CHAPTER FORTY
+25 BONUS
Liana’s POV
It was 6:00 p.m. on the dot when I stopped in front of Maple Lily Bistro. My stomach was in knots. I wasn’t nervous in a butterflies–and–lipstick kind of way. It was the dread kind. The I–don’t–want–to–be–here–but–I’m–too–polite–to–bail kind.
Westvale was the kind of town where people noticed everything. The kind where you’d sneeze and someone three streets away would offer you tissues. So showing up here, dressed in jeans, a blouse I didn’t even iron, and a ponytail that looked like I’d just survived a daycare shift, felt like stepping into a play I didn’t audition for.
I almost turned around.
But then I remembered my dad. His voice from earlier that week. His stubborn hope that maybe, just maybe, if I met this guy,
Mr. Gilmore, I’d finally move on. Be normal. Whatever that meant.
I took a breath and walked in.
And immediately froze.
“Simon?” I said before I even fully registered it.
He was seated at a corner table, dressed in a fitted grey sweater and dark slacks, hair neatly styled, looking… annoyingly good. His face lit up when he saw me, and he stood up.
“Liana,” he said like he was genuinely happy to see me. “You made it.”
I blinked. “W–what are you doing here?”
He took a casual step toward me, hands in his pockets like this was just any other day. “I’m here on a date.”
“A date?” I blinked again, confused but trying to be polite. “That’s… good. I’m happy for you. Really.”
He pulled out the chair for me. “Here, sit.”
I held my hand up slightly, shaking my head. “No, no. I’m not here for you. I’m here to meet someone. a date, too.”
He smirked, tilting his head slightly. “are you here to meet with Mr. Gilmore?”
I froze. “Wait… how do you know that?”
He reached out his hand like he was reintroducing himself. “Lemme reintroduce myself properly I’m Simon Gilmore
McDowell ”
I just stood there, trying to make my brain connect the dots. “You’re Mr. Gilmore?”
“Guilty.”
I stared at him for a beat too long, then dropped into the seat across from him like my legs had finally given up. “This is not happening”
“It is,” he said lightly, settling back into his chair. “Crazy small world, huh?”
I shook my head slowly, still processing “But But how?”
Just then, the waiter came over, smiling politely “Can I get you both something to start with?”
I couldn’t even think about food “Just juice. Orange juice is fine.”
Simon nodded. “Same here.”
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The waiter took the menus and walked away.
I folded my arms. “So let me get this straight. You let me walk into this thinking I was meeting a total stranger. A blind date. And instead, I find out you’re the ‘Mr. Gilmore.“” I hand–quoted.
He chuckled softly.
I leaned in a little, still stunned. “You–you didn’t tell me any of this. I was never informed. And also, you never told me you
were once married. and… how… how did you even know my dad?”
Scener
Simon sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Liana… I… I just… I didn’t tell you everything. My dad knows your dad. They go way
back. When I told him I was coming to see you, he spoke to your dad behind the
properly. I had no idea you’d actually agree to the date.”
I folded my arms as I stared at him. “You still haven’t answered my question. Why did
if you were married and you said no.”
“Technically, I didn’t lie,” he said, raising a brow. “I said I wasn’t married. and, I’m not.”
“Simon.”
“I know. I know,” he said quickly. “I should’ve said something. I just… I didn’t know how.”
They set this up hoping we’d meet
lie
ryuran me? I remember asking you
The waiter returned with our drinks. Two glasses of orange juice, with little napkins under them like this was a kid’s
birthday party instead of an adult dinner. We both reached for ours at the same time and took long sips, his with a calm
smile, mine like I needed a sedative.
“You also never told me you had a kid, let alone a daughter almost Ryan’s age,” I said finally, placing the glass down. “You
never mentioned her.”
He looked a little sheepish. “Yeah. I know. I should’ve. I just–look, Liana, the truth is, I was scared, okay? I really liked you,
Liana, and you were already so distant, already unsure. I thought if I told you everything from the start, you’d run even
faster. I wanted to tell you. I swear. But you shut me out before I could even try.”
I looked down at my hands. “You’re probably right.”
He smiled a little. “She would love you, though. She’s stubborn like you.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Totally.”
Despite everything, I laughed. and it felt weird. Good–weird. Like I’d forgotten what laughing on a date felt like.
“I’m still mad at you,” I said after a second.
“I get it.”
“I mean, you kind of ambushed me ”
“I totally did ”
“And manipulated a blind date just to sit across from me.”
“Okay, that sounds worse when you say it like that.”
I snorted, covering my face with my hands for a second. “God”
He leaned forward, his expression softening “I’m not here to trick you, Liana. I just… I wanted to see you. You’ve been shutting me out lately. You refused to pick up my call Reply my text. I–I just wanted to talk to you-”
I nodded, swallowing hard “I know.”
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A pause.
“Is it because of him? Killian?”
I looked at him. “Yeah. I told you he was Ryan’s dad right?”
He exhaled. “Yeah.”
“Actually, He’s… more than that…” I hesitated for a second, then spilled. “He’s my stepbrother, Simon. I ran away from home because I got pregnant. Now my dad knows the whole truth, about everything. The affair. The baby. Killian. He hates it.”
Simon blinked. “Wow.”
“My dad… he’s furious,” I said quietly. “Said he doesn’t want to have anything to do with me if I didn’t leave Killian.”
Simon’s thumb brushed over my knuckles. “That’s heavy.”
“I understand my dad, I really do. Killian and I… it’s just so messy. There are so many reasons why we can’t work. So many mistakes in the past. Things I wish I could change. The way it happened. The way I got hurt. But… even after everything, I
still love him. I love him so much it hurts.”
The tears came now, full force. Simon stood up and moved to my side of the table, wrapping an arm around me. “Hey, it’s
okay. I got you. It’s okay.”
. He was warm and comforting. Too comforting.
His hand moved to brush hair away from my face, and his lips pressed softly to my forehead. Then my temple. Then… the
corner of my lips.
He was holding me tighter now. His voice dropped to a whisper. “I just want you to be okay. To feel safe. Wanted. You
deserve that.”
He was being intimate, tender, close.
Too close.
anyone watching would’ve thought we were together: That I was his. That I had already moved on. Until… I heard a voice so
familiar behind me.
“Liana”
I froze.
That voice.
I pulled back immediately from Simon’s grasp, my heart dropping to my stomach
I turned towards the entrance and I saw him
Killian
He stood a few feet away, eyes dark and burning, his jaw clenched so tight I could almost hear the grind of his teeth. His presence filled the room like a storm
The look on his face…
If looks could kill, Simon would be dead on the floor right now
I gasped “Killian…”
I didn’t even know how to breathe.
Shit Shit Shit
