Chapter 24

Liam's POV

My heart was so heavy when I left Bella in the bathroom. I wanted so much to console her. I am itching to beat the ass of that idiot guy who got her pregnant. If he ever sees that piece shit, he'll surely give him a piece of his mind.

When I came to the living room, I found Taylor standing by the door looking smug. While aunt Agnes and Sophie are on the sofa watching TV.

When Sophie saw me, she extended her arms to me, asking for a lift, which I happily obliged. She cuddled in the nook of my neck and hugged me. I hugged her close to me, feeling all sorts of emotions, and kissed her head.

'" Daddy, where's mommy? Is she okay?" She whispered in my ear, scared for Taylor to hear her.

" She's still inside, sweetheart, but she's okay now. She'll come out in a moment, alright?" I whispered back.

" Are you leaving now?" She added, clutching me so tight.

" Yes, my sweet, but I'll be back to check on you, okay? You take care of mommy for me, alright? Make her smile and happy. I don't want her to be sad anymore." I told her, and she nodded her little head.

" Okay, daddy. Please come back soon, but don't bring the witch with you. I'm scared of her. She hates me." She whispered, not so quietly, that Taylor raised her brows and tapped her feet as if she's getting bored.

" Okay, sweetheart, I promise." I chuckled and kissed her chubby cheek, then passed her to aunt Agnes. I walked to Taylor's side and kissed her cheek.

" Finally! She doesn't look so sick for you to stay the night, Liam." She said indignantly and gave me a suspicious look.

" She was, yesterday and last night, Taylor. But if she isn't, I would still take care of her, end of the story. Why are you here, anyway? I thought you're not attending the wedding?" I told her with a bored tone and irritation.

" Because I realized I was childish, babe. I missed you.' She answered, pretending to be sweet. I want to gag. She tried kissing me on the mouth and embraced me. But I took her arms away from me and averted my face.

" Taylor, there are people here, and there's a child present. Behave yourself. Let's go back to the house and talk. This is not the right place for this." I reprimanded her and opened the door. I turned to aunt Agnes and Sophie and bid goodbye.

" Aunt Agnes, I'll go back to the house for a while. I will come back to check on Sophie and Bella. Please talk to her and tell her I'll come back later." I told aunt Agnes, and she nodded, smiling sadly.

" Why do you have to come back? She looks fine to me." Taylor retorted with an irritated face and looked at Sophie with indifference.

" Taylor, I am a doctor. It's a protocol to check on my patient's progress even if they look fine. She had a high fever yesterday. There's a possibility it will come back if not treated accordingly. Do not question my decision on how to treat my patients." I answered her with an edge on my voice. I gritted my teeth and left her.

I am so pissed with her attitude. I know that she's jealous of Bella, but to take it out on a little girl ticks me off. I don't know why I'm with her this long. I must have lost my mind to ever like this haughty woman.

She followed me to our house shouting at me to wait for her. I went inside and went straight to the bar. I needed a stiff drink to be able to survive this. She marched to me and put her hands on her waist with blazing eyes.

" I am asking you, Liam! Why do you have to spend the night and the whole morning there, when you can always check on her without sleeping there?! You are just looking for an excuse to be close to that bitch." She shouted, and I cursed under my breath.

" Who are you calling a bitch?!" Before I can answer her, I heard Collette's booming voice. Todd and my parents came strolling in with her. She's throwing daggers at Taylor, folding her arms on her chest. My parents were looking at her with indifference as well.

" That bitch who's pretending to be innocent, Bella, who else?! She's trying to steal my man!" She answered Collette, puffing her breath and waving her hand.

" Girl, don't you dare call my best friend a bitch because the way I see it, the only bitch here is you! She didn't do anything to you. You are only jealous because she's beautiful, and my brother doesn't look at you the way he's looking at her." Collette is firing up now. I looked to my parents for a rescue.

The last thing I want is a fight between my sister and my soon-to-be ex-girlfriend. I did not like that she called Bella a bitch, and I will tell her that.

" Taylor, we don't appreciate you attacking poor Bella like that. That girl was nothing but nice to you, and she didn't do anything wrong. Liam stayed the night because little Sophie was so sick yesterday. Do not jump to conclusions based on your jealousy." My mom scolded her, yet Taylor just laughed menacingly.

" Ha! Who are you calling innocent!? If she were a saint and so pure, she wouldn't get pregnant at a young age and without a husband, for that matter. She's nothing but a cheap and a flirt woman! I know she's after my Liam! The way she stole glances at him, I know those looks!" She retorted, and my mom gasped at her outbursts.

" That's enough! Taylor, you're overstepping your boundaries! You don't have the right to attack Bella without her knowing! She did nothing of all you accused her of doing! She's a loving mother who is so concerned with her child. That's why I volunteered to help!" I shouted at her to everyone's astonishment. I cannot hold it anymore. The things she's saying about Bella enraged me.

" That's exactly what she's doing, Liam! She's using her daughter to get your attention. She is nothing but manipulative and a flirt! For all we know, she's instructed her daughter to get attached to you so she can keep you close!" She didn't stop, and I did what I think will stop her. I slapped her.

The sound of a hand making contact echoed in the living room. Everyone gasped, and everything went silent. Taylor's face was to the side with the impact of Collete's palm.

" I couldn't take it anymore. She's too much! You don't have the right to call her names and keep Sophie out of this! You don't know her, so don't say nasty words towards her!" Collette was seething in anger.

" You dare put your hand on me?! How dare you hit me?!" She gritted her teeth and hissed at Collette.

" I will gladly add another one if you won't shut up, you snobby bitch." Collette answered and went closer. I stopped her and held her arm.

"I want you out of our house, Taylor, and never come back. We are over! I cannot believe I cared for an arrogant and proud woman like you. To attack the poor woman and her child like that is way beyond you. You're despicable." I told her, keeping my anger in control.

" You heard him, now scram bitch." Collette ordered and extended her hand to show her the way out. Before she left, she throws daggers at my family and me and said.

" This isn't over! You will pay for humiliating me and for laying your hands on me!" She pointed her hand at me and went out of the door angrily.

I inhaled deeply and poured myself another drink. Nobody talked for a while, then Collette's phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and smiled, she mouthed Bella, and I got nervous all of a sudden.

" Hello gorgeous, what's up?" She answered on the 2nd ring.

" What is it, babe?" She asked worriedly, and I looked at her curiously.

She was silent for a while, listening to whatever Bella was saying. Then I heard her scream so loud.

" You have a date?! With who?! I'm coming over right now! We have to get ready! I will make you so beautiful. He won't want to bring you home." She screamed and laughed. I was so shocked, and when her words sink in, I cursed under my breath and threw my glass on the wall near the fireplace.