Love Rents A Room
Chapter 69: For A Good Cause

Chapter 69: For A Good Cause

Fiona blinked, caught off guard. What’s happening?

Liam had never done this before—never sought comfort in this way. He was always composed, the one who carried the weight of others, never letting it show. But now...

She could feel the tension in his body, the silent burden pressing down on him.

"I went to Joanne’s..." he whispered, his hand carefully resting on her belly. His fingers twitched a bit as if he was expecting something stressful.

Fiona’s fingers instinctively combed through his hair, a soft and soothing motion. "You went to Joanne’s?" she asked gently.

Liam let out a slow breath, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. "Yeah," he admitted. Then, after a pause, he added, "I wanted to tell you first before you heard it from someone else..."

Fiona’s fingers stilled for a moment before resuming. She recalled the times she had thrown tantrums whenever Liam so much as looked in Joanne’s direction. He had since made it a habit to tell her whenever he ran into his ex-fiancée, probably to avoid unnecessary fights.

Hearing it now, though, it didn’t make her angry—it made her sad. Sad that she had been so insecure in the past.

"Did you talk to her?" she asked instead, keeping her tone even.

Liam rolled over to look up at her, his blue eyes searching her face. "You’re not mad?"

Fiona shook her head, offering him a small smile. "I told you. I’m considering her as family."

A sheen of emotion flickered in his eyes. She knew he was happy. And for the first time, she felt what it truly meant to be a supportive wife. It felt... good.

"So, how are the kids?" Fiona asked, shifting the subject. "They must be traumatized..."

Liam exhaled, his jaw tightening in thought. "They’re in terrible shape, Fi... That beast of a father deserves no pity..." he gritted his teeth, but calmed down soon under Fiona’s gentle touch. "Jo’s furious that they rejected her fostering request."

"Poor kids. At least now they are safe..." Fiona hummed, nodding in understanding. "She’s got the heart for it, but... too bad the laws are against her."

For a moment, she paused, deep in thought.

"Liam..." Her voice was hesitant, but determined. "We’re married. We can foster kids."

Liam sat up, his brows knitting together. Fiona had never struck him as the type to open their home to someone else’s children. She was kind, in her own way, but she had always been more focused on their life, their happiness.

Fiona read his expression perfectly.

Yes, she had been selfish. She had spent most of her life gossiping and flaunting her wealth, thinking only about herself. But she wanted to change—to be better.

"I’m pregnant now, but it would take a long time for the request to be approved. And... This whole town can’t just rely on Joanne to help everyone," she continued, her voice growing steadier. "We’re doing well financially. We have more than enough. We can help too."

Liam ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "I don’t mind it if you really want to... But fostering isn’t a simple decision. Think about it some more."

He would love to foster children. His own upbringing was challenging; while he was raised by his drug-addicted mother, his brother was fortunate enough to be adopted by a loving family and grew up in a stable environment. He wished to change the lives of kids who were in similar situations to the one he faced during his childhood.

However, this decision wasn’t solely up to him. Fiona also needed to feel certain about it.

"I have," Fiona said firmly. Then, as if something clicked, she stood up, a new determination lighting up her face. "The Walsh kids... Their aunt from their mother’s side wanted to take them, didn’t she? But she couldn’t afford to. What if we helped her financially instead? That way, they could stay with family instead of waiting months for the system to place them somewhere... I need to get her number..."

Liam blinked, watching her.

This wasn’t just talk. She was serious.

His wife, the woman who once cared about nothing but extravagant parties and showing off designer clothes, now looked ready to take on the world—for a good cause.

He had always known Fiona was capable of moving mountains if she wanted to. And now, for the first time, he hoped—no, he believed—that she would succeed.

Because she was right.

Joanne wasn’t the only one responsible for this town. It was time for everyone to step up.

-----

Joanne sat in the doctor’s office, her hands loosely clasped in her lap as she watched the children being examined by various specialists. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the soft murmurs of the staff.

Even without a psychiatrist’s evaluation, it was obvious—the children were deeply traumatized. But hearing it confirmed in clinical terms made her chest tighten.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Joanne glanced at the caller ID before answering. "James?"

James sighed on the other end. "Ian is causing a scene. He’s been crying, saying he misses his kids. If this goes to court, there’s a chance they’ll side with ’a father who wants to do better.’ The best way to handle this is to settle things... outside."

Joanne’s jaw clenched. A father who wants to do better? If only remorse alone was enough to erase the months of damage.

"If he’s serious about wanting his children back, tell him to check himself into a rehabilitation facility first," she said firmly. "If he doesn’t take that step, then this is just another empty plea. We can’t let the kids suffer because of it."

James exhaled. "I know... I’ll talk to him."

After hanging up, Joanne leaned back against the chair, closing her eyes for a moment. She wanted to believe that Ian could change. She really did. But wanting something and making it a reality were two very different things.

By the time the check-ups were done, the children were exhausted, their small faces drawn with weariness. Joanne went to the doctors and she almost cried hearing the list of injuries on those small bodies. She got all the medications they needed, gathered them close, her protective instincts flaring as she ushered them out.

With a silent vow to keep them safe, she took them home.

And... waiting for her at her home was a surprise.