FORBIDDEN STEP

eyes locked onto him. Liam. Lucas

ke he'd just rolled out of bed, and his oceanic blue eyes sparkled with amusement. His face was

les that rippled beneath his skin as he moved. I felt a shiver dance down my spine

t was as if time itself had slowed, leaving only the two of us, suspended in a sea of awareness. Every

of electricity that ignited a fire within me. He smiled, and I f

are you okay? Ava, Ava...Ava...are you okay?" Then I realized where I was. For a moment there

could all bond well. They suggested we got together over dinner and I'd been dreading this moment for weeks. My mom had told me a litt

y mom said, beami

meet you," Liam said, his

ve raised an incredible young woman." My mom b

like he'd been born to make people laugh. But beneath his charming facade,

d myself wondering why I felt this way.

felt that jolt again. I smiled back at him, feeling l

to the conversation I'd had with my mom earlier. She

raveled all over the world for work. He's

out Lucas's son. "What

you. He's a good kid, but... well, he's had a tou

pathy at that. Losing

Liam on his own. He's a very successful architect, you know

sed. "That's am

s following in his footsteps, in a way. He's

a prestigious school, and I was

m was like. What was it like to grow up without a mom? And how h

ent moment. But I couldn't help but feel a sense of curio

. My heart skipped a beat, and my cheeks flushed a deep c

know Lucas and Liam better.I couldn't shake the feeling

took in the sight of her daughter sitting on the bed, lost in thought. She ste

y, putting a gentle hand on Ava's shoulder. "But I want you to know

ance. Michelle's calm and gentle demeanor was s

le continued. "This is an opportunity for us to grow and learn together as a

o believe that everything would work out okay, that this n

l sense of comfort. "Just knowing that

rm hug. "I'll always be here for you, sw