Chapter 22

After my shower, I put on my black shorts and white off-shoulder sweater. I let my wet hair down and put a lip tint on my lips. I don't have to wear makeup inside the house. I grabbed my phone and went out.

I found my baby girl on Liam's lap at the table. Mom is making pancakes, and there are bacon and egg on the table too. My stomach grumbled when I inhaled the yummy smell of pancakes and bacon. I can't help but blush every time I remembered that smack on the lips a while ago.

" Good morning, sweetheart. Why didn't you wake me up?" I kissed my daughter's head and held her face. I can see she's still weak but not hot anymore.

" Nana said I should not wake you up mommy, you and uncle Liam looked tired. You took care of me all night, so we let you sleep more," She said weakly and pouted. Her hazel eyes stared sadly at me. I squeezed her face softly and kissed the tip of her nose.

" Thank you, my sweet but mommy is fine. You know I will always take care of you, right?" I smiled at her, and she nodded with a smile. Her cute dimples coming out of her cheek, a copy cat of her father's. I stole a glance at Liam, who has been staring at me since I came and knelt in front of Sophie.

The emotions written in his eyes are unfathomable. There's something in the way he's looking at me that had me blushing all over again.

" Good morning, honey. Come on, take your seat, and eat your breakfast. Liam, you too, hon, you only had coffee." My mom interrupted our moment, and I stood up, as usual, blushing from roots to tips. I heard Liam chuckled, and I looked at him. He then put on a poker face.

" Good morning, mom. Thanks for feeding Sophie. I guess I was a bit tired. I didn't even notice she's not beside me anymore." I apologized to my mom and smiled gratefully at her.

" Oh, I'm sure you didn't, babe. You were snuggling to me and was feeling comfortable." Liam teased me, and I glared at him. My mom laughed and agreed with him. He winked at me on top of Sophie's head, and I just pouted.

" Oh, yes! You two looked so cute snuggled like that. I should have taken a photo. Bella thought you're her teddy, Liam." Mom laughed, and Liam too. I glared at them both and covered my very red face.

" It's not funny, mom, and you're not helping." I stood up and poured myself a coffee. Sophie went down from Liam's lap and went to her Nana. Mom scooped her up to her arms and kissed her cheek.

" What does my little Princess want to do?" Mom asked her.

" Can we watch cartoons, Nana? Let's leave mommy and daddy to eat their breakfast." I choked when I heard her say those words and looked at her with wide-eyes. I heard Liam coughed as well. I looked at mom's shocked face, and I glanced at Liam. He looked at me with wide eyes too. I swallowed hard.

" Sweetheart, why do you call Liam your daddy?" Mom asked her. She just lifts her shoulders like it's nothing.

" Isn't he, my daddy, Nana? I look like him, and he loves me, and I love him too. Uncle Liam, will you be my daddy?" She answered shyly and peeked at Liam from my mom's neck. She looked sad and hopeful. I had a hard time swallowing.

The lump in my throat and the pain in my heart prevented me from talking. I stood up and ran to the bathroom. I locked myself inside and let my tears fall. I covered my mouth to suppress my sobs. I slid down the floor and sobbed.

I was so busy hiding my feelings for Liam and my fear that I forgot my daughter's feelings. She must have confused Liam as her father, especially that Liam is giving her special attention. Am I a bad mother? Is it right to deprive my daughter of his father's affection? Am I doing the right thing by not telling Liam the truth?

I was hiccupping when I heard the soft knock on the door. I covered my mouth to silenced my hiccups. Then I heard Liam's voice asking me to open the door.

" Bella? Baby, open the door." He asked softly.

" Please, Liam, give me a moment. I will come out in a few minutes, okay?" I told him tearfully in between hiccups.

" Bella, open up, please. You're obviously not okay, love. Please open the door." He begged. I think he's sitting on the floor, too, probably leaning his back on the wall beside the door.

" Baby?" He called again.

I sighed and opened the door slightly. I peeked out and saw him leaning his back beside the door. Our eyes met, and I saw the emotions in his eyes. My eyes automatically teared up. He cursed and stood up. He went inside the bathroom and sat beside me. He scooped me to his lap and cradled my head in his neck.

I cried my heart out. I cried for us, for my daughter, and him. He held me close to him and let me cry. He kept his lips on my head and rubbed my back, whispering sweet nothings.

" Sweetheart, stop. I was taken aback, but it's wonderful if she wants to call me dad. I don't mind at all. You don't have to be upset about it, love." He consoled me while wiping my tears with his thumb.

" I just did not expect she'll say that and ask you to be her dad. I was so busy with life that I neglected my daughter's needs. She needed a father, and I cannot even tell her who he is because I'm scared. He didn't know, Liam. He didn't know it was me that night, he was so drunk, and he had a girlfriend." I told him, hoping he'll get the hint.

" The more you should tell him, love. He should know that because of his irresponsible drinking, he violated an innocent girl. You should not make excuses for him, baby. He should act like a man and be responsible." He said with so much resentment.

" Liam, I have to tell you something," I whispered and burrowed my face on his neck.

" What is it, baby?" But before I can say more, there was a knock on the door.

" Liam, there's someone here looking for you. She said she's your girlfriend." We both stiffen, and I felt like cold water was dumped on me. I almost told Liam the truth and forgot about his girlfriend. I scrambled to my feet and left Liam's lap.

I heard him curse and raked his fingers to his head. He banged his head on the wall and closed his eyes. When he opened it, he looked at me with a crestfallen face. He reached out his hand and touched my face.

" I have to go and talk to her, babe. I'll come back later, or I'll call you, okay? You haven't told me what you were about to tell me. I'm sorry, babe, I have to go." I nodded and smiled sadly at him.

" Thanks, Liam, for everything," I told him, and he pulled me to my feet with him and hugged me tightly. We were lost in our thoughts and emotions when we heard another knock. We let go and stared at each other. He kissed my forehead lovingly and placed his forehead on top of mine. Then he kissed me on the lips before he went out.

I was left brokenhearted and dazed. How can I forget that he is taken? I almost made the mistake of telling him the truth. I can't ruin his future, his happiness, and hurt Taylor. I am doomed, right? But Liam's touch and kiss felt so real, felt so right. Should I fight for him? Should I tell him what I truly feel?