The Secret Obsession of the CEO-Chapter 229: The Trials

"Here’s your breakfast," Rory placed the hot pancakes in front of Liam.

"It’s hot!" Liam held Ellie’s little hand that reached for his food. Ellie likes to put her hands on everything. "You’re not eating?" Liam looked at Rory’s plate on the table.

"I will," Rory answered Liam. "Wait, Ellie... Mama’s making you an apple milkshake! Just a minute..." Rory ran to the blender.

"Why don’t you eat first?" Liam said but Rory couldn’t hear him over the sound of the blender. Liam only sighed and waited for her to join him.

He didn’t know why he is getting the piping hot pancakes when she is the one who cooked them. He exchanged the plates. He can eat those relatively cold pancakes. She used to like eating hot pancakes.

He looked at her and his lips curved into a smile. She used to be this busy back in the penthouse too. But she looks much happier here than there. He could see why. The air is different here. And the coldness is refreshing.

He was afraid staying in her old home will make her miss her parents more, making her depressed. But she showed no signs of depression. She was happy, looking after their little family.

He would try to help her from time to time. But she doesn’t let him. She likes to do all the work herself. All he has to do is look after their adorable daughter and his business. They are going grocery shopping together and do evening walks together. They are talking a lot and at times they just lean on each other without many words spoken.

But they are closer than ever. Their life is blissful.

"Your coffee," Rory placed the mug beside him. "Why aren’t you eating?" she asked him. She picked Ellie from his lap.

"I want to eat with you. Sit down," he pulled her hand. "Give that sipper. Ellie is a big girl. She will eat it herself, won’t you?" He kissed Ellie’s cheeks. "My sweetie is a big girl now..."

"Pa-pa..." Ellie smiled brightly as Liam placed her in the highchair.

Ellie’s first words were "papa" and she loves saying that a lot. She was saying some words correctly but mostly she pointed at things. She didn’t crawl, but lately, she started to stand up holding the wall or other support. She was worried for a long that she is not crawling but turns out her daughter decided to protect her kneecaps and jump straight ahead to walk.

What an adorable little bug!

Rory with a smile sat on the chair. She took the first bite and winced. "Did you exchange the plates again? Why don’t you eat hot pancakes?" she asked. "Ah...my tongue..."

"Pancakes taste better when they are hot," Liam said pouring her freshly made orange juice from the jug. "That’s why you should have them."

Rory let out a deep breath. She couldn’t stop smiling. Why won’t she when she has such an amazing husband and a dear daughter?

It has been a week since they started living in her house and life was so wonderful. Ellie has gotten a lot more attached to Liam by now. Although Rory tried to be jealous about it, she couldn’t. She was more attached to her father than her mother. And so is her daughter. And it is beautiful to watch. She had no complaints.

She thought of having a boy who would be attached to her even if he grew up.

"They’ve set the trial to start in spring," Liam said. "Some are negotiating about making the trial public, but some don’t want to give him what he wants... But..."

"Money is going to decide... Broadcasting the trial would be very profitable," Rory said. Unfortunately, in this world, people no longer care for the feelings of the victims. Everyone cares about making money.

Rory looked at Liam. He was worried. "I wouldn’t mind it either way. I don’t know how I’ll feel then, but if I don’t want to know what was happening, all I have to do is turn off the TV," she shrugged. She is not going to make a big deal out of it.

"Sidney keeps contacting my lawyers..." Liam said.

"For money?" Rory asked.

"Her parents are keeping her from meeting Skyla. Apparently, she misses her and wants me to negotiate. She said she tried to contact you..."

"Eh," Rory shrugged. She didn’t care much about Sidney. All Sidney cares about now is money; if her parents forbade her to meet her daughter, then she must not have changed her views.

"Don’t entertain her. You owe nothing to her," Rory told Liam as he went silent. She had a feeling that he was feeling sorry for Sidney.

"Maybe we can bring Chubster and Skyla here for summer...And our entire family... We do have a castle!" She raised her brows. "And we are yet to visit Bobby," she sighed. She was so focused on her life that she couldn’t find the time to visit them.

"Yeah, we can make plans for everything," Liam kissed her cheek.

The snow covered the entire place early in December. Liam mostly held his meetings online. He also hired people from around Sterling. He rented a place for his office. As he was giving employment opportunities to the locals, his status improved among the people.

Rory checked with her family often. Derick told her that he and Julia got married in a simple civil ceremony in a courthouse. His custody battle for his son was about to commence.

Rory didn’t ask for many details as Derick told her that Julia was supporting him. That’s enough support for him. She did say that she can give testimony if required. She was a witness to the abuses Derick suffered at the hands of his ex-wife. Her testimony will help his case greatly. Derick was thankful for that. As a last resort, he said, and Rory agreed. She was not very keen on meeting with law enforcement officers any time soon.

Life was great for both of them.

Mrs. Delport informed her that Lennon is sending a lot of letters to her from prison. And he was still "withholding" information to get a meeting with her. Rory didn’t want to read his letters. She asked Mrs. Delport to read them to see if there is anything important.

Rory knew Mrs. Delport will read those letters whether or not she gives permission to. But she wanted to know the gist of what Lennon wanted to say to her.

Mrs. Delport told her that it was all vile garbage and provocation. She told her that he had lost hope and so he is desperate for attention. Mrs. Delport asked if she should send the letters to her. But Rory refused.

She’d talk to Mia occasionally. Apparently, she and Detective Hendricks are now dating. Rory was happy to hear that. Mia told her that she is happy beyond measure because she has found the best man for herself.

Rory hoped that it works out well between them and they would get married.

Liam’s baby sister was so adorable. Seeing the baby made Rory’s desire for another baby rise further. Ellie was still a baby too, but... she wanted more little babies. Little babies are wonderful. She wanted to hold a small baby once more. No matter how beautiful all kids are, one’s own kids are much more adorable.

But she decided to wait until Ellie turns at least two. She believed that much gap is needed between siblings. Ellie cannot feel bad about losing the attention she gets. She should be able to understand a little about having a little brother or sister.

Ellie’s birthday was in January. They celebrated Ellie’s birthday very grandly in the Castle, inviting everyone. Most of their family, except for Dorothy, Claire, and Liam’s baby sister attended the party. It was a day to remember.

Slowly, but surely, Rory started to feel so free and happy. There were fewer and fewer times that she got scared of the dark and she stopped seeing moving shadows in the dark.

Ian figured out his feelings. He had a clean break with Davina. It was hard to see the poor girl sobbing after getting rejected by Ian, but it was necessary. Aunt Isabelle said that the relationships between the families have strayed because of Ian’s decision, but she agreed that this is much better than forcing them into an unhappy marriage.

Ellie was growing happily and healthily. She started to say more words by spring. Liam couldn’t make many trips during winter, but as spring approached, he planned on visiting LA to have a meeting with his employees there.

Rory was beside him as he booked the ticket. The trial was announced just a week from that day.

"You are going to be attending the trial, don’t you?" she asked.

He talked about it to her. But lately, he didn’t say much about it. She figured that he is in a dilemma.

"I’m not sure..." he said. "I’m happy now... And I think if I should see him and take a trip to my painful memories..."