Aria’s POV
"Mommy!" Joe’s voice broke through the air like a lifeline, and before I could react, he was in my arms, clutching me tightly.
His small body pressed into mine, and I dropped to my knees, hugging him back with all the strength I had left. My breath caught in my throat, the fear of losing him still clinging to me like a shadow.
"Joe, baby," I whispered into his curls, feeling the warmth of his skin against my cheek. The rapid thumping of his heart was a sharp reminder of how close I had come to losing him.
I barely registered the footsteps behind us until a voice, cold and accusing, sliced through the moment.
"Aria, how could you be so careless?" Liam’s tone was biting, and I looked up, my heart sinking at the sight of him standing over us.
His eyes were hard, judgment
