Bedmates Soulmates novel Chapter 168

Why Should Austyn Have Everything? 

Why Should Austyn Have Everything? 

Kira declined the menu and asked for a glass of plain water. 

She had no intention of actually having dinner with Liam. 

But the man refused to talk until they’d sat down.. 

He dismissed the tuxedoed waiter, turned to face Kira, steepled his hands, and flashed her a charming smile. ‘All right, I’m all ears.” 

Across the street, Kai watched Young Madam talking to Liam. 

Their table was right next to the window. 

From a distance of fewer than ten metres away, Kal could even see the smile on Liam’s face. 

Any casual observer would conclude they were a pair of lovebirds on a date. 

Kai held back a sigh.. 

He didn’t understand why Kira would agree to have dinner with Liam. 

She was a married woman. 

Liam was, by all appearances, single. 

Wasn’t she afraid that Boss would find out? 

The interior of the Hummer was deathly quict. 

Austyn was glancing out the window, eyes on the restaurant. 

His face was half shrouded in darkness. 

Kai knew his boss hated Liam with a passion, and vice versa. 

The two half–brothers got on like fire and ice. 

Anyone and anything associated with Liam would be anathema to Austyn. 

Kai was afraid that Young Madam might soon join that list. 

Austyn wouldn’t allow anything belonging to him to be tainted by Liam’s touch. 

Kira wetted her lips with the water. 

She sat up straight as if ready to deliver a report. 

She looked directly at Liam. ‘T’ll start then.‘ 

Liam gestured with his hand. ‘Please go ahead.” 

I am flattered, but, Mr Liam Cane, I will not be your girlfriend,‘ Kira said in an even tone, her gaze unflinching. I hope I’ve made my feelings on the subject perfectly clear.‘ 

Then she added, ‘And no, this is not me playing hard to get. I said no, and I meant it.” 

The smile on Liam’s face vanished. 

“That’s a rejection then.” 

Kira nodded. 

‘Are you not satisfied with my offer?‘ 

5 

Why Should Austers Hänet Everything? 

Liam drummed a finger on the table. 

He’d done his homework before approaching the girl. 

Kira Hewitt married Austyn purely for the sake of her father. 

Austyn helped her settle her father’s medical bills. 

Liam thought he could do one better than Austyn by offering to get her father the best treatme 

Why did she take Austyn’s offer but not his? 

possible. 

Kira recalled their last conversation. ‘I am very satisfied with your offer. To be honest, it’s quite tempting.‘ 

‘But?” 

‘But I can’t just give in to every temptation that comes my way.‘ Kira sighed. ‘I would give anything for my father to 

up, including my life. But I’m not going to waste time chasing false hope.” 

wake 

‘It’s not false hope,‘ Liam said. ‘The medical centre I told you about has the best 

‘I know what you told me.‘ Kira raised a hand to stop him. ‘And I did my research. They do have some of the most qualified experts in the field, but even so, the odds of someone like my father, in a post–traumatic vegetative state, regaining consciousness is less than one in a thousand. Besides, my father’s attending physician told me it’s best not to move him. Exposure to a new environment might do him more harm than good.” 

Liam listened in silence. 

Kira continued, ‘If I can choose to go out with you because you might possibly help my father, then I’m just as likely to leave you for someone else who makes me a better offer. Once I start down that road, there’s no turning back. Mr Cane, I don’t want to become the kind of person I hate.‘ 

She married Austyn for money, which was a mistake she had been trying her damndest to rectify. 

She was not going to make the same mistake twice. 

Liam remained motionless in his seat. 

A waiter hovered nearby with a menu in hand, but neither noticed him. 

Liam had never met a woman like Kira before. 

Or rather, no one had ever talked to him like this before. 

He was born a McCarthy, a name which brought him nothing but misery. 

His mother died in suspicious circumstances. 

His so–called father chose to sweep it under the rug. 

The seed of hatred was planted in Liam’s heart on that day, and it had taken root. 

He vowed to take back everything that was rightfully his. 

Justice for his mother, revenge against his father, retribution against the person responsible for his mother’s death, and a lot more. 

The list of things he wanted grew along with the hatred in his heart. 

Vengeance was no longer enough. 

He wanted more. 

Liam wanted to destroy the entire McCarthy family, each and every member of it. 

He wanted to see his half–brother Austyn, so high and mighty, to kneel in front of him. 

He wanted his father, the McCarthy patriarch, to finally acknowledge that he, Liam, was better than Austyn. 

Why Should Austyn Have Everything? 

A scraping sound shook Liam out of his trance. 

Kira had pushed back her chair and stood up. 

“Thank you for the dinner invitation, and thank you for the offer to help my father.” 

She wore a polite smile. 

Though she couldn’t be friends with someone who had a romantic interest in her, she still hoped they could end things on a friendly note. 

Liam looked up at her. 

‘When I strike it rich someday, I’ll bring you to a three–star Michelin restaurant,‘ she said. ‘But I’m afraid you might have to wait for quite a while.” 

The few times they met, it was always Liam who footed the bill for dinner. 

Kira would like to repay the favour sometime. 

Liam watched her. 

Kira wasn’t wearing makeup. 

