“How’s the taste?” Liam Taylor asked Amelia Johnson.
Amelia took another bite of the steak.
“Way better than the takeout I usually get.”
Liam grinned.
“Of course.
I brought it from a friend’s restaurant.”
Damien Taylor glanced at her and said, “If you like it, we can just eat at the place next time.”
“Sure.” Amelia smiled.
She still owed him a meal anyway.
After finishing up, she turned to Damien.
“I’m heading next door to change clothes.”
“I’ll go with you,” Damien said, standing up.
“No need. I feel much better now.” The medicine was surprisingly effective, no wonder it was called a miracle drug.
But Damien didn’t seem to hear her—he just picked her up.
Amelia was startled.
“Hey! I can totally walk on my own!”
He didn’t put her down.
“This saves time.”
Even though it was just next door, there was still a bit of a walk between the two buildings.
Neither of them said anything at first.
Amelia felt the awkward silence and decided to break it with some small talk.
“Am I heavy?”
“Not at all.
Easy enough to lift with one hand.”
“Guess you’ve got a six-pack then?”
“Never really counted.”
Who needs to count?
Are you bad at math?”
“My math was good in school.”
“Looks like it’s gone downhill then.”
Damien gave her a glance.
He almost said, Why don’t you count them for me sometime?
Amelia panicked, thinking he was annoyed.
“I was just joking!”
“You scared of me?” Damien raised an eyebrow.
She swallowed nervously.
“I mean, who isn’t in the capital?”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, people say you’re… kind of hard to deal with.” She actually meant scary.
“That’s not true.” Damien never thought he was that difficult.
“Yeah, I agree, totally not true, haha…” Amelia laughed nervously.
To her, Damien didn’t seem as cold as the rumors said, but guys like him were probably a little unpredictable either way.As soon as Damien Taylor got back, Liam Taylor immediately leaned in.
“Bro, are you seriously into her?”
Damien shot him a look.
“What are you getting at?”
Liam let out a dramatic sigh.
“There’s something I’ve been holding back, but I really think you should know.
Brace yourself.”
Damien: “Cut to the chase.”
Liam cleared his throat.
“Well… she has a fiancé. I actually saw the guy at the party earlier.”
“The one in the grey suit?”
“You saw him too?” Liam was a bit surprised.
Damien replied casually, “Didn’t look like a fiancé to me.”
“So you’re planning to swoop in?” Liam smirked.
Damien’s tone cooled.
“Don’t go digging into her behind my back.”
“I just did a quick check, nothing deep dive or anything.” Liam grinned mischievously.
“But seriously, bro, if you need help scoring points, I’ve got your back. Ladies? I know how to handle.”
Damien didn’t respond.
Liam went on enthusiastically, “They’re all pretty similar. Be gentle, thoughtful, full-service boyfriend mode, and she’ll melt in no time.”
Damien glanced at the time.
“You planning to crash