It did not surprise me to see Johnson because I knew he was going to come as his doctor discharged him today. He had nowhere to go, so I couldn't abandon him when his mind wasn't stable. The doctor advised me to keep him in the family as there's a high chance for him to regain his condition early.

Dima was okay with this and wanted to help him out as well. I was shocked because I did not expect him to enter my room. His touch, when I unknowingly urged zipping my dress, gave me goosebumps. My body went cold.

I turned around instantly and asked him to stay put and shut the door on his face, as I had to catch my breath. The touch... I'd never forgotten his touch. I needed fresh air, as I knew what was going to happen to me. My body shook continuously, reminding me of that day. I walked towards the window, took deep breaths, and looked at the cheerful people on the ground.

Dima, Mia, Emma, and everyone talking, laughing, and hugging each other. It calmed my throbbing soul. I didn't know how long I stood there, but when I heard noises; I turned around and gasped in horror as my bathroom door stood crippled. I dashed towards my room, imagining scenarios as Johnson was the last person who stood behind it.

Did Anthony hurt him? Who broke my-

My thoughts couldn't even finish as I saw Zearo sitting on the other side of my bed. Did he do that to the door? He held his left shoulder, squeezing it every so often, making my doubt come true.

Not sure whether he was worried about me or it was just a facade he tried to maintain, but when he asked about my wellbeing, I was surprised.

My grandma's tiara was the best gift anybody could give me. I wanted to snatch it from his hand but couldn't as what he spoke was true and I was being a bitch as I kept on lying to my people.

After he placed it on my head, I touched the tiara, as it fit so beautifully on my head. I didn't want to cry and to be honest, my tear glands were empty, as even if I wanted to, I just couldn't. Taking a deep breath, I walked past him but had to wipe that shimmer on my lips as I looked like a Dracula in those bloody red lips.

He kept on staring at me. I didn't know why. I felt a weird flutter in my stomach whenever his eyes landed on me. I did mock him for staring at me and he shamelessly accepted that. How shameless of him. And right at that moment, I caught a red mark on his collarbone and I knew what exactly it was.

Have you ever felt the pain when you accidentally touch the thorns of a rose plant or any thorny bushes for that matter? After looking at the mark a little closer, I felt as if someone put those thorns in my entire body.

Never thought I'd have to hide someone else's love bite on my husband's body, let alone a day that was ours. But then again, we were just acting. I couldn't interfere in his personal life as I had no right to. My blood boiled, and I surprised myself as the words left my mouth, "It's better to hide hickeys from your loved ones before you make yourselves present in front of my family."

His body froze as I kept walking towards him. Perhaps he was not even aware of that mark? I carefully looked at his face, which went pale and chuckled lightly at our situation. I held my concealer and dabbed it on the mark, careful not to leave any part visible.

"I'm sorry." He apologized, and I understood why. I looked him in the eyes and composed myself for what I was going to say next. "You don't have to be sorry for this. We are not accountable for what is going on in our personal life." I paused. I wanted him to soak in every word that I wanted him to understand.

"Until and unless that affects what we do. If you hurt my family and that includes if you get caught with other women by my family then.." I sighed. I knew it wouldn't even affect him if I warned him. And to be honest, I couldn't even threaten him as he can harm me much more than I give credit to him.

"Then?" He questioned. His lips got closer to my ear and I shivered with the sensation. Moving away from him, I concluded, "I can never harm you, as you can do much more to me. But, I wanted to inform you we are close to finding where your mother is." There, I said it. I didn't want to indulge in physical torture or something that would end us being hurt physically. I had to use my mind to deal with him and finish what we started.

Brian informed me that in a few days, I'd get to know where Isabella was. And I didn't want to give him false hope, but considering the chances that we both have to take, I had to keep him on a leash.

Not bothering to give him time to argue, I walked past him and out of the house pretty fast. I knew I triggered him and didn't want to see the aftermath. I heard some cursings, but that was all.

I felt a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach as I could imagine what he was going through. I regretted using his mother to keep him on a leash, but that's all I had to control him. I didn't know the length of their relationship or how deep it was. But one thing was pretty clear: he was desperate to meet his mother.

"Liara!" Keryl rushed towards me when I was just about to step inside the garden, halting my movement.

"Jesus! Why'd you have to scare me like that?!" I asked her through gritted teeth.

"You can't just go alone! Where the hell is he?" Oh, she is talking about him. I wondered whether he'd like to make his presence known soon.

Just as I was ready to give a proper explanation, I felt a touch on my waist. Slowly, his hand snaked around me and I was engulfed by his manly scent. I noticed him inhaling my scent as he brought his nose to my neck.

"Oh, I have to bleach my eyes!" I heard Emma groan, and Keryl stared at us with pure love. A lone tear falling down her eyes and I swear I wanted to push that guy so hard. I studied my surroundings and elbowed him pretty hard when I saw no one was looking at us.

"You..." He spoke but started coughing and I smirked at him. He better keeps his filthy hand away from me. But to my surprise, his claws circled my waist again, and I groaned.

"Deep breath, sweetheart. Your heart is beating crazily." His masculine voice, too close for my liking.

"Keep your claws away from me." I tried pushing him away, but his grip was tighter than before. Damn him!

"Oh! What a wonderful sight to behold!" Dima came rushing in and kissed my forehead. She did the same to him, but he didn't loosen his grip and that ended with us giving Dima a bear hug.

"Look at the love birds! What a pleasant sight. And Zearo isn't even hiding her love bite! I didn't know Liara was so aggressive while showing her love." Mia chimed in and my head whipped towards his cleavage, earning a pain because of sudden movement.

The asshole removed the concealer and showed off someone else's mark to the world as mine. "That was cheap," I whispered through gritted teeth.

"Using my mom to control me is far cheaper than this, baby." He came closer. Too close. I could feel every inch of his toned body. He slowly removed a strand of my hair away from my neck and placed his lips gently on it. I gripped my hands as Dima and Keryl kept on awing at us. When they turned their head away from me, I stumped on his feet so hard as the frustration level was above par.

His closeness started suffocating me. I was sure that mentioning his mom's name was not a good idea, and I was feeling bad about it until he came down and showed his vulgarity.

"You lovebirds have a party to attend. Keep this to your room, alright?" Olivia, I didn't even notice when she came and handed me a bouquet of red roses. Zearo loosened his grip and greeted her as she tried to get me past the horrible public display of love.

"Look at my memory! I came to take you guys to the party but ended up looking at how adorable you both look." Dima kissed my hands and then took us towards the crowd. Zearo not loosening his grip and Anthony was nowhere to be found.

They paved a huge path for my entrance, with orchids and lavender all around. Small lights hanging like stars in the sky. An exquisite sight. All the guests stopped talking and stared at us as we walked in. I held Zearo's hand this time, and he gently accepted it. We walked gracefully and towards the center stage.

I asked the party to be minimal, and it was nothing but minimal. For my relief, Anthony made sure that no paparazzi were allowed. Just my employees and the business partners. I wanted to strike Andersons out of the list as they were completely unaware that I, their daughter, was alive.

Keryl and Dima urged me to invite them, as they should know I'm the daughter of Samantha D'Waner. I could proudly scream at the top of my lungs that I'm a proud daughter. I knew the risk involved, but when I could marry a Mafia for the sake of my family, they were just flies in the house.

"Wifey, we have guests to attend. Be here and not in some dreamland." Zearo's voice rang like an alarm to me. I stiffened, but then calmed down as Olivia walked towards me with her baby boy.

"Liara! You said you wut waith for me. But you married him!" Charlie, Olivia's eight-year-old son, dashed towards me with a pouty expression on his face. I withdrew my hand from Zearo's hold and crouched down, enveloping Charlie into a tight hug.

"I'd marry you anyway once you grow up, baby." I kissed him on his cheeks and he turned into a tomato, blushing.

"Wouldn't your husband be jealous of us then?" He asked his furrowed eyebrows and pointed a finger towards Zearo.

"I'd be glad if I had company. I wouldn't mind her marrying you." Zearo crouched down beside me and poked him in his nose.

"I like him, Liara!." Charlie squealed and hugged Zearo, unbalancing him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. He can be very expressive sometimes." Olivia held Charlie and apologized to Zearo as he was dusting his pants.

"Kids should be expressive and he is a muscular guy, aren't ya?!" Zearo replied and gave a small high five to Charlie, who then continued hopping around cheerfully.

"Uh, Zearo, it would be nice if you hide that Mark, please." Olivia pointed at the mark and he understood what she meant and hid it.

"Whatever you guys did, please be careful and keep it healthy. We don't want you guys to get hurt." Her words were more towards me than to him. He looked at me curiously, and I took in what he wanted to ask.

"She drafted our contract," I explained it to him. He just blew a deep breath and nodded.

He had a distant look on his face the entire time I introduced him to my colleagues. I tried to limit the conversation as I too was getting tired. I exhaled when I almost covered the guests I wanted to and realized that Andersons were nowhere to be found. I was glad that they didn't come.

Zearo held my hand and moved past the crowd towards a vacant spot, nodding at the people on the way. I didn't question it, as I also needed some air. Olivia came rushing in and handed her a glass of water from a server who offered us. I thanked her, but Zearo didn't bother looking at her and I felt his grip loosening.

"I need a drink." He announced and walked away from us. His actions were so clear that he did not like it when I brought his mom into the conversation.

"Liara, you can't always stay cold to him. Let him loose and talk to him about things. His actions affect your plan and you know that." Olivia explained to me and I took in her words.

"Give him his space and confide in him, at least for some matters, if not all. I've noticed his actions, and he's trying his best to act like a couple. Live a little." She said and pointed towards him. I didn't know what exactly living a little mean. But I had to talk to that man. His coldness irked me.

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