Begin Again novel Chapter 156

Liam was neck-deep in reports and proposals when Clara knocked and came in with a tray of refreshments and his head of security in tow.

She set the afternoon snacks on his desk and excused herself, but not before reminding him he had a 3:00 PM meeting with Matthew and the marketing team.

"Mr Anderson, the report you asked for on Ms McBride and her son," James said when they were alone and handed him a brown A4 envelope.

"You took your time," Liam murmured as he reached for his espresso and motioned for him to take a seat on the couch.

"Ms McBride keeps her son out of the spotlight, and she doesn't seem to have any other social media accounts other than her Instagram. We had to do a bit of surveillance work." The head of security explained why it took his team a little over a week to get him the report.

"What did you find?" Liam asked.

His fingers were already ripping through the envelope, though. And within seconds, he came face to face with the truth as he pulled out a single page summary of Eden's past relationships along with a DNA report and a birth certificate, all held together by a flimsy paper clip.

Liam looked through Eden's dating history first and frowned at how incredibly short it was. Only two names, his and a Simon Saunders, the man she came very close to marrying.

At that moment, he felt like a train had just ploughed through him as the realisation hit him like a ton of bricks. There was no need for him to look at the DNA report or the birth certificate, or even the photographs still nestled inside the brown envelope.

"He's mine," Liam announced, his voice sounding strangely hollow like it came from someplace else.

James nodded. "Congratulations, Sir! All the information points to you being the father."

Even though he already knew—had always suspected Aiden was his—but, for that stunning moment, Liam couldn't process the other man's words. Yet they were the only thing he heard again and again over the roar of his pulse thundering in his ears.

"Oh, God!" He groaned in that same voice that belonged to someone else as he pushed away from his desk.

The room swayed in front of him, and he thought he was going to pass out.

Focus, he told himself as he tried to train his gaze on something solid.

James seemed to be the only steady point in the room, and he zoned in on him.