He knew too much.

Who would do something like that?

And more importantly… why didn't his father seem as surprised as he should have?

"Are you going to stay quiet all night?" his father asked suddenly, not taking his eyes off the road.

Liam took his eyes off the window and glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

"There's not much to say."

"Really?" His father exhaled slowly. "Because ever since we left the house, you seem to be thinking too much."

Liam pursed his lips. He wasn't going to fall for that.

"I'm wondering if you'll do this every time I go out."

His father raised an eyebrow.

"If you mean coming to get you in the middle of the night because you were at a party you shouldn't be at… then yeah, I probably will."

Liam let out a low, humorless laugh.

"I wasn't doing anything wrong."

"And how do you think I knew you were there?"

That was the question Liam wanted to answer, too.

"I don't know. How did you know?"

The car stopped at a traffic light. His father turned his head slightly, his intense gaze boring into him.

"I already told you."

Liam held his gaze, searching for something in his expression. But his father was too good at hiding what he really thought.

The light turned green and the car continued on its way.

"I don't want you going back to a place like that without telling me," his father finally said.

Liam crossed his arms.

"I'm not going to stop going out just because you say so."

"It's not an order. It's a warning."

Liam frowned.

"Warning of what?"

His father didn't respond immediately.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low, controlled.

"Things aren't always what they seem."

Liam felt a chill run down his spine.

What did he mean?

But before he could press him further, they arrived home.

His father turned off the car and got out without another word. Liam did the same, but in his head, nothing was resolved.

---

Somewhere Else…

Ethan leaned his elbows on the railing of the terrace, watching the city lights with an enigmatic smile.

"Interesting…"

Isaac appeared at his side, a drink in his hand.

"What's interesting?"

Ethan didn't take his eyes off the horizon.

"Liam."

Isaac snorted.

"You know, I never thought I'd see him at a party. Let alone see you interested in him."

Ethan smiled, but didn't respond.

Isaac tilted his head, studying him.

"What's wrong?"

Ethan finally turned his head and looked at him with his carefree smile.

"Nothing. I just think this just got a lot more fun."

Isaac raised an eyebrow.

"Care to explain?"

Ethan stepped away from the railing and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Not tonight. But soon."

With that, he walked away, leaving Isaac staring after him in confusion.

…

The sound of the lock turning broke the silence as Liam and his father entered the house. The lights were off, save for the dim lighting in the hallway.

His father calmly closed the door, leaving the keys on the entry table. Without saying anything, he took off his coat and unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt.

Liam stood, watching him, waiting.

He knew the conversation wasn't over.

He knew his father wouldn't just let him go to his room.

And he wasn't wrong.

"Sit down," his father said in a calm voice, but with the firmness of someone who wasn't asking.

Liam exhaled slowly before doing as he was asked. He slumped down on the couch, crossing his arms over his chest.

His father stood for a few more seconds, as if he were gathering his thoughts before speaking. Finally, he sat down in the chair across from him.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Liam hated that silence.

It was the same silence that filled the house after his mother's death.

"How much have you had to drink?" his father asked at last.

Liam clenched his jaw.

"Not that much."

"Enough to not remember what you did?"

"I'm not drunk."

His father stared at him, his dark eyes assessing him accurately.

"Good," he said after a moment. "Because I want you to remember this."

Liam held his gaze.

"What?"

His father leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Don't put yourself in a situation like that again."

Liam let out a low laugh.

"Really? We're going to do this?"

"Yes, we're going to do this." His father didn't change his tone. "I'm not a father who forbids things, Liam. But I want you to understand something…"

Liam waited.

"The world isn't as simple as you think."

Liam frowned.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

His father didn't answer right away. 

His father didn't answer right away.

"It means there are people watching you even when you don't know it."

The air seemed to get heavier.

Liam felt his breathing stop for a second.

"Why do you say that?"

His father looked at him with the same controlled expression as always.

"Because it's the truth."

Liam felt a chill run down his spine.

Something in the way he said it, in his tone of voice, in his gaze... gave him the feeling that his father knew more than he was saying.

"Dad..."

His father sighed and leaned back in the chair.

"I know you think I'm exaggerating. That this is just a lecture for leaving without telling me anything."

"It's not?"

His father watched him for a long moment before answering.

"I just want you to be more careful."

There was something in his words, something he wasn't saying.

And Liam didn't know if he wanted to know the answer.

"Okay," he said, not taking his eyes off his father. "I'll be more careful."

His father nodded slowly, as if considering whether he should say anything else. But in the end, he just stood up.

"Rest. We'll talk later."

Liam watched him walk away down the hall, his silhouette disappearing into the darkness of the house.

But he didn't move.

He couldn't.

The sound of his father's footsteps echoed in the hallway. Slow. Heavy.

Liam couldn't ignore the pang in his chest. Something about the way his father looked at him, the way he spoke… he seemed hurt.

And now, as he watched his back disappear into the darkness, the weight of guilt hit him hard.

Had he really been so selfish?

He stood up without thinking. He wanted to apologize.

He walked quickly down the hall, his breathing still unsteady from the conversation. When he reached the door to his father's room, he stopped.

The doorknob was inches from his hand, but before he could touch it, he heard something.

A sob.

His heart tightened.

Barely a whisper, barely a tremor in the air… but there it was.

And then, the door opened.

His father was there, standing in the dimness of the room, his face covered by one hand. When he looked up and saw Liam, his expression broke even more.

"Son…"

Tears were streaming down his face. He hadn't seen him cry like that in years.

And in that instant, Liam felt like he was a monster.

"Dad…" he whispered, his voice shaking.

His father shook his head and looked away, as if he didn't want him to see him in that state.

"I didn't want you to see me like this."

Liam felt his throat close up.

He had made him cry.

Him, his son.

Him, who always tried to be perfect.

How could he have made him feel so bad?

"Dad, I'm sorry," he murmured.

His father closed his eyes for a moment, as if holding back the pain.

"You don't have to apologize, Liam… It's not your fault I care so much about you."

But it was.

He watched him wipe his face with his shirt sleeve, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

"Ever since your mother died…" his voice cracked. "You're the only thing I have left."

Liam felt the blow straight to his heart.

His chest ached.

It hurt because it was true.

"I don't want to lose you," his father continued, his voice breaking. "I can't…"

Liam hugged him before he could finish the sentence.

She held onto him tightly, ignoring the tightness in her chest, ignoring the fact that tears were threatening to escape her own eyes.

"You won't lose me," she whispered.

Her father trembled in her arms.

"Promise me."

Liam squeezed his eyes shut.

"I promise."

He didn't realize when he started crying too.

He only knew that his father's pain was now his own pain as well.

That his father loved him so much that he couldn't bear the thought of losing him.

And that he would do anything to not break that promise.