The early morning sun stretched across the pre-construction site, casting a soft, golden hue over the vast expanse of dirt and surveying flags. Liam adjusted the cuff of his tailored jacket, his gaze scanning the preliminary site plans in his hand. The open lot was quiet except for the faint rustling of a breeze and the distant hum of a truck backing up.

Noah walked beside him, hands shoved into his pockets, his usual playful energy subdued. His eyes roamed over the space, taking in the blank canvas of what would soon become a vibrant residential district.

"It's weird, isn't it?" Noah said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Thinking this place will be filled with families someday—kids on bikes, neighborhood cookouts, all that suburban stuff."

Liam nodded, his focus on the plans. "That's the goal. But before we get there, we need to make sure everything is in place—utilities, permits, site grading. The details matter."

"Of course they do," Noah teased lightly, his smirk returning. "Wouldn't be a Parker Enterprise project without every 'i' dotted and 't' crossed."

Liam shot him a sidelong glance but didn't reply, instead stepping over a shallow trench in the ground. The two continued their walkthrough, occasionally stopping to discuss key areas where roads would connect or green spaces would be developed.

They had just reached the northern boundary of the site when a voice called out from behind them.

"Noah? Is that you?"

Noah froze mid-step. His shoulders stiffened, and he turned slowly, dread flashing across his face. Liam followed his gaze to see a middle-aged couple walking toward them.

The man had a friendly, open smile, his clothes slightly wrinkled but clean. The woman, shorter and rounder, had bright, warm eyes and a slight bounce in her step that made her seem younger than her years. There was no denying their resemblance to Noah.

"Mum? Dad?" Noah's voice came out sharp with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

His mother spread her arms wide as if to hug him, though she stopped short when Noah didn't move. "We're here to see the site, of course! We heard your company was developing this area and thought it'd be a good time to visit. Imagine our luck running into you!"

"You heard?" Noah repeated, suspicion lacing his tone.

His father grinned sheepishly. "We bought one of the houses," he said proudly. "It's not built yet, but we wanted to secure something early. It's a big deal for us."

"You...bought a house?" Noah's voice rose, a mixture of disbelief and frustration.

"Of course we did," his mother said, brushing off his tone. "It's a beautiful area, and we wanted to be close to you. You're always so busy with work; this seemed like a way to stay connected."

Noah glanced at Liam, his face flushing. Liam offered a neutral expression, unsure of how to navigate the sudden shift in mood.

His mother's gaze landed on Liam, her smile widening as if she'd just uncovered a delightful secret. "And you must be Liam Parker, Noah's business partner. We've heard a lot about you. I'm Mae, and this is my husband, Ray."

"Mum," Noah interrupted, his tone sharper than intended, tinged with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. His face flushed, and he quickly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.

He was used to brushing off rumors about him and Liam—those were part of the territory. But hearing it from his own mother felt different. Maybe it was because it came from her, or maybe, deep down, it was because of something else he wasn't ready to examine.

"What? I'm just saying," Mae continued innocently, though the gleam in her eyes betrayed her teasing intent. "It's nice to see you working with someone who clearly brings out the best in you."

Liam's posture stiffened, and he felt heat rise to his neck. "We, uh, work well together," he said carefully, his voice measured.

"I can see that," Noah's mother replied, her eyes flicking back and forth between them. "It's rare to find someone you trust so much—someone you can spend so much time with and still look this comfortable."

Noah groaned audibly, running a hand through his hair. "Mum, please."

"What? I'm just saying," Mae said with a shrug, though the playful look in her eyes remained. "You seem happy. That's all."

Liam cleared his throat, desperate to redirect the conversation. "If you'd like, I can walk you through the project's plans. It's still in the pre-construction phase, but we're confident in its potential."

Ray nodded enthusiastically, though his mother's attention lingered on Noah. "It's been a while since we've seen you," she said softly, her tone losing its teasing edge. "You're always so busy these days."

"I've been working," Noah replied, avoiding her gaze. His voice was clipped, defensive.

"We know," Ray said gently. "We're proud of you, son. But we miss you, too."

Liam, standing awkwardly to the side, pretended to adjust his plans, giving them a semblance of privacy. Still, he couldn't help but notice the tension in Noah's posture, the way his usual ease had been replaced with discomfort.

After a brief walkthrough of the site—during which Liam explained the project's vision while Noah stayed unusually quiet—Noah's parents finally prepared to leave.

His mother gave him a tight hug, whispering something in his ear that made him groan softly, though he didn't repeat what she said. His father shook Liam's hand warmly, thanking him for "looking out for our boy."

As they walked away, Noah stood frozen for a moment, watching their retreating figures.

"They seem...supportive," Liam said cautiously.

Noah let out a sharp, uneasy laugh. "Supportive? Yeah, if by supportive you mean absolutely impossible. Did you hear her? Acting like we're—" He cut himself off, dragging a hand through his hair, the movement sharp with frustration and something else he couldn't name.

"I know," Liam muttered, his tone clipped as he kept his eyes on the ground. His jaw tightened, his usually polished demeanor slipping just enough to reveal cracks. "I didn't think the rumors would follow us across the ocean to London." His voice carried an edge of embarrassment mixed with irritation, though even he couldn't quite pinpoint where the frustration was aimed—Noah's mother, the rumors, or the growing knot in his chest.

The implication hung heavily between them, unspoken but impossible to ignore. Liam felt the same prickling discomfort he always did when the rumors came up, but this time, it stung differently. It wasn't just annoyance—it was something deeper, a gnawing unease that made him question why the words affected him so much. Each time, it forced him to confront things he'd been meticulously burying beneath layers of reason and propriety.

Noah exhaled sharply, breaking the silence. "They don't get it—how much I've had to prove myself just to be here. And now they're buying a house like it's some big family reunion or something."

Liam glanced at him, hesitating before speaking. "They care about you," he offered, his tone softer but still cautious.

"Too much," Noah shot back, forcing a grin that felt more like a grimace. His usual charisma was dulled, replaced by an uncharacteristic tension. "Come on, let's get out of here before they show up with a photo album or, God forbid, a picnic basket."

Liam gave a tight nod, falling into step beside him, but the tension between them didn't ease as they hailed a cab. Noah's strides were brisk, almost impatient, and Liam could feel the weight of his unspoken thoughts pressing between them.

As they approached the car, Noah's energy seemed to dim further. His usual lightheartedness was missing, replaced by a quiet that felt too heavy for the situation. Liam opened the door but lingered for a moment, watching Noah fidget with his keys. "They're proud of you, you know," Liam said finally, his voice quieter, almost tentative.

Noah paused, his hand hovering over the car door. "Yeah, maybe," he said, but the words were laced with doubt. He gave a half-shrug, his expression unreadable. "Let's just go."

Liam climbed in, but his mind lingered on Noah's reaction. He hadn't seen him like this before—vulnerable, almost raw—and it unsettled him. The rumors, his parents, the weight of their expectations...it all seemed to hit Noah harder than he let on. And, annoyingly, it stirred something in Liam, something he wasn't ready to define.

As the car started, Noah kept his eyes on the road, but his mother's voice echoed in his mind: You seem happy. The words unsettled him in a way he couldn't shake. Happy? Was he? And why had she looked at Liam when she said it?

For the first time, Noah let himself wonder if there was even a sliver of truth to her words. And why the thought of it—of there being any truth at all—felt both terrifying and impossible.