In a carriage, a pretty young man was looking outside with a smile on his face. Liam had struck a deal with Ren, and after bidding farewell to Ren's family, he headed back to his territory. During the journey, Liam reflected on the person he had just met, a young man who had earned a title through remarkable achievements in the recent war between Solaris and Storne. There were several rumors surrounding Ren and his family.

Some spoke of Ren as an unmatched genius, whose brilliance seemed boundless. Unfortunately, not all rumors were favorable, and there were also whispers about his arrogance. However, Liam never believed those latter rumors, deciding to see for himself who the real Ren was. Still, Liam didn't have high expectations that Ren would accept his partnership proposal. Despite having some connections in other realms that led his family business to import products between countries, he wasn't sure if that would be enough to capture Ren's attention.

(Maybe it didn't really catch his attention)

Thought Liam, as he contemplated the landscape outside the carriage. To Liam, Ren accepting his proposal seemed to be related to another reason, but he couldn't discern what that was. The idea that Ren might feel guilty about what happened to Liam's father crossed his mind but was quickly dismissed. Ren didn't seem like the kind of person who would act out of pity, and Liam didn't want that to be the case. With all these thoughts swirling in his mind, the carriage he was in seemed to accelerate even more, making the landscapes outside pass by even more rapidly.

As soon as the carriage stopped, seconds later, the door was opened by the coachman, allowing Liam to step out. Thanking the coachman, Liam climbed the steps until he reached the door of the imposing mansion, which opened immediately. A group of servants awaited him inside. As Liam entered through the main entrance, the servants made slight bows, a gesture he reciprocated with words of thanks.

"Liam, welcome back"

A voice echoed in the room as Liam looked towards the elegant staircase leading to the second floor. There, standing with a warm smile, was a relatively young woman with red hair and caramel-colored eyes, just like Liam. This woman was none other than Liam's mother, Cecilia Montague Solaris. Upon seeing his mother, Liam returned the smile and walked towards her, climbing the steps of the stairs.

"I'm back, mother"

Liam said with a gentle smile on his face. Seeing the smile reflected on her son's face, Cecilia also smiled. They both then walked towards the living room, where they could talk in peace. Before entering, Liam noticed that his two sisters were not in sight and decided to ask his mother about them.

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"Where are Livia and Olivia?"

Liam asked, listening carefully to his mother's words. Cecilia let out a brief sigh, placing her hand on her forehead before responding.

"Livia wanted to play hide-and-seek, so she went to the garden. Olivia followed her, but since she hasn't come back yet, I suppose she still hasn't been able to find Livia"

Listening to his mother's explanations, Liam let out an ironic smile, as this was not the first time his sisters played like that. Livia, the youngest, was in that phase where playing was a priority, setting aside her studies. And she always played tricks on the staff, having fun with the games. Liam ironically joked about using Livia's energy for studying, which drew a laugh from Cecilia. Both entered the living room, sitting face to face. The atmosphere became a bit tense because Liam knew exactly what his mother wanted to know.

"He agreed to make a deal with us"

Said Liam with a gentle smile on his face, easing Cecilia's heart, who also smiled.

"I'm glad to hear that"

Expressed Cecilia, and upon seeing her mother's smile, Liam also smiled. He knew that his mother didn't marry for love, nor did she have children out of love. Before marrying his father, she had a lover whom she liked. Unfortunately, they had to separate when Cecilia's engagement to Barton was announced. Even so, she always loved her children deeply and always showed that love. Liam felt a responsibility to repay his mother's sacrifice, just as she had sacrificed for them. It was as if she was always saying.

"Even though I didn't marry for love, I love you more than anything"

That's why Liam was determined to dedicate himself to his mother's well-being, just as she had always done for them.

"Anyway, you don't have to worry, Mom. I have everything under control. You can go back to enjoying your life now"

Said Liam with a smile. Hearing her son's words, Cecilia smiled, but she knew exactly what Liam was thinking.

(How old does he think I am? It's still too early for him to fool me)

Cecilia thought with an ironic smile on her face. After this thought, Cecilia got up from where she was and walked towards the sofa where Liam was. As she sat beside him, she held his face affectionately and cuddled him to her chest, gently caressing his hair.

"It's still too early for you to fool me, son. How long do you think I've spent raising you and your sisters? You don't have to carry everything alone. We are a family, and besides, you are my life, my place, and by your side"

Said Cecilia with a big smile on her face, showing her unconditional affection and support. Hearing his mother's words, Liam didn't know what to say, so he just made a noise that Cecilia interpreted as agreement. After this emotional moment, Liam hugged Cecilia in a warm and harmonious embrace. Mother and son stayed like that for some time, communicating their feelings to each other, even without words.