RUMORS

LAfter a few moments of silence, Liam pulled back and looked at Cherry, his eyes searching for reassurance. "I'm sorry, Cherry," he said, his voice soft. "I didn't mean to bring all this drama into our lives."

Cherry smiled and took Liam's hand, her touch warm and comforting. "You didn't bring drama into our lives, Liam," she said. "Your family's actions are not your fault. And we're in this together, always."

Liam's eyes welled up with tears, and he felt a lump form in his throat. He was so grateful to have Cherry by his side, supporting him through thick and thin.

Just then, the twins started crying in unison, and Cherry laughed. "I think someone needs a diaper change," she said, smiling.

Liam smiled back, feeling a sense of normalcy wash over him. "I'll take care of it," he said, heading towards the nursery.

As he changed the twins' diapers and fed them, Liam couldn't help but feel grateful for this new chapter in his life. He had Cherry, the twins, and a loving family that supported him unconditionally.

He glanced over at Cherry, who was watching him with a warm smile. "I love you," he said, his voice filled with emotion.

"I love you too," Cherry replied, her eyes shining with happiness.

In that moment, Liam knew that he was exactly where he was meant to be.

As they drove home, Liam's father, James, couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment and frustration. He had genuinely wanted to make amends with his son, to apologize for his past mistakes and start anew. But Liam's rejection had been swift and brutal.

James's stepmother, Rachel, and stepbrother, Alex, were furious. "He's so ungrateful," Rachel spat. "We go there to apologize and make amends, and he just shuts us down."

"Yeah, what a jerk," Alex agreed. "I don't know why we even bothered."

But James knew that they hadn't gone there out of genuine concern for Liam's well-being. They had gone there to save face, to pretend that they cared about Liam's feelings. But James had seen the truth in Liam's eyes - he didn't believe them, and he didn't want anything to do with them.

As they arrived home, James couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. He had missed out on so much of Liam's life, and now it seemed like it might be too late to make things right.

But James was determined to try. He couldn't give up on his son, not now, not ever. He would keep reaching out, keep trying to make amends, no matter how long it took.

As he walked into the house, James made a silent vow to himself. He would do whatever it took to regain Liam's trust, to prove to him that he was genuinely sorry for his past mistakes. It wouldn't be easy, but James was willing to try.

Alex's eyes narrowed as he sat in the living room, his mind racing with thoughts of revenge. He couldn't believe that Liam, of all people, had managed to find happiness and success. It wasn't fair, Alex thought, his jealousy simmering just below the surface.

Rachel, sensing Alex's anger, sat down beside him. "We can't let Liam get away with this," she said, her voice low and conspiratorial. "He thinks he's so much better than us, with his perfect little family and his inheritance. But we can take it all away from him."

Alex's eyes lit up with excitement as he listened to Rachel's words. He had always felt like he was living in Liam's shadow, and now he saw a chance to finally step out of it.

"What did you have in mind?" Alex asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Rachel smiled, a cold, calculating glint in her eye. "We can start by spreading rumors about Liam's business dealings. Maybe we can even dig up some dirt on his wife and her family. And then, of course, there's the matter of the inheritance..."

Alex's eyes widened as he listened to Rachel's plan. It was perfect, he thought. They would take everything away from Liam, and Alex would finally get what he deserved.

With a newfound sense of purpose, Alex stood up, his eyes blazing with determination. "Let's do it," he said, his voice firm and resolute.

Rachel smiled, a cold, cruel smile. "Oh, we will," she said. "We'll make sure Liam pays for thinking he's better than us."