Chapter 158 - True Torture (1/2)

Tiana's lips parted slightly and she exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding. Her lashes fluttered over her eyes that were already stinging with tears.

''Tiana, I didn't know you were coming? Oh, who is he? ''

Claire's eyes shifted to Liam and she smiled brightly;

Tiana gulped, pulling her eyes away from Nicklaus quickly and looking at Claire, but before she could reply, Liam answered;

''I'm Liam, Tiana's boyfriend. '' He said, pulling Tiana closer to him;

Tiana's eyes widened at Liam's reply, and her gaze shifted to Nicklaus, he was still talking to the couple, but she was sure that if he was paying attention, he would have heard Liam.

She didn't know why she was feeling bad that Liam said he was her boyfriend, obviously, Nicklaus was dating Claire now, why was she feeling guilty?

''Uh, Tiana, you didn't tell me about him, he's very handsome and… '' Claire stopped and tilted her head to the side; 'why do I feel he looks like… '' she turned to look at Nicklaus who was now coming to her;

''Oh dear! I was just thinking about you now, this is my friend Tiana, she's a model and this is her boyfriend, I don't know, but the two of you have a resemblance, are you related or something? ''

Claire asked with a sweet smile on her chin; she was still checking Liam and Nicklaus out and she didn't notice the prolonged daze Nicklaus and Tiana were in.

Tiana gripped her chair so hard that she felt her fingers break against it. Her heart slammed against her chest and she could hear their drumming in her ears, she wanted to pull her gaze away but her eyes, against her will remained transfixed in his smoldering ones. Even when he was not very close to her, his familiar and intoxicating scent still made her hazy. Tiana's eyes clouded lightly, but just when they were about to become noticeable, she turned to Claire.

''Do they? '' She swallowed, her dry throat hurting much more than she had expected, she wished she did not agree to Liam's request to be his date. At that moment, all her suppressed emotions had jumped out of the cage she had locked them in and she wasn't sure if she would be able to control herself for long.

''Yea, they do look alike. Nicklaus, are you guys related? ''

Claire asked, oblivious of the tension between the three of them.

Nicklaus, who was gazing at Tiana turned to Liam, he was about to say 'no' when suddenly, his brows creased, there was a striking resemblance between his father and this man, and his initial 'no' hung in his throat.

Liam smiled as though relaxed, but his heart was beating fast, the last thing he wanted was for Nicklaus to notice him, but he had just walked into the lion's den; ''Now I finally meet the man whom everyone has rumored I look like; it's nice to meet you, Nicklaus Howells, I'm Liam Anderson. ''

Liam lied, stretching out his hand for a shake; he never thought he would meet Nicklaus. He thought that Nicklaus wouldn't be attending the event since he had been absent from events for a long while. His name was Liam Wills, but he had told Nicklaus Liam Anderson in order to ease his suspicion but he wasn't sure if it would work.

Shit! It would be horrible if his mother found out.