Liam's POV
    "So why are you guys talking about my Dad and me? I heard everyone's voices and I know for sure that Mark didn't only do the gossiping " He said, folding his hands and giving us a stern look.
   We looked at him; speechlessly and our hearts were racing, Robert was more scared because he knew he said something bad about Liam.
    
  "Okay! That was a joke" Liam finally smiled and we heaved a heavy sigh of relief.
   "How do you feel now Liam" Mark, Madam Theresa and I asked at the same time.
   "Yeah. I'm better" Liam replied as he took his seat.
    
  I stood up, move towards him then I placed my palm on his forehead and my other palm on my own forehead to compare our temperature again.
   "Your temperature is normal now" I said..and he smiled.
    
    I returned to my seat to finish up my meal. No one was saying anything that was when I realized that they were all staring at me.
    "Uughh.?" I halted the awkward silence...
  "What did you just do?" Helen whispered into my ears.
    "I...I only checked if his temperature is not high" I explained to her and she responded by giving me an awkward head nod.
    
   "Okay... I am done here" Madam Theresa stood up.
 "I need to do my work quickly because my little children are waiting for me at home" She drank some water before climbing the staircase with her working materials.
    
   "We weren't gossiping about you Liam; I was only trying to impact a good impression about you into them since you won't show it to them yourself, " Mark told Liam.
    
    "I'm also done" Helen stood up and carried the meal she hasn't finished eating.. then she exit.
    "Me too" Robert stood up and did the same thing.. Leaving Mark, Liam, and I. Mark glared at me; guessing I might leave too.
    
    "You see; everyone is scared of your presence" Mark told him.
  "Hmmm, perhaps I should return to my bed and continue sobbing" Liam said sardonically.
    "It's only thirty minutes ago, are you sure you are fine?" His brother asked him.
    "Yes, I am" Liam replied.
    
  "Yeah he is, the doctor also said that it's just a slight fever" I added; " Do you feel hungry again?" I asked him.
    "No, not at all. I'm all well and good" He responded.
    Obviously, Mark was also surprised that I was concerned for him despite the way he treated me
    
    "Liam... did uhm, Clara call you back and said it's a prank or something? " Mark asked.
    "Don't mention her name again" Liam said.
   "Err... Mark, he is not over her completely. I think if we don't mention her name or talk about her, he won't recall any memory or be sad again " I told Mark.. but they sat down there, looking at me like...
Liam was the first to speak.
    
   "It's not a prank and I was actually the one who called her again yesterday but this time around, her so-called fiancee picked the call. So it's no joke" Liam said.
    "It's really not a joke. Geez, her fiancee spoke to you?" Mark questioned.
    "Yeah Mark. And Eve is right, I really don't want to talk about her again. Let's put a full stop right here" Liam said.
    "Okay," Mark said.
    
  "I'll take my leave now" I left the dining room.
    
    ***
    
"Did any one of  them believe you when you told them that I am not that kind of bad guy they all think I am?" Liam asked his brother.
  "Uhm why? Are you regretting all the actions you've taken?" Mark made mock of him.
   "I... To be honest, I am regretting everything. But you know Mark, they have wrong impressions in their heads. You know me well Mark and..and vicious people don't often know that they are vicious, they think their behavior is right and normal" Liam started.
    and Mark sneered; "Stop trying to justify yourself Liam" He said.
 "Okay.." He mumbled.
    
  "I don't know what came into you all of a sudden, is it the short illness that made you realize all this, or is it the breakup and heartbreak?" Mark teased.
   "I said don't mention anything regarding that" Liam grumbled...then he spoke pitifully; "Just help me out Mark, I don't think it is working out"
    "Wait! are you jealous that everyone is free around me?" Mark asked.
  "Mark!"
 "Okay Okay" He chuckled..." I know you can't apologize, so just try to make it up to them" He said and Liam frowned.
    "And try to put on a smile when talking to everyone. Laugh often too. Did you realize how you spoke when you came here, Oh My God... I was almost scared of you too " Mark told him and Liam laughed.
    
    "You see Liam, that shows you didn't mean every damn harsh response, you only respond that way to get people's honor," He said and Liam smiled, knowing fully well that what his brother said about him is very true... Yes! he never thought that attitude would make people afraid of him and even hate him...and if it continues that way; it will continue forever.
    
"You treated Eve the worst even when she's new but Oh My God, that girl has a pure heart"
    "Why did you say that?" Liam asked him.
  "Can't you see, she's not scared of you not even one bit neither does she dislike you" Mark lowered his voice so that they won't hear him.
    
    Liam looked at him quietly for a while but he changed the topic instead
   "Why did you tell them that I have graduated from college?" Liam asked.
    "Probably because I just wanted them to know; at least if Dad is not aware " Mark answered him.., He was mute. "We were talking about Dad also"
    "Yeah, I heard that. They all know the kind of man our father is but none of them is willing to speak up because they...they don't have the right to unless they are ready to lose their only source of income" He paused when Helen came over to clear the plates and clean the dining table.
    
Then shortly after she left, Madam Theresa came to tidy up the dining room.
    "I should be on my way now" She said as soon as she was done.
   "Bye ma'am" Mark said.
 "Regards to everyone at home" Liam added then they watched her leave.
    "Damn! I love this new attitude of yours" Mark commented.
    
"Did Dad really didn't care that I was not feeling okay because Clara broke up with me?" Liam asked his brother and he nodded in affirmation.
"That man didn't check up on me last night or this morning before he went out" He spoke softly.
"Sometimes I wondered if he is really a father. You know Mark, most of the ownership I derived from him was because I disagreed to let him make another unreasonable preference" He continued sadly.
    
"That's right. As for me Liam like I have always said; I do not want any of my father's property...I just wanna grow and create mine" Mark said...
    Liam took a deep breath... "Dad is just..." Mark interrupted him sharply.
"No, No, and No Liam. You just finished worrying about Clara and it didn't solve anything. So don't ever worry about Daddy, wait you never did. So why are you doing that now? C'mon Liam, do not be distressed, let's continue to tolerate his non-challant attitude but keep our hopes high that he will come back to his right senses very soon" Mark said but Liam won't stop frowning.
    
    "Swimming! Let's go swim" Mark suddenly suggested and rushed to tinkle him to pull him up and made sure that he brighten up his mood.
   "Okay Okay" He did stand up as he put on a smile.
  "That's what we do every saturday whenever we are at home, have you forgotten?" Mark said, pulling him out of the house. "You have not fully recovered Liam, so you must dive into the water, you would only slip slowly into the water like a normal human being" Mark said; he succeeded in making his brother laugh.
    
   When they got out of the house; they met Robert outside as usual but he pulled him along also.
   "Uhh, what..." Robert asked confusedly.
    "Swimming!" Mark responded.
  "Where are you pulling me to?" Robert complained.
 "The pool. I am pulling you two to the pool" He responded playfully.
    
    **
   
    Eve's POV
    
   Helen and I talked by the upstairs corridor which enabled us to be able to view what was going on down. The other side, where we stood ~ led down to the swimming pool.  
    
  Then we sighted Mark dragging Liam and Robert.
  "Mark is such a jovial and playful soul" Helen said and I nodded ~ and agreed with her
  "But what's going on here?"
    
      "Let's swim, Join us Robert" Mark said...
   "Uhn..no" He responded, gazing at Liam.
    "You can join us Robert" Liam permitted.
 
"Am I that noticed the change of attitude in Liam" Helen said.
   "No I told you about it first but you still didn't want to believe" I remarked.
"I wondered why Mark was trying to defend his brother earlier" Helen said.
  "I didn't think that was what he was trying to do. On a good day, Liam is as jovial as his brother" I told Helen.
    "I disagree with you on that, maybe because I've known Liam for a long time now. He is now learning to be Mark's replica" She insisted, so I stopped arguing.
    
    "Uhhhn... Okay" Robert finally agreed.
  "Good... Remember Liam, you are not gonna dive into the water" Mark warned his brother.
   "No, you are not gonna tell me what to do"
  "But you just recovered..." Mark said.
   "Exactly. I have recovered"
    "Not fully, you didn't even have enough rest"
    "Didn't you say it was TetraHeartBreakcyline, not a fever?" Liam said.
    "Oh"
    
    I laughed at the two brothers' funny quarrel that was when they looked up and noticed Helen and my presence upstairs...
   "Come join us guys" Mark said.
    "Come on Eve, Helen" Liam added...
 "Uhhnnn I cannot swim" Helen told them.
    "I can't swim too" I lied.
    "I'll teach you" Liam said.
    "No, no we are fine" Helen said.
    
    "Okay.." Liam turned to his brother and said..; "I'll go into the water first..." 
 We weren't expecting it; I mean they were not gonna swim with his clothes on. Liam pulled off his clothes at once and then his trousers, leaving him on only shorts.
    "Oh My God!" I exclaimed loudly.
   They all looked up immediately to gaze at me, 
  "What is it?" Liam asked...
    
 Damn! He has six-packs and his abs... Oh My God. it was very obvious, I might drool... No, I was already drooling... I shut my eyes immediately.
    
    *****
    ***