Female Novel
Chapter 193
Jovie's lips turned down in a pout as she slipped from Celena's arms and cuddled into Liam.
She planted a kiss on his cheek and declared, "Daddy, don't believe Mommy. She's fibbing, andfibbers will end up with piggy noses. Mommy's been missing you so much. She always tells mestories about you, how you're like a superhero, so strong, and that once you're back, you'll keep meand Mommy safe."
Jovie clutched Liam's hand, her voice tiny and tentative, "Daddy, are you going to vanish again?Please promise me, don't leave me and Mommy, okay?"
Her voice trailed off, her little face a mix of worry and hope, dreading the thought of being leftbehind.
Liam's face softened, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears as he wrapped Jovie in a tightembrace, his voice muffled against her small neck, "I promise, sweetheart. No matter what, I'llalways be here. Daddy's never going to leave you and Mommy. I'll keep you both safe, always."
Hearing that promise, Jovie's face lit up with joy. She hugged Liam tightly and planted a big kiss onhis cheek, then turned to Celena with a serious look. "Mommy, Daddy promised he'll never leave usagain. Don't cry, okay? If anyone's mean to you, just tell Daddy. He'll keep us safe!"
Jovie's sweet, innocent words were the last straw for Celena. She pressed her hand to her mouth tostifle the sobs as she hurried back to her room, crying as if her heart was breaking.
Jovie, puzzled by her mother's tears, turned to Liam with wide, scared eyes. "Daddy, what's wrongwith Mommy?"
Liam stared at the closed bedroom door, listening to Celena's cries. He was just as lost. Since shecame home that evening, she was different, like she was someone else, and then there was that
strange conversation.
Something went wrong at the factory today.
Late into the night, after Jovie drifted off to sleep, Liam found himself in the backyard, smoking onecigarette after another. The growing pile of butts at his feet showed just how long he was out there,lost in thought.
Inside, Celena came home exhausted from her day, cried herself out, and fell asleep next to Jovie.
Once his last cigarette was done, Liam quietly opened the bedroom door. He saw Celena andJovie, both deep in sleep. Celena's face was still creased with worry, even in her dreams.
Liam's heart ached for her. He closed the door softly behind him and stepped back into the night.novelbin
He pulled out his phone and called Calum. "Hey, did something happen at the Stone family's factorytoday? Celena was there, and she's been a mess ever since she got back."
On the phone, Calum's voice was laced with deference. "Chief, after we dealt with that MaksonReager situation, the missus stopped by the Stone family's factory in Rectenwald. Yafe and Sherahrun the place, but I'm not sure what went down there."
Rectenwald's factory?
Liam's thoughts flashed to Yafe and Sherah's aloof treatment of Celena, and her return home with ared slap mark staining her cheek, sobbing uncontrollably in her room. His expression turned tostone, anger flaring within him.
It looked like Celena's off day had everything to do with the Yafe clan.
"Get to the bottom of this. I need to know what happened at the Rectenwald factory, and who daredto mess with her!"