Taming My Sugar Mommy

Two weeks had passed since the accident without incident. Isabella found herself slowly relaxing her vigilance, though dark thoughts still lingered in the back of her mind. 'Maybe I'm seeing threats where there are none,' she thought, parking her car outside the hospital. 'Maybe Liam was never being targeted.'

The early afternoon sun bathed the hospital's parking lot in warm light, but Isabella barely noticed. Instead, her fingers drummed against the steering wheel, her mind running through every detail of the past few weeks—the accident, the investigation, the absence of any real answers. 'No threats,' she reminded herself again, as if saying it enough times would make it true.

Inside, in his hospital room, Liam sat hunched over a chessboard with Mr. Chen, a retired mathematics professor who volunteered at the hospital. They'd been playing every morning for the past week, their games growing increasingly competitive.

"Your defense is improving," Mr. Chen noted, sliding his bishop across the board. "But you still telegraph your moves with your eyes."

Liam smiled, masking his strategy as he considered his next move. The afternoon light streamed through the window, catching the fading yellow of his bruises. "That's why I'm losing to you every day?"

"Among other reasons," Mr. Chen chuckled, his weathered hands hovering over his knights. "Though I suspect today might be different. You seem sharper."

"Must be the excitement of going home," Liam replied, advancing his pawn. "Check."

Mr. Chen raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Sneaky. Very sneaky. But…" He moved his king, creating an unexpected opening. "Not sneaky enough."

They were so absorbed in their game that neither noticed Isabella's arrival until she spoke.

"I see you're looking healthier than before," she said softly.

Liam turned, startled by the familiar voice. He hadn't expected Isabella herself to come—she was the owner of Ashworth Events, after all, and he was just another employee. 'She's probably just being kind,' he thought, trying to quiet the flutter in his chest.

"Yes, ma'am," he responded, keeping his voice neutral.

Isabella moved closer, her sharp eyes scanning him for any lingering signs of injury. "Have you eaten today?"

"Just a little sandwich and coffee the nurse brought," he admitted.

"Oh, that won't do," Isabella said, her voice warming. "How about we get a proper lunch before heading home?"

"Yeah… sure," Liam agreed, choosing his words carefully, still uncertain about this attention from his boss.

Mr. Chen packed up the chess pieces, giving Liam a knowing smile. "Remember what I said about telegraphing your moves, young man. Some games require more subtlety than others." He nodded politely to Isabella before leaving.

As they made their way out, a female voice called out from behind them.

"Liam? Oh my God, is that you?"

Isabella was momentarily distracted by an incoming call, stepping away to answer it. Behind her, Liam's face lit up with recognition as a young woman approached, his friend from college. She wrapped him in a tight hug, and Liam returned it, laughing as she planted a friendly kiss on his cheek.

Isabella turned just in time to witness the embrace and kiss. Her fingers tightened imperceptibly around her phone, her expression shifting into something harder to read. 'Who is she?' she thought, watching their easy familiarity with narrowed eyes. 'And why is she touching him like that?'

"Liam, meet me in the car now," Isabella called out, her voice carrying a hint of steel beneath its composed tone. She turned and walked ahead, her pace notably brisker than usual.

Liam caught up to her at the elevator, confusion written across his features. The ride down was silent, tension thick in the air between them. Outside, Isabella slid into the driver's seat—something she never did when Marcus was around—while Liam took the passenger side.

The silence stretched until they hit traffic. Liam finally gathered his courage. "Is anything bothering you, ma'am?"

Isabella's lips curved into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Who is that girl to you, Liam?"

"She's… I…" Liam stammered, thrown by the unexpected question.

"You know, if you have a girlfriend, you can tell me," Isabella said, her tone deceptively light. "I just want to ensure nothing interferes with your recovery."

"Oh, that was just Lily, ma'am. She's an old friend from school. She lives near the company now."

"So you do like her?" Isabella pressed, her knuckles whitening slightly on the steering wheel.

"No, ma'am, she was just there for a check-up herself."

"Did that explain all that touching? The way she was smiling at you?" Isabella's voice took on an edge. "She seemed quite… familiar. I'm concerned, Liam. You've just recovered from serious injuries. You need to focus on your health, on your work. We can't have you getting distracted right now, especially by someone who clearly has no regard for your current condition. Did she even consider your injuries when she grabbed you like that?"

"It was just a friendly hug, nothing more," Liam said quietly, increasingly confused by his boss's reaction.

"I don't want you near her again," Isabella said firmly. "You need to focus on your recovery and your work at Ashworth."

"Yes, ma'am."

As they pulled into the restaurant parking lot, Isabella's mood shifted suddenly, becoming almost artificially bright. They ordered their food, with Isabella insisting on several dishes "to help with his recovery." Throughout the meal, she asked about his physical therapy plans, his medication schedule, everything except Lily.

The conversation flowed smoothly, yet Liam couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The way Isabella listened so intently, the way she refilled his glass before he could reach for it, the way her eyes darkened every time his phone buzzed—all of it felt like pieces of a puzzle he couldn't quite put together.

Later, pulling up to the estate, Isabella's voice was measured. "I'll meet you inside in a moment. I need to take a call first."

Liam nodded and headed inside, still trying to make sense of the day's events. Mr. Chen's words about subtlety echoed in his mind as he replayed Isabella's reactions. 'Why does she care so much?'

Behind him, Isabella watched him go, then pulled out her phone and dialed.

"Marcus? I need you to do something for me," she said, her voice low and determined. Her eyes never left Liam's front door as she spoke.

Marcus answered immediately. "What do you need?"