Charlotte was willing to risk her own life to save Liam. But after all that, Liam didn't even try to figure out who was responsible for the whole mess. Instead, he just went and treated Chloe like a queen because she had a child. Makes you wonder if Charlotte's sacrifice was all for nothing, doesn't it?

Liam's gaze sharpened as a cold frost seemed to creep up around him.

Chloe's little one was a real piece of work, always fussing. They burned through nannies faster than you could count, but only Chloe could get the kid to eat and sleep.

Deep down, Liam wished Chloe would just disappear.

But things aren't that simple.

All these memories were a sore spot, and Vincent just had to keep poking at it.

"She saved you because she couldn't stand to see you die. She bet on your conscience, hoping you'd do right by her. Charlotte spent her whole life chasing fairness, and that's all she wanted from you. But what did you give her? Nothing!" "If Charlotte knew you were still covering for Chloe, she'd be turning in her grave!"

"Oh, but I forgot, she was blown to bits, nobody to turn."

"Even if she wasn't blown to pieces, the fish in the sea would've taken care of that. How could she rest in peace?"

"Vincent!"

Vincent's words were like daggers to Liam's heart, leaving him gasping for air.

Without a second thought, Liam's fist connected with Vincent's face!

The two of them tangled in a fierce tussle in the office.

Thanks to an accident, Liam was patched up with metal and scars, definitely not at his fighting best.

Nobody won that scrap.

"You finally grew a backbone," Liam growled blood on his lips, eyes fierce.

Vincent wasn't looking any prettier, but he could still crack a grin: "Gotta man up when you've got a family to look after."

That reminder of Vincent's kid... Liam's thoughts drifted to little Ethan, and his eyes deepened.

"Got time? Bring your wife and Ethan over some time," Liam threw out an invite.

Vincent didn't miss a beat, "My wife can't stand you. She knows the whole Charlotte saga and thinks you're a traitor."

"And," Vincent's laugh was cold, "don't bother playing nice with Ethan. He's got it in his head that you're bad news. If he finds out you're Liam, he'll just hate you more." "Pfft."

Liam wasn't really looking to buddy up with Vincent. He just took a shine to the kid, Ethan wanted to see him more, that's all.

He could take it or leave it.

Stepping out of Vincent's office, Liam meant to just walk away, but the rain caught his eye and pulled him over to the window. And that's when he overheard Ethan's voice.

"Mommy, I met an uncle, and I really liked him."

He must've been talking about Liam.

Liam almost cracked a smile until a woman's voice cut in, "Really, that would be good."

The chill in the air was laced with a softness, the kind of tenderness that used to coax him into bending to her will.

"Charlotte..." At the sound of that familiar voice, Liam's calm shattered in an instant.

His foot, ready to step forward, suddenly seemed to lose all strength, freezing him in place.

"Charlotte." The tears came in heavy torrents. He hadn't seen her in his dreams, nor caught a hint of her in anything or anyone for so long.

Yet now, he heard a voice that was the spitting image of Charlotte's.

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It felt like destiny, a gift from the heavens.

Gripping the windowsill until his knuckles turned white and veins bulged, Liam mustered all his strength to move toward that voice.

But when he flung the door open, he only caught the retreating figures of a woman and a child.

The woman was wrapped up in a thick coat, her figure obscured.

The hallway was a mere sprint away. He could close the distance in two quick steps.

But a sudden fear gripped Liam.

He feared the person wouldn't be Charlotte.

And he feared it would be.

"Mr. Parker!" Henry was out of breath as he caught up. "What's wrong, Mr. Parker?"

With tears rimming his eyes and a voice thick with unspoken vulnerability, Liam confessed, "I think I just saw Charlotte."

Henry stopped dead, his response a dazed echo. "But Miss Perry's been gone for four years."

Walking away with Ethan's hand in hers, she could clearly hear the low talk of the men behind them.

Ethan looked back, feeling something, and clung to his mom. "Mommy, I think he is crying."

"Really? Maybe he's just sad about something."

"Why's he sad?"

"People cry when they mess up and can't make it right," she explained softly, "Crying over mistakes doesn't fix anything. It might even make others laugh. So, Ethan, always think before you do something. Don't do stuff you'll regret later."

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At three years old, Ethan didn't fully understand, but he nodded. "Okay." holds this content.

They went to grab some snacks in the conference room, having a good time, when Vincent walked in. He took Ethan's cookie with a sigh, "Too many sweets, champ. We agreed on two a day, remember?"

"But Mommy's eating too," Ethan said, his lips still tasting of cookies, not wanting to let go, "Mommy said I could have some."

Vincent looked even more exasperated and took Serena's cookie too, "You're too soft on him, Serena."

Serena turned around. If Liam were here, he'd go berserk at the sight of her.

She was a dead ringer for Charlotte!

"Your face..." she noticed Vincent's bruised cheek.

He waved it off, "He'll get spoiled with too much coddling."

"I've got enough to keep him happy every day," Serena countered, opening another packet of cookies and giving one to Ethan, taking one for herself.

She hadn't just been tagging along with Vincent abroad; she'd worked hard on lots of projects with him and earned her share.

She was capable of giving Ethan a happy childhood, so why not do it?

"I want him to grow up free and easy, not weighed down by love or what other people think," was her hope for Ethan.

Vincent knew exactly why Serena was so stubborn about this, but he couldn't tell her.

"You and Ethan just got back, haven't even met my folks yet. I'll take you both tonight..." "How about we throw a big welcome party?"

Serena's suggestion threw Vincent off for a second, "But if we have a party, everyone will find out..."

"Am I supposed to be a secret?" Serena looked up, her smile challenging, "Did I do something wrong? Hurt someone? Am I not allowed to be seen?" "No..." Vincent shut his eyes, the hurt flashing back, his hands balling into fists, "You did nothing wrong. It's them who should be ashamed."