She wore a simple long–sleeved white blouse and a pair of dark blue trousers, both unbranded. 

Muted yellow light from the chandelier above framed her face in a soft, warm halo. 

The girl was lovely. 

Which made Liam mad. 

She was Austyn’s wife. 

Why did Austyn have all the nice things? 

He had the family name, the attention from their father, the status, the money. And the girl. 

Witnesses At Your Murder Trial 

Liam stood up. 

He came up to Kira and, lifting her chin, kissed her on the lips. 

Kira’s eyes widened. 

Her mind went blank for a second. 

The sensation on her lips told her she hadn’t imagined it. 

Liam was kissing her! 

Kira pushed his shoulders, trying to shove him back. 

He didn’t budge. 

Liam had one arm around her waist and the other behind her head, locking her in a tight embrace. 

Diners at the restaurant clapped and whistled, thinking they were a couple engaged in a spontaneous public display of affection. 

Kira clamped her mouth shut when she felt Liam getting more aggressive. 

It had been an impulsive move on his part, but now that he did it, Liam realised he didn’t want to let go. 

She tasted so sweet. 

He wanted more. 

He traced the outline of her lips with his tongue, teasing, inviting her to respond. 

Kira was finding it hard to breathe. 

She punched his back, clawed at him, stomped on his feet, but she was wearing flats. 

The cheers from onlookers died down. 

They were starting to notice something was off. 

A man two tables away moved forward as if to help, but hesitated. 

Kira felt tears stinging her eyes. 

She was going to open her mouth and bite down hard on Liam’s lips when she heard footsteps approaching fast. 

Her heart pounded. 

There was a roaring in her ears. 

A forceful yank, and Liam’s lips were gone from hers. 

Kira shrank back, wiping her mouth furiously. 

Then a loud crash as plates and glasses shattered on the tiled floor. 

‘Aaaahhlil‘ 

Diners screamed. 

Kira looked up in time to see Liam falling to the ground. 

Austyn stood in front of the prone figure, hands clenched Into lists. 

He bent down, grabbed Liam’s lapel, hauled him up and rained blows on his face, chest and abdomen. 

Liamn grunted. 

There was blood on the corner of his mouth. 

He fought back, delivering a punch to Austyn’s stomach. 

The impact knocked Austyn back. 

Liam dabbed a finger against his mouth. 

The sight of blood brought a wicked smile to his face. 

He grabbed a chair next to him and hurled it at Austyn. 

It struck Austyn’s arm, its wooden legs smashed to pieces. 

Austyn remained standing. 

His face was impassive. 

Nor did he make a sound. 

Kira was the one who grimaced, feeling the pain vicariously. 

She wiped away the tears and shouted, ‘Liam, stop!” 

He didn’t. 

‘Stop, both of you!” 

Neither man listened. 

They went at each other like two enraged beasts. 

Austyn had picked up a steak knife on a table nearby. 

He advanced on Liam. 

Diners were screaming and scrambling to get away from the two men. 

They rushed for the exit, knocking over chairs and tables. 

The knife was now pressed against Liam’s neck, its blade glinting. 

Liam spat out blood. ‘Go ahead. Plunge it in.” 

He curled his lip. ‘I dare you.” 

Austyn tightened his grip on the handle. 

“What’s the matter?‘ Liam goaded him. ‘You don’t dare, do you? There are so many people here. Everyone will be a witness at your trial, testifying how you murdered me in cold blood in broad daylight.” 

Austyn pushed the knife forward. 

Its tip pierced skin. 

Feeling the cold, hard prick from the knife, Liam sneered. ‘And your wife. Do you think she’ll want a murderer for a husband?‘ 

Kira’s name gave Austyn pause. 

think. 

The red mist in his eyes lifted long enough for him to think. ‘Do you think I’d want what you’ve touched?‘ 

Liam laughed. ‘So now that I’ve touched Kira, you’re going to throw her away like a plece of garbage? 

Austyn’s face remained blank. 

He glanced over at Kira. 

She was cowering in a corner, shaking. 

Her face was ghostly white. 

She heard everything. 

Liam grinned. ‘Since you’re going to discard her like trash, I don’t mind taking her off your hands. I’ve just tasted your wife. She’s so sweet, so lovely. I don’t think I’ve had enough—‘ 

Austyn slammed a fist into Liam’s stomach. 

Liam doubled over, the wind knocked out of him. 

He ran his tongue around the inside of his mouth and tasted blood. 

Liam straightened up, wearing an insouciant smile. ‘You can beat me to death. It won’t change the fact that I kissed your wife.‘ 

Austyn still had the knife in his right hand. 

His knuckles turned white. 

Liam was throwing his head back and laughing, a diabolical, spine–chilling laugh. 

His throat was exposed. 

Austyn stared at it. 

One quick slash across the in 

Austyn bit his tongue. 

and Liam would be laughing no more. 

The sharp pain brought back some sense. 

He couldn’t. 

Not in front of Kira. 

He was not going to turn into a murderer in front of her. 

The restaurant looked like it had been ravaged by a tornado. 

The floor was strewn with bits of food and broken shards of glass. 

Chairs were upended, tables flipped over. 

The diners had fled.