Chapter Seventy Four
Liam’s envy had taken a hold of him, and his mind raced with twisted thoughts and devious plans. He knew that Aiden’s fondness for liquor could be his Achilles’ heel, and he saw this as an opportunity to exploit. Liam would show Aiden that he was not worthy of Chloe’s love and make him look like a fool in front of her. As Liam approached Aiden at the bar, he noticed that he had already been drinking.
“Ah, Aiden, my friend, it’s so good to see you,” Liam said, putting on his most charming smile. “Let me buy you a drink.”
Aiden, not one to turn down a free drink, accepted Liam’s offer. They chatted and laughed as they drank, but Liam had a hidden agenda. He kept ordering drinks for Aiden, pushing him to drink more and more until Aiden became inebriated.
Liam continued to ply Aiden with drinks, slipping shots of whiskey and tequila into his hand whenever he had the chance. Aiden’s speech became slurred, and he stumbled when he got up from his stool. Liam could see that Aiden was getting drunk, and he knew it was time to put his plan into action.
“You know, Aiden, I heard that Chloe doesn’t like guys who can’t handle their liquor,” Liam said slyly, hoping to plant a seed of doubt in Aiden’s mind. “She wants a man who can hold his own and take care of her.”
Aiden frowned and shook his head. “That’s not true,” he slurred. “Chloe likes me just the way I am.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
Liam raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that? Because it seems like she’s been spending a lot of time with me lately. Maybe she’s starting to see that I’m the better choice.”
Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about? Chloe and I are happy together. She doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
Liam shrugged. “We’ll see about that. I think I might have a chance with her if you keep acting like this.”
Aiden’s face grew red with anger, and he lurched toward Liam. “You think you’re better than me? You think you can take Chloe away from me? You’re nothing but a low-life Alpha with no class.”
The two men stood nose to nose, glaring at each other. Liam could smell the alcohol on Aiden’s breath, and he knew that he had pushed him too far. He tried to back away, but Aiden swung at him, catching him on the cheekbone.
Liam stumbled backward, holding his face. “You’re going to regret that,” he spat, his jealousy and anger reaching a boiling point. “I’ll make sure Chloe knows what kind of man you really are.”
Chloe arrived at the bar, and Liam’s heart raced with excitement. He wanted to show her that Aiden was not the right man for her. As Aiden slurred his words and stumbled, Chloe’s face turned to disgust. Liam thought he had won.
But then Aiden’s drunkenness turned to aggression. He started to pick fights with other patrons, including Liam. Liam was caught off guard when Aiden landed a punch, hitting him in the eye.
As Liam lay on the ground, nursing his wound, he realized that his jealousy had gotten the best of him. He had lost sight of what was important, and it had cost him. Chloe rushed over to see if he was okay, and Liam knew that he had to come clean.
“I’m sorry, Chloe,” Liam said, wincing in pain. “I let my jealousy and obsession get the best of me. I was wrong to try and come between you and Aiden.”
Chloe looked at Liam with a mix of disappointment and concern. “Liam, what you did was not okay,” she said firmly. “You need to learn to control your emotions and let go of your unhealthy obsession.”
Liam nodded, knowing that she was right. He had to come to terms with the fact that he might never win Chloe back and that he needed to move on. It was time for him to focus on himself and his own happiness.
As Liam walked away from the bar, nursing his bruised ego, he realized that he had learned an important lesson. Love cannot be forced or manipulated. It had to be genuine and mutual. And he knew that he had a lot of work to do on himself before he could find that kind of love again.
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Liam’s heart quickened as he approached the bench where Chloe sat, a vision of beauty in the fading light. Though he had rehearsed his words ad infinitum, his mind seemed to fail him now, leaving him floundering for something to say that would convey the depth of his feelings.
“Good evening, Chloe,” he said, trying to sound nonchalant as he came to a stop before her. She looked up, surprise etched on her lovely features.
“Liam,” she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “What brings you here?”
“I was taking a walk and saw you sitting here,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “I thought I’d stop and say hello.”
Chloe’s smile seemed forced as they sat in silence for a few moments, neither one sure of what to say next. Liam took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.
“Chloe, I must know. Do you still have feelings for me?” he asked, his heart racing.
Chloe looked away, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Liam, you know I always had feelings for you. But you never made a move, and Aiden was there… and I thought maybe it was time to move on.”
Liam felt a pang of regret. He had waited too long, it seemed. But he wasn’t ready to give up yet.
“Chloe, I understand that I was not as clear as I should have been about my feelings for you,” he said, his voice earnest. “But please believe me when I say that I still love you. I always have.”
Chloe looked up at him, her expression a mixture of shock and uncertainty. “What are you saying, Liam?”
“I’m saying that I want to be with you, Chloe,” Liam said, the words tumbling out now in a rush. “I want to make things right between us.”
Chloe looked torn, her gaze shifting from Liam to the ground at her feet. “Liam, I don’t know. Aiden… he’s been good to me. He’s been there for me when you weren’t.”
Liam felt his heart sink. He had always known that Aiden was a threat, but he hadn’t realized just how much ground he had gained in Liam’s absence. But Liam was not one to give up so easily.
“Chloe, please,” he said, taking her hand in his. “I know I messed up, but I promise you that I will never hurt you again. Just give me a chance to make things right between us.”
Chloe looked at him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face. Finally, she nodded slowly. “Okay, Liam. We can try again. But let’s take it slow. Let’s start as friends.”
Liam felt a rush of relief and gratitude wash over him. He squeezed Chloe’s hand tightly, unable to believe his good fortune. “Thank you, Chloe. You won’t regret it. I promise.”
As they walked away from the park, Liam felt a sense of elation that was tempered by a growing sense of unease. Aiden was not going to give up so easily, he knew. But Liam was not about to let that stop him from winning back the woman he loved.
As Liam began to woo Chloe again, he knew that he had to tread carefully. He didn’t want to push her away, but he also didn’t want to give her too much too soon. So, he started small, with little gestures of affection. A bouquet of her favorite flowers here, a surprise dinner date there.