In Front Of A Camera

• chapter seventeen •

TW:// Domestic Abuse

Harry cleaned up all the phone pieces and went to sit on the couch for a while, letting Liam calm down. He knew exactly how it would happen, lots of cuddles and kisses, apologies... it made him sick. He used to love it, he'd look forward to the moments when Liam would 'come to his senses' and explain himself, kissing his worries away.

But now, now he hated it. He was starting to understand the manipulation Liam was exhibiting with his behavior, and it was helping him to build more courage everyday to leave him. This situation though, was a major setback and it was going to take him some time to build back some of his courage.

Eventually, Liam returned to the living room and sat down beside Harry on the couch. "I'm sorry for hurting you love," he said, grabbing Harry's hand.

Harry stayed still, not moving a muscle, but also not taking his hand away. He was going to have to 'play nice' for a while in order to get his privileges back and he knew that.

"I only do this because I care about you, you know that right?" Liam asked.

Harry nodded, looking down at his lap where their hands were resting intertwined.

"I just need you to learn, and there are consequences for your actions. You're my boyfriend, and I love you," Liam said. "And that behavior... messing around with Louis... that's not you. I know it's not."

Harry nodded again, hating Liam more than he ever had before.

"Now listen, I'm going to forgive you." Liam stated, "But we're going to have to set some rules until I can trust you again."

"Okay," Harry said quietly. His voice was hardly above a whisper.

"First things first, no phone. You'll only get a new one when you've proven you're ready," Liam told him.

Harry's heart dropped to his stomach. "But I need it for work, how will I keep track of things?"

"I can do that for you, I'll just let Mitch know that you decided to take a break from your phone for a bit."

Harry knew Mitch would never believe that, but he nodded anyway. He thought maybe it would help if Mitch knew something was going on.

"Second, until I say otherwise, you don't get to use the car." Liam said, "I'm keeping the keys on me at all times."

Harry had never felt more trapped, and he was really scared.

"Now I know it's extreme, but it's only for a while, okay darling?" Liam said gently, pressing his nose against Harry's cheek and giving him a soft kiss.

Harry nodded once more, he felt like right now all he could do was sit and nod, he could hardly speak.

"Good, I'm glad we're on the same page." Liam whispered, and then pulled back. "And babe, I know it seems unfair that I see other guys and girls, and you can't, but you know why that is don't you?"

Of course I do! Harry wanted to scream, Liam told him his pathetic reasoning all the time and it was forever engrained in his mind. "Yes... because I can't be everything you need."

"That's right, and one day maybe you'll be able to achieve that and I won't have to do that anymore." Liam told him, "But until then, I have to be able to fulfill my needs. Because like I said, you can't always do it for me the way I can for you."

Harry wanted to tell him how wrong he was, but he couldn't. He didn't dare.

"Alright, now let's go clean up that pretty little face of yours. Can't let those bruises go untreated now can we?" Liam said, helping him up.

Harry, who was so used to being manipulated and brainwashed, was finally starting to see the light. He was seeing the tactics Liam was using to keep him close when he felt like Harry would leave him.

Liam was only sweet like this when he felt that there was a threat to their relationship and Harry knew that now.

•

The next morning, Harry woke up to an empty bed. It wasn't too uncommon, sometimes Liam left for the gym in the mornings without telling him, so he just went about his regular routine.

He'd just showered, and was in the kitchen cooking breakfast for Liam when he got home. He walked into the kitchen and Harry turned around, seeing he wasn't in his workout clothes, but instead a button up and some jeans. "Where were you?" Harry asked.

"Oh, just out, I had an important errand to run." Liam grinned, but the look in his eyes made Harry very uneasy. "I have someone I'd like you to meet."

Harry furrowed his eyebrows, "really, who?" He asked, assuming it would be some new guy or girl for a threesome which was something Liam really enjoyed, but it was only 9 in the morning, so he had his doubts about that.

"Just a second," Liam said, hurrying off before coming back with a baby carrier in his arms. "This is Everleigh, my daughter."

Harry dropped the spatula he'd been using for the scrambled eggs he was making and his blood ran cold.

Liam had a child.

Liam had a child.

A child.

He couldn't wrap his brain around this, and honestly didn't know what to say or what to think. How could Liam hide something like this from him?

"I...." Harry's throat went dry, and his voice quivered. "What? How? Why didn't you tell me?"

"You remember Jess don't you?" Liam asked.

Harry nodded, she had been over quite often but he hadn't seen her in a long time.

"Well, she got pregnant and well, it's mine." Liam said, "and long story short, she didn't want to take care of her and was ready to give her up, but I decided that it would be perfect for you and I to raise her. It'll be our own little family."

Harry was silent. He had absolutely no words.

"And since you're home so often, it'll give you something to do for once," Liam continued.

Harry was silent, too stunned to speak.

"Well? Isn't this going to be great Harry?" Liam asked when he hadn't said a word.

"Umm... yeah. Yeah, great." Harry replied, pinching them bridge of his nose, stressed.

He knew for a fact that Liam wasn't capable of raising a child, and he wasn't going to leave this sweet baby with him.

He'd been so close to freeing himself, so close.

He had no clue how he'd get out of this now.

Hey! Thanks for reading, sorry I know this chapter is kind of a lot! But if you enjoyed, please leave feedback. Thanks so so much for all the love on this book! It means the world!!
💛-stella