The doorbell rang, shattering the tense silence that had settled over the apartment. Ava's heart skipped a beat as she recognized Liam's familiar ring. She exchanged a quick glance with her grandmother, a silent understanding passing between them.Taking a deep breath, Ava opened the door, a forced smile plastered on her face. "Mr. Blackwood," she greeted him, her voice laced with a formality that was unusual for their usual interactions.Liam, understanding her cue, adopted a professional demeanor. "Ms. Bennett," he replied, his voice devoid of any warmth. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important.""Not at all," Ava said, stepping aside to allow him in. "I was just about to leave for the office myself. We have a lot to discuss about the project."Liam's eyes flickered towards Ava's family, who were watching the exchange with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. He nodded curtly. "Excellent. Perhaps we can continue our conversation there, in a more private setting."Ava's stepmother, Evelyn, cleared her throat pointedly. "Ava, darling, are you sure you can't spare a few minutes for your family? We haven't seen you in ages."Ava's smile faltered. "I'm afraid I'm quite busy, Evelyn. Mr. Blackwood and I have a lot to catch up on."Liam, sensing Ava's discomfort, stepped in. "Indeed, Ms. Bennett. We have a tight deadline to meet, and every minute counts."Evelyn's face contorted in annoyance, but she knew better than to argue. With a final glare at Ava, she turned and led her family out of the apartment.As soon as the door shut behind them, Ava let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you," she whispered to Liam, her eyes filled with gratitude.Liam smiled gently. "It was my pleasure, Ava." He paused, then added, "But I must confess, I'm surprised to see your family here. I thought you were estranged from them."Ava's smile faded. "It's a long story," she said evasively.Liam didn't press the issue. He knew that Ava would share everything with him when she was ready. For now, he was content to simply be there for her, a silent pillar of support.As they were about to leave, Jessica, Ava's stepsister, sashayed into the living room, her eyes fixed on Liam. She gave him a flirtatious smile and batted her eyelashes."Well, hello handsome," she purred, her voice dripping with seduction. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Jessica, Ava's sister."Liam's eyes met Ava's, a silent communication passing between them. He knew that Ava was feeling jealous, and he decided to play along."A pleasure to meet you, Jessica," he said, returning her smile with a charming one of his own. "I'm Liam Blackwood, Ava's business partner."Jessica leaned in closer, her body brushing against his. "Business partner, huh?" she said suggestively. "Well, perhaps we can discuss some business over dinner sometime."Liam chuckled, enjoying the charade. "I'm afraid I'm a very busy man, Ms. Bennett. But perhaps we can find a time to chat."Jessica giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm sure we can make time," she said, winking at him.Ava watched the exchange, her fists clenching in anger and jealousy. She hated seeing Jessica flirt with Liam, especially in her own home. But she knew that she had to play along, for the sake of appearances.As Liam left the apartment, Jessica followed them, her eyes glued to Liam's back. Ava could feel her stepsister's burning gaze on her, and it fueled her anger even further.Liam left in his car and Ava got ready to leave. Jessica asked Ava shamelessly for Liam's number, for which Ava rolled her eyes and left her home.