Chapter 42: Liam

In the spacious home gym of my secluded estate, I was in the midst of a grueling workout, each movement a calculated effort to drive the chaos from my mind. The room was state-of-the-art, a testament to my need for control and precision, both in business and personal endeavors. I was pushing myself harder than usual today, the weights in my hands a welcome distraction from the turmoil of thoughts swirling in my head.

Every time I thought I had put the conversation with my parents to rest, it clawed its way back, mingling frustratingly with thoughts of Emma Reynolds and that unexpectedly intimate voicemail. I increased the weight on the dumbbells, the strain a physical manifestation of my internal struggle. My muscles tensed and released with each bicep curl, the burn a satisfying ache that grounded me in the present.