Chapter 22

Twenty-Two

Mia

"Go fetch!"

I threw the ball as hard as I could. Liam laughed beside me, cheering Daisy on like it was a championship game.

"Get it, girl!" he shouted, watching as Daisy tore across the yard, her tail wagging like she was on a mission.

I leaned against the porch railing, trying to catch my breath. A strange mix of calm and dread buzzed in my chest. The late morning sun made everything feel a little more peaceful than it should have, given what was coming.

"She's got way more energy than I thought," Liam said, shaking his head with a grin as Daisy bounded back toward us, the ball clutched proudly in her mouth.

"She's unstoppable," I replied, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. "But hey, at least she'll be wiped out enough to nap for the rest of the day."

"That's the plan," he chuckled, throwing the ball again. Daisy darted off, ready for round two.

I let out a breath, trying to focus on the lightheartedness of the moment, but my thoughts kept drifting to Derek. He'd be here soon, and today wasn't just about hanging out. It was about confronting the truth.

Liam must've felt it, too, because his gaze lingered on the driveway. He was good at playing it cool, but I could tell he was already in that headspace—focused, ready for whatever came next.

The growl of Derek's car engine shattered the peaceful silence, jolting both of us back to reality. Derek's sleek red car rolled up, and I straightened, glancing at Liam. He didn't say a word, just nodded toward the car as Derek stepped out.

"Hey, man!" he called, all smiles like nothing was wrong. "How's it going?"

"Derek," Liam greeted, his tone casual, but there was an edge to it.

Derek's eyes immediately landed on the covered-up Lamborghini. "Whoa, you're keeping the Lambo under wraps? What's that about? Thought you loved showing off that baby."

Liam shrugged. "Thinking about selling it. Gotta keep it spotless for now."

I raised an eyebrow but kept quiet, making a mental note to ask him about that later. The Lambo was his prized possession, and selling it? That was news to me.

Derek chuckled, oblivious. "Man, you're changing. Never thought I'd see the day you'd even think about letting go of that ride."

Liam's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, well, things change."

The tension simmered just beneath the surface as Liam led us inside. I shot him a quick look, knowing this wasn't just some casual catch-up. Today, the truth was coming out one way or another.

As we stepped inside, I grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge, popping the tops off as Liam settled on the couch and flicked on the pre-game show. The noise of sports commentators filled the room, but I knew neither of us was paying much attention to the TV.

"Here you go," I said, handing one beer to Derek and the other to Liam.

"Thanks," Derek said, kicking back and taking a long sip, his eyes glued to the screen as if this was any other Sunday.

Liam nodded his thanks, giving me a quick smile before his focus shifted back to Derek. I could see it in his eyes—this wasn't just about football and beers. He was waiting for the right moment, the perfect opening.

I sank down on the arm of the couch, pretending to watch the game, but my thoughts were miles away, wondering how this would all play out. The air between the three of us was casual on the surface, but underneath, it was buzzing with the weight of what hadn't been said yet.

"So, Liam," Derek started, clearly trying to steer the conversation away from small talk. "Business still booming? Haven't heard much from you since the gala. You've been keeping things quiet."

Liam took a slow sip of his beer, eyes never leaving the screen. "Yeah, you could say that. Been focusing on a few things, keeping my head down."

"Edgewater's still on top, though, right? That place is a machine." Derek grinned, leaning back against the couch cushions.

"Edgewater's doing fine," Liam said, his tone still easy. But there was something sharper now, something that signaled this conversation was about to take a turn. He glanced at me, and I gave him a small nod. Time to stop dancing around it.

Liam leaned forward, setting his beer down on the coffee table. "Actually, Derek, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about."

Derek's smile faltered just a bit, his eyes flicking between me and Liam. "Oh? What's up?"

Liam shifted slightly, the pre-game show still babbling on in the background, but it felt like everything else had gone silent. "It's about Riverstone. And Golden Rock."

Derek blinked, his easy smile slipping away as his brows knitted together. "What about it?"

"We've been looking through some of the invoices," Liam explained. "The ones between Edgewater and Golden Rock, and... there's a problem."

Derek sat up straighter, the confusion in his eyes turning to something closer to concern. "What kind of problem?"

Liam didn't hesitate. "The kind where someone's been inflating the numbers, taking a cut that wasn't theirs."

Derek's face paled as the words sank in. For a moment, he said nothing, just stared at Liam, the color slowly draining from his features.

"I'm talking about the invoices Golden Rock sent to you. They were legit, but then you passed them to Edgewater with a nice little markup. Except, you didn't pass that extra money to Golden Rock, did you?"

Derek swallowed hard, his beer untouched in his hand. His eyes darted between me and Liam, searching for some kind of escape. But there wasn't one.

"Look, man," Derek started, his voice cracking. "I can explain."

Liam didn't say anything; he just sat back, arms crossed, waiting for him to continue.

Derek let out a shaky breath. "I didn't mean for it to get out of hand. It started small—just a little extra here and there, you know? I thought... I thought I could fix it before anyone noticed. I didn't think you would miss it."

Liam's jaw tightened, but he kept his voice level. "Well, I did miss it. So how were you planning to fix it?"

Derek massaged his temples, his whole body sagging like the weight of what he'd done was finally crashing down on him. "I've been... I've been having some problems. With gambling. It started small, but then I couldn't keep up, and I thought if I just skimmed a bit off the top, I'd win it back, and no one would be the wiser."

Liam shook his head slowly, his disappointment clear. "Derek, you could've come to me. We've been friends for years. I would've helped you. Instead, you stole from me. From Edgewater. You even poked fun at me for trying to do the investigation myself."

Derek's voice cracked, his guilt written all over his face. "I know, man. I know. I'm sorry. I messed up. Big time."

I could feel the weight of the room pressing down, thick and heavy. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Liam leaned forward, his voice firm but measured. "Here's the deal. I'm not going to press charges. But you're going to fix this. First, you're getting help—professional help—for the gambling. Second, you're going to pay back every penny you took, and you'll need to make amends with the company."

Derek nodded quickly, his relief palpable. "I'll do it. I swear, Liam. I'll do whatever it takes."

"And," Liam added, "you'll hire an independent accountant to take over Riverstone's financials. Mia can help you with that."

Derek glanced at me, the shame evident in his eyes, but he nodded. "Okay." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. "There's something else. Here's a check I took while you were in the hospital. I'm really sorry, man. I never had the nerve to cash it... I wasn't that desperate—yet. And here's your spare key." He fished the key out and laid both items on the coffee table.

"Thanks for telling me," Liam said quietly.

He glanced at me, and I could see the relief in his eyes. We'd gotten through the hardest part. Now, it was time to move forward.

Liam gave Derek a firm pat on the back before he turned to leave. "I'll stay in touch, man."

Derek nodded quietly, then climbed into his car and drove away.

After he left, the cabin seemed eerily quiet. The tension that had hung over us all day had finally lifted, but in its place was a strange calm. I leaned back against the kitchen counter, watching Liam stare out the window, his arms crossed and jaw tight.

I knew he was processing everything. Confronting Derek had taken a toll on him—it wasn't easy facing a friend's betrayal. But he'd handled it with grace, offering a solution instead of revenge. That was one of the things I admired about him: his ability to stay level-headed, even when his emotions were running high.

"You okay?" I asked softly, moving closer.

Liam nodded, though the weariness in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. "Yeah, just... glad it's over. For now, at least."

I reached out, gently wrapping my arm around his waist. "You did the right thing, Liam. Derek needed to hear the truth, and you gave him a chance to make things right."

He sighed, his gaze still fixed on the window. "I just hope he follows through."

"He will," I said, with a hopeful tone. "You gave him a lifeline. Now it's up to him to take it."

Liam turned to face me then, a small, grateful smile dawning over his features. "And now we've got more to handle. Riverstone's finances... that's going to be a huge job."

I raised an eyebrow, teasing. "Oh? And who's we, exactly?"

Liam chuckled, the tension easing from his face as he pulled me into his arms. "You, of course. You didn't think you'd just sit back and let me handle all this alone, did you?"

I tilted my head, pretending to consider. "Well, I'm not an accountant, so I'm not sure how helpful I can be with all this bookkeeping."

He grinned, leaning down to kiss the top of my head. "No, you're not. But you sure as hell can hire and oversee them. You've got the brains, the intuition. You've already uncovered more in a few days than anyone else did in months… including me."

His words wrapped around me like a comforting blanket, igniting a newfound confidence within me. The idea of delving into the intricate world of hospital finances and navigating complex business deals had seemed beyond my reach. Yet, as Liam's unwavering support enveloped me, those daunting tasks began to morph into exciting challenges waiting to be conquered.

"So," he said teasingly, "looks like you're going to be busy with this new venture. Think you can handle it?"

I laughed, wrapping my arms around him. "Oh, I think I can handle it. I'm just not sure you're ready for me in full girl-boss mode."

Liam's grin widened as he pulled me closer. "Bring it on, Mia. I can hardly wait. You've claimed my heart and my respect."

We stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the weight of the day melting away. In that moment, everything felt right—like we were exactly where we were supposed to be. But then, a thought popped into my head.

I pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a raised eyebrow. "Wait... were you serious earlier? About selling your car?"

Liam chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "The Lamborghini?"

I nodded. "Yeah. You've never mentioned selling it before."

He shrugged. "I've been thinking about it. Things are changing, and honestly, I don't feel the same attachment to it that I used to. It's just a car."

I studied him, surprised. "But I thought you loved that car."

He smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "I used to think I did. But I'm realizing there's more to life than having flashy toys. Besides... I've found something—someone, way more important than any car."

My heart swelled at his words, a warmth spreading through me as I leaned into him. "Well, whatever you decide, I'm here. But I have to admit, I never pictured you letting go of your baby."

Liam laughed, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Trust me, there's plenty more to hold onto than a car."

"I love you, Liam," I whispered.

"Right back at you."

With that, we stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the day's weight fading away, eager to see what our future together would bring.