Gemotions

He saw the listing late at night, a glass of single malt already half-gone. The picture was fuzzy, but the address was unmistakable. The house. Liam smirked, a sharp curve to his lips. He’d built an empire since leaving that small town. Seeing the place for sale felt… validating.

He scrolled through the pictures, recognizing the peeling paint on the porch swing, the cracked sidewalk he used to scrape his knees on. He felt a gentle warmth in his chest as he took it all in. The house looked… small. Ordinary. A far cry from the sleek penthouse he called home now.

The listing agent described the house as “a diamond in the rough.” Liam chuckled, a low rumble in his throat. He understood diamonds. He was one. He finished his drink, the taste of victory already on his tongue.