CHAPTER 49: ALMOST A DECADE

"Mr. Liam..." Marla muttered cautiously, but her words faltered as the room’s air thickened. Both men stood still, staring at each other like magnets forced into collision.

"I guess he let it loose again. What a loser..." Liam muttered, his voice edged with irritation.

Elias tilted his head slowly, his expression unreadable. "Oh, come on. You’re still bitter about that? Don’t be petty, Liam."

Liam took a step forward, unbuttoning his cuff calmly. "I wouldn’t have to be, if someone stayed in their lane."

"Oh, but where’s the fun in that?" Elias grinned, but there was no warmth in it. "Besides... you know he’s the one who let me out. Isn’t that what makes it worse?"

Marla visibly tensed. Daisy’s eyes darted between them, confused.

"I was wondering why the executive meeting kept getting postponed," Liam muttered, his tone sharp. "Thought maybe he was too wrapped up in his little love story. But I didn’t expect this sneaky little bastard to come crawling out again..."

"Tsk, tsk... such harsh words." Elias clicked his tongue and shook his head dramatically, turning to step into the elevator.

But Liam was faster, he grabbed Elias by the collar and yanked him back.

"Show some respect. I’m older than you now," Liam said coldly, his glare razor-sharp.

Elias’s expression twisted into a scowl. "You’re hilarious." His voice snapped, anger bubbling just beneath the surface.

"You’re not going anywhere. You remember what happened last time... you caused him too many problems." Liam grabbed his collar again and began dragging him back toward the glass doors.

With a sharp motion, Elias yanked Liam’s hand off. "Concern? Is that what this is?" he spat. "Do you actually care about Theo Kingsley?"

He jabbed a finger toward Liam. "Come on, Liam. You—you’re one of the people who pushed him into a corner. You all did! That’s why I exist in the first place. Every one of you had a hand in it. So don’t stand there pretending you care now."

Liam met his eyes, unfazed. Then, without warning, he stepped forward and struck Elias sharply on the side of the neck with the edge of his palm. Elias crumpled, unconscious.

Catching him effortlessly, Liam turned to the two stunned women.

"Well... I did Taekwondo. Hiya?" he offered with an awkward smile. "Uh—could one of you maybe help? He’s kinda heavy..."

They headed to Theo’s room in silence. Liam took a deep breath before unceremoniously slamming Elias down onto the couch with a loud thump.

"Alright," he exhaled, brushing his hands together like he’d just taken out the trash. "Marla, update the rest. Tell them Theo’s taking a leave." He paused, thinking. "Uh—a month—wait, no, just say a week for now. Let’s not freak anyone out."

Then he turned to Daisy, pointing at her like he was calling her out on a game show.

"So, Barbie-In-Law," he began, "since you seem to know this top-secret split-personality mess of his, I’m guessing he really likes you?"

He tilted his head, casually dropping onto a chair beside the couch. "I mean, I can see it. In his eyes. He totally likes you."

Daisy’s expression didn’t change, unreadable. But her thoughts weren’t nearly as calm. ’How can he see it in those flat, deadpan eyes? I can’t even tell what that alien is thinking half the time...’

Liam smiled knowingly, eyes glinting with mischief. "I guess you can’t see them, huh?"

Daisy stiffened. "I mean... of course I know," she said quickly, waving her hand like she was shooing away a fly. "We’re in love..."

She paused, her voice trailing off as her eyes darted downward, avoiding Liam’s gaze.

"I mean... sometimes, it’s hard to read what’s on his mind," she admitted, almost in a whisper.

Liam leaned back, arms crossed, lips twitching. "Yeah. Theo Kingsley’s the human version of a locked safe, you know... expressionless, emotionally constipated, and password-protected."

Daisy let out a nervous chuckle, not sure whether to agree or defend him.

"But," Liam added, softening just a bit, "he’s not the type to share his mess with just anyone. If he’s letting you see this... other side of him? That means something."

Daisy’s stomach twisted slightly, but she kept her expression neutral. ’Yeah... it means we’re both just really good at pretending.’

"So, how far did you know about this... Elias?" Liam asked, nodding toward the unconscious figure on the couch.

Daisy blinked. "How far?"

She paused.

’How far? I just found out this man has a whole other personality two freaking weeks ago. And then he shut me up. Locked me out like a damn plot twist with no context. So... nope. Not even far. I was cut off at the starting line.’

"I guess... just the basic stuff?" she said with an awkward smile, trying to sound casual while her brain spiraled with a lot of things at that moment.

Liam gave her a long, unreadable look, then slowly nodded. "That’s already more than most people ever get."

Daisy didn’t respond. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve.

’If this was the basic stuff, what the hell counted as advanced?’

Liam exhaled and glanced down at Elias, his tone shifting quieter. "You know... he used to be different. When we were kids. Bright, sarcastic, annoying as hell but... present."

His brows furrowed slightly.

"I think Elias showed up for the first time the night our mom—" He stopped himself, his jaw tightening. "Anyway. That’s when things started changing... when he was twenty."

Liam bobbed his head and glanced at Elias, who was still unconscious on the couch.

"So this cheeky little bastard is twenty years old... still," he chuckled. "Sometimes he doesn’t even sound like he’s twenty though..."

Daisy just stood there, trying to piece everything together, even though some things didn’t fully click.

"You mean... he’s been living like this for almost a decade?"

Liam gave a small nod, his gaze fixed on Elias.

"Yeah... more or less. Since he was twenty."

"You’d think we’d have figured out how to help him by now..." Liam murmured, his voice low. His eyes lingered on Theo’s unconscious other half, the corners of his mouth twitching into something that wasn’t quite a smile.

"But all we ever did was look the other way... while he learned how to hide."