The morning sunlight filtered through the large kitchen windows, casting a warm glow over the polished marble floors. I moved quietly, flipping eggs and toasting bread, trying to focus on the ordinary act of breakfast. But the memory of the previous day's chaos clung to me, refusing to fade.
Grace had approached me, a false smile plastered on her face, only to slam her hand against her own cheek, shrieking as if I had attacked her. The noise had drawn everyone into the kitchen—my adopted father, Liam, John, and the household staff. John, misjudging the situation, had slapped me in a flash of anger, his confusion written across his face. And Liam… Liam had not uttered a single word. His eyes, dark as storm clouds, had followed the scene silently, the tension in his jaw palpable.
Now, sitting in the stillness of his office, Liam replayed the morning over and over in his mind. His hand rested on the mouse as he brought up the kitchen CCTV footage on the large screen before him. The grainy video captured every moment in sharp detail. Grace had approached Fiona calmly, then the sudden slap against her own hand and her theatrics—the scream, the tears, the exaggerated pain—everything was recorded.
Liam's fingers tightened around the mouse. "So, this is how she plans to manipulate the family," he muttered under his breath, voice low and dangerous. Every flicker of Grace's calculated deceit sent a wave of cold fury through him. He had always been protective of Fiona, but now the intensity had escalated. He could feel his obsession boiling over—this girl, his sister-in-law-to-be, had crossed a line by attempting to humiliate Fiona.
He paused the footage on the exact frame where Grace's hand smacked herself, and Fiona froze, eyes wide with shock and hurt. "You think you can play games with her…?" Liam's voice was quiet, but every word carried a sharp edge, like a blade hidden in velvet.
Liam leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose as he thought carefully. He could confront her openly, expose her in front of the families, shatter her little performance, and make it clear that Fiona was untouchable. Grace had underestimated the depths of his protectiveness—and his capacity for revenge.
Later that evening, he called Grace to the study under the pretense of discussing wedding arrangements. The young girl entered with a smug, practiced confidence, unaware of the storm brewing behind Liam's calm demeanor.
"Grace," Liam began, voice deceptively calm, "I've seen everything this morning." His gaze was fixed, unflinching. "Do you know what happens to people who try to manipulate others in my house?"
Grace swallowed, her lips pressed tightly together. There was a flicker of unease in her eyes. "I-I don't know what you mean…" she stammered.
Liam's jaw tightened. "Oh, you do. You think the family wouldn't notice, that no one would see your little act? But I have proof. Every second of your… theatrics…" He gestured to the CCTV monitor that had been silently recording. Grace's eyes widened as he pressed a button, bringing up the footage of her slapping herself, her face contorted in fake pain, Fiona standing frozen, shocked, and bewildered.
"You see this?" Liam's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "You humiliated her in front of everyone, but I've watched. I've recorded. And if you ever try something like this again…" He leaned closer, his dark gaze piercing her. "I will show this footage to every member of the William and Smith families. Everyone will know who really caused the chaos."
Grace's smugness faltered, replaced by panic. "Y-you wouldn't… would you?" she whispered.
"I wouldn't hesitate," Liam said coldly. "Fiona is mine to protect, and you—" his hand flicked toward her with a barely restrained motion of warning "—will never cross her again."
He could see the fear growing in her eyes, the power of his threat sinking in. Liam didn't need to raise his hand. The sheer intensity of his presence, the unwavering gaze, and the knowledge of the recorded evidence were enough to break her carefully constructed façade.
Grace left the study in near tears, her confidence shattered. Liam leaned back in his chair, letting the silence of the office envelop him. Protecting Fiona had always been instinctive, but now it felt personal, obsessive. He would allow no one to touch her, manipulate her, or diminish her in any way.
After ensuring Grace had retreated, Liam finally allowed himself a moment of reflection. Fiona's wellbeing was his priority, her safety and dignity his obsession. He replayed the morning's events in his mind, noting every detail—the fear in her eyes, the tension in her shoulders, the silent resignation she carried. He could not allow anyone, not even family, to hurt her again.
Hours later, he found himself at Fiona's door, quietly entering her room. She was reading, the faint light from the bedside lamp casting soft shadows across her face. She looked up briefly, startled by his presence, but he merely nodded and sat on the edge of her bed.
"You're safe," he murmured, the words soft but firm. "No one will hurt you. Not Grace, not anyone."
Fiona's lips pressed together, a mixture of relief and unease flickering in her eyes. "I… I'm fine," she whispered, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
Liam leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You don't have to face them alone. Not anymore. Ever." His voice was low, possessive, and his dark eyes held the weight of a promise—obsession and protection intertwined in a single, unyielding intent.
Fiona looked down, unsure of what to say. The emotions swirling in her chest—fear, gratitude, confusion, and something darker—were almost too much to process. But she knew one thing: Liam would not let anyone hurt her again.
As Liam stood and left, the air in the room seemed to settle. But the tension remained, a silent reminder of the power dynamics at play, the obsession that surrounded her, and the shadow of control Liam wielded. Fiona's heart raced, a mixture of fear and a strange, unspoken longing.
And somewhere deep inside, she realized that nothing would ever be the same again. Liam's silent vengeance had not just protected her—it had claimed a part of her that she hadn't realized was already his.