Chapter Sixteen

7 years later.

"Sir?" Their new housekeeper's voice was audibly shaking. Before she could even speak, Nikolai massaged his temples.

Another bad news. He could easily tell.

"Yes." The housekeeper stiffened with Nikolai's cold tone. This one wouldn't last a month.

"Liam's school called. Says they would like to invite you for a talk."

"Invite me? Or require me to talk?"

"I don't know, sir!" The lady immediately panicked. Nikolai felt bad knowing it wasn't her fault. He had been bombarded with an unusual amount of workload lately, and on top of everything, he was Liam's father.

Being a single father is hard.

"Don't worry. I'll give them a visit. Thank you," he said, but she didn't move. Liam raised his eyebrows, waiting for her to say something more. 

Her tongue seemed stuck with the amount of panic she was experiencing.

"Actually, sir, they also want to inform you that Liam will be transferred to another class. And that this will be a warning. T-they want you to look for another school if a new problem arises."

He felt disappointed as a father. It's his fault for things to turn out this way. He tried so hard to raise his son and provide all he needed. The material part is covered. The kid can ask for a toy car, and he will buy him the real thing. He has everything covered financially: investing in real estate and stocks for Liam's future.

What he couldn't offer was a mother to his son.

Her name is good as a banned word in their house. It isn't because of anger or resentment. Every time Nikolai would think about her, his heart was filled with pain. It has been seven years since she disappeared through thin air. No clue, no news. Nothing.

It wasn't for the lack of trying. It took two years for him to come to terms with Belle's disappearance. He hired private investigators, offered rewards, and even looked for her himself. It was a mystery how fast she disappeared and how she was never found.

They said that maybe it was because she was no longer alive. Her car was last seen driving to a place with a nearby sea. That was it. Perhaps Belle really died.

"Hey, son."

Liam's gaze drifted from the aquarium in his room to Nikolai. For a kid who is only seven years old, he looked mature and wiser than kids his age. Raising him alone was not a challenge. He rarely cries or complains. He never makes so much noise. Liam would sit in silence, observing his surroundings. He is that kind of kid.

"Hi, Daddy." Nikolai warmed up when he saw Liam smile. 

"Playing with the fishes again? You know, we can ask for someone to build a pond downstairs. So they can have more space to swim around."

The aquarium in Liam's room was as tall as him. He would sometimes walk around and follow his fish. That is enough room. Nikolai makes sure that someone who is an expert in fishkeeping visits their home at least twice a week to check the condition. That is the only time he can see Liam be enthusiastic about something because he asks so many questions to the person.

Nikolai is only concerned that the kid stares so much at the fish.

"I like having them here."

"Alright, then." He patted his son's head. "You want me to come with you to school tomorrow?"

"Why?" Liam moved away. He sat in his chair. There was unfinished homework on his table. For a young kid, his space is well arranged even without their housekeepers' help.

"Because your school told me you'll have new classmates."

"Did they tell you I keep on making trouble?"

"What? No." He immediately sat to look at his kid eye to eye. "Do you have problems making friends at school?"

"I don't like my classmates," Liam replied. He wasn't being hateful. It concerned Nikolai more, however, how Liam's eyes were void of emotions. "I don't like my teacher either."

"Son," Nikolai was using his authoritative voice. Like a boss talking to his colleagues, letting them know that he is not someone anyone should mess up with, but Liam is unfazed. He resumed answering his assignments without any errors, as Nikolai observed. 

"Sorry, Daddy. I won't speak to my classmates again."

"But why? You should speak with them to make friends."

"They either cry or get angry when I speak with them. It would be better not to talk."

"Did anyone tell you something bad?"

Liam sighed. He made a mistake with his math problem that he instantly erased. "No. It annoyed me how they kept talking about their vacation and how their mothers were preparing their things and food for school. So, I said it doesn't even look good. They could have hired a chef or have someone else make it for them."

He's only a kid. Nothing was his fault. In the end, he's the most affected. How can he even discipline his son when he can't find the correct words to do so? Seven years in that father role and Nikolai is still lost.

"Liam. You shouldn't have said that."

"It's the truth. Joshua asked me if his lunch looked good and for me, it didn't. I'm only telling the truth."

"Still, his family prepared it for him. His mom prepared it with love and care. It's wrong to say something bad about that. Didn't we talk about this already? It's always wrong to say something rude to anyone, friends or not friends. So, say sorry to him, okay?"

There was a long pause before he nodded. "Okay, Daddy."

"Are you dating Claudia?"

Nikolai was quick to let go of the pen he was holding while in the middle of signing contracts.

"Absolutely not."

He couldn't blame Preston for thinking that way. This thought must have been lingering in his head for a while, and he only had the chance and the guts to ask Nikolai the question.

"Then why are you two lovingly looking at each other and smiling in these press pictures?"

"It is called press pictures for a reason, Prez. She's my business partner. As much as she keeps dragging my name in issues now and then for the sake of publicity, they are our major partners for this next mall project."

"Your parents want you to marry her." It wasn't a question. Preston laid out a fact. "She's not the nicest, but Liam likes her. So, I don't have a problem if you decide to get involved with her."

"I am still married," he answered. Nikolai's eyes were on his ring finger, where he wears his wedding ring. It's too late to wear it. He didn't even wear it often when they were married.

Belle's disappearance has left an emptiness in his life that he couldn't figure out how to fill. Life went on, but he never moved on.

"I get you. I am still hoping she will return. It hurts me to this day to know that we were fighting during our last conversation. Liam needs her."

Their conversation was interrupted by Liam's arrival. He was followed by Liam's nanny and surprisingly, Claudia.

"You went to his school?"

"Oh no. We met outside and had a little chat about his school and how fun it was. Hi, Prez!" He blew Preston a kiss. "Still grumpy, just the way I like it."

Preston stood in horror. Completely terrified by Claudia's advances.

Claudia looked like a supermodel from a photoshoot. Her blonde hair was sleek and shiny, and her lips were bright pink. It would be impossible to ignore her presence. Even her pink suit and six-inch heels demanded attention.

All those, Nikolai had ignored. "School was fun?"

Liam nodded with his cute little smile.

Finally, the miracle Nikolai has been praying for all his life.

"Do you like your new class?" It was Preston's turn to ask.

"Yeah. They're okay, I like them."

"Your classmates are fun to be with?"

"Yes. I like my teacher, Miss Hyacinth too."

It isn't easy for Liam to like someone, especially on the first meeting. The first thing he does is find a flaw in a person he's determined not to like.

"She must be nice."

The kid nodded. "She's nice and she looks a lot like Mommy. I like her."