Chapter 176: Having Friends Over (2)

Liam greeted the boys first — Matt, Kristopher, Alex, and Harper — shaking hands and exchanging brief hugs. The girls followed behind them, smiling politely, though Liam quickly noticed the look in their eyes.

All four of them — Stacy, Lana, Kristy, Elise — were staring at him as if they’d just seen a myth step off a screen and turn into a person. Their expressions were a mix of disbelief, curiosity, and awe, the kind of look people wore when reality didn’t quite line up with what they knew of the world.

Liam smiled faintly, choosing not to address it. "Sit down," he said casually. "Give me a few minutes. I was in the middle of making something for you guys."

The boys’ faces lit up instantly.

"No way," Matt grinned, elbowing Kristopher. "He’s cooking? Bro, that’s what I’m talking about! I’ve been dreaming about that meal from last time."

Alex raised his hands dramatically. "Finally! I’ve been surviving on campus food for days now."

Liam chuckled at their excitement. "Good thing you came hungry, then."

The girls smiled shyly. Kristy spoke first, "Thanks, Liam."

He nodded and returned the smile. "Make yourselves comfortable. I won’t take long."

As he turned to head back toward the kitchen, Matt called out, "Hey, before you vanish, can we see your garage? Just for a minute, bro. You can’t invite us here and not show us the holy land."

Liam hesitated for half a second, then smiled and shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"

He led them toward a set of interior doors on the left side of the hall.

At the garage door, Liam placed his thumb against the biometric scanner. A faint click followed, and the heavy door unlocked with a soft hiss. One by one, ceiling lights flickered on, illuminating the space inside.

Even before the door had finished sliding open, Matt let out a stunned gasp.

"Holy... Oh my days!" he shouted, the words echoing through the hall.

The others pushed forward, craning their necks as they saw the lineup.

Inside, the garage gleamed like a private museum. The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet Imperium sat nearest to the door. Beside it stood the McLaren P1 LM-X. There was also the Lamborghini Temerario, the Ferrari, the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and the rest.

Matt stumbled forward as if hypnotized. "This isn’t a garage. This is a dream."

Kristopher circled the Maybach, whispering to himself. "He wasn’t kidding. That’s not even supposed to exist."

Liam laughed quietly. "Have fun."

He left them there, their voices bouncing off the walls — gasps, laughter, shouts of disbelief — as he walked back toward the kitchen.

By the time he re-entered, the smell of sizzling chicken and herbs filled the air. Evelyn, Mira, and Clara looked up at him from the counter, their faces showing a mix of surprise and confusion.

"Sir?" Evelyn asked carefully, as though unsure whether she should interfere.

Liam smiled. "Don’t worry. I’m finishing up. You can help with the plating when it’s ready."

Mira blinked, exchanging a look with Clara. "Sir, are you sure you don’t want us to—"

He cut her off with a gentle wave. "Relax. I’ve got this."

He washed his hands, rolled up his sleeves, and got back to work. The rhythm returned easily.

The girls hovered silently nearby, watching him with the kind of fascination reserved for something entirely out of the ordinary.

"He cooks," Mira whispered under her breath, earning a quiet elbow from Clara.

Twenty-five minutes later, the dishes were ready — roasted chicken glazed with honey and herbs, creamy pasta with vegetables, and soft dinner rolls brushed with melted butter. Liam stood back for a moment, satisfied, then wiped his hands on a towel.

"Serve it," he said.

The three women nodded, still half in disbelief, and began carrying the trays to the dining hall.

When Liam stepped into the living area, the boys were just emerging from the garage. Their eyes were wide, faces split into grins that were part joy, part shock.

Matt was the first to reach him. "What the actual hell do you have in there?"

Liam smiled mildly. "Cars."

Matt blinked at him. "Cars? Just cars?"

Kristopher threw up his hands. "Bro, one of those is worth more than our entire apartment block."

Alex nodded fiercely. "The Maybach alone looks like it was forged in heaven."

Liam laughed softly, shrugging. "They’re just machines. Beautiful ones, sure. But still machines."

Matt gave him a playful glare. "You’re calling our dream cars ’just machines.’ That’s offensive."

Kristopher shook his head. "This is what it’s like to live in another tax bracket, huh? We’re here calculating gas prices, and this man’s daily driver looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie."

Liam chuckled, but before he could respond, all three boys leaned forward, eyes glinting.

"Alright," Matt said, crossing his arms. "Spill it."

Liam tilted his head, pretending not to understand. "Spill what?"

"The plane, man," Kristopher said. "The A380. You can’t just fly a freaking flying palace out of LAX, go viral worldwide, and not tell us what it’s like!"

Harper nodded eagerly. "We saw everything online — the hangar, the escort cars, the whole circus. Dude, that’s insane."

Liam laughed quietly, shaking his head. "You want to know what it can do?"

"Obviously!" Matt said, throwing his hands up. "We’re dying here."

Before he could answer, Evelyn appeared at the doorway. "Sir, the food is ready."

Liam nodded. "Perfect timing. Come on, everyone. Let’s eat first."

The group followed him to the dining hall. The aroma hit them immediately — rich, savory, mouthwatering. The table was laid beautifully, dishes steaming under the soft light.

Matt inhaled deeply. "Oh my god, this smells amazing."

"Smells like heaven," Alex said, pulling out a chair.

The girls smiled, clearly impressed once again at the fact that Liam can cook.

"Thanks, Liam," Stacy said this time.

He smiled, taking his seat. "You’re welcome."

As soon as they started eating, the table filled with quiet sounds — clinking cutlery, murmured compliments, and the occasional appreciative groan.

"Liam," Kristopher said between bites, "this is incredible."

"Thanks."

Matt pointed his fork at him. "Now talk. The plane."

Liam set his glass down, leaning back slightly. "It’s... comfortable," he began with a faint smile. "Custom interior. Private suites, gym, lounge, conference area, even a full entertainment deck. It’s powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent engines. Range — fifteen thousand kilometers nonstop. It’s self-sufficient for days if it needs to be."

The room went silent as they listened, eyes wide.

Kristopher finally muttered, "Wow! That’s not a plane. That’s a floating city."

Matt whistled in a low tone. "You’re telling me you can literally live in the sky."

"Basically," Liam said, smiling faintly.

"Wow..." Harper leaned back. "No wonder the internet’s losing its mind."

The next moment, Liam got a message from Lucy informing him that the US government was about to announce that the A380 will be grounded. Liam smiled slightly, as he had been waiting for it.

The boys were still processing his words when Kristopher’s phone buzzed. He frowned and glanced down at the screen. "Wait... what?"

He read the message once, then again, and looked up slowly.

At the same time, the other boys’ phones buzzed too. They all checked — and their expressions shifted from confusion to shock.

"Bro," Matt said carefully, "they’re saying your plane’s been grounded."

Liam didn’t even blink, as he said softly, "Yeah. I was expecting that."

A second later, his own phone began to vibrate. He looked at the screen and it was a call from Daniel.

He answered, putting the phone to his ear.

"Sir," Daniel’s voice came, tight with concern, "they’ve grounded the aircraft. Homeland and FAA just issued the directive."