Chapter 3

Liam’s p.o.v I sauntered down the stairs, massaging my temple due to the sharp pain in my head. My eyes caught sight of Bella sitting next to my grandfather and a wave of anger coursed through me. My grandfather shot me a glare as soon as his eyes landed on me. He reached for a paper that was on the table and threw it at me. “I think I deserve an explanation for this rubbish going on.” I picked up the paper and saw that it was the divorce paper. I ran my fingers through my hair in anger and walked towards where they were seated. “There’s no need for explanation. It’s exactly as what you have read.” My grandfather scoffed. “You are not divorcing Bella for any reason whatsoever. Whatever is on that paper is null and void.” I bit the corner of my lips in an attempt to control my anger and turned my gaze to Bella who quickly lowered her gaze as soon as we locked eyes. “You went to report to grandfather because you don’t want a divorce? How childish can you be Isabella? Why are you stressing an old man over something that’s already done and settled?” She shook her head in denial as she stared back at me with anger in her eyes. “Why would I bother Grandpa with something like that? I only told him about it as I was leaving the house and he asked me to stay until he speaks with you.” “You lying bitch,” I yelled in anger. Suddenly, Grandfather stood up and walked threateningly towards me while waving his finger at me. “Shut you! How dare you speak to Bella this way? What has gotten into you? Do you know the sacrifices Bella made to make sure you were sane and happy after we lost my children; your parents? How dare you pick that gold digger over her? Over my living body would that social climber step foot into this house, you hear me?” I clenched my fist in anger, for every derogatory word he called Lily, I could feel my anger rising to the top. “Enough of the insults! What has Lily done to warrant all of these? She has been nothing but kind to you and always trying to get your approval even before I got married but yet all you’ve ever done is to call her names and try to bring her down,” I yelled back at him. I turned my gaze towards Isabella and let out a bitter chuckle. “This woman here is the pretender and hypocrite. When Mom and Dad died, when I needed comfort the most, she was out visiting her lover in his home and going on different dates with him.” “What?” Isabella and my grandfather both echoed at the same time. Isabella stood up from the sofa and walked towards me. “How can you stoop so low to peddle such silly cheap lies against me? I won’t let you tarnish my name just because you want a divorce. Enough!” “I have known Bella for years, even before you two got married. Do you think I would believe these silly lies you and that wench cooked up? Be a man and sort your marriage out,” my grandfather said sternly, as he glared at me menacingly. “If you love Isabella so much, why not marry her for yourself? My decision is final!” I said, frustrated at how he was trying to control me. “Liam!” Isabella yelled as she stared at me with her mouth slackened as tears rolled down her cheeks. The look of disbelief and shock in my grandfather's eyes made my heart twinge a bit. I wanted to tell him that I didn’t really mean what I had just said but at the same, I wanted to stand my ground to let him know that my decision was final. I don’t love Isabella anymore, I only loved her momentarily when Lily left but now that she’s back my heart only beats for her. Why can’t they see that? Why can’t they understand that? Grandfather shook his head and closed his eyes for a moment. “I wonder where we went wrong raising you. Go do whatever you like but just know you aren’t bringing that woman into my home or company. If you insist on divorcing Bella and marrying that woman, then you’ll have to step down as the president.” And with that, he left. I turned to Isabella and made sure the anger and hatred I felt were well depicted on my face. “You see what you have done? You have succeeded in making the only family I have left hate me. Congratulations Isabella! I f**king hate you. Just leave already, haven’t you done enough?” Her lips wobbled as tears began to stream down her face with her voice slightly above a whisper. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I will go talk to him, you are his grandson, I am sure he only said those words out of anger. Everything I have done for you, I did because I love you, I don’t know where I went wrong or what happened but I have always loved loved and I still love you. Please, Liam, let us fix this, let us fix us. I am ready to do whatever you want.” I let out a wry chuckle. “You will do whatever I want right? Then let me go. I am tired of this marriage I do not want it anymore. I just want to be with the woman I love. You also have someone you love, why not just go to him? Why are you making things difficult for both of us?” She shook her head in denial. “ why do you keep saying that? I do not love anyone else. You are the only person I have ever loved since high school.” I let out a tired sigh and turned to leave. “Enough of this Bella.” But before I could take any step, She grabbed me by the arm and pulled me towards her with great force. “Please Liam, just listen to me. I swear I have never cheated on you, believe me, please. I have only ever loved you my whole life. Please don’t destroy what we have built based on assumptions.” “I do not want to hear any more of this. Let me go!” I said, struggling to release myself from her grip. Despite my several attempts to release myself from her grip, she persisted and wouldn’t let go of me. With my anger already growing, I pushed her forcefully away from me. As Isabella stumbled backward, a soft thud echoed through the room and an unexpected cry filled the room.  A gasp escaped my lips and my eyes widened in shock as I took in the sight before me. With tears still streaming down her face, her head collided with the table, and she crumbled to the floor. I rushed over to where she lay on the floor and my breath caught in my throat when I saw blood trickling down her forehead, staining the floor with her eyes pressed tightly together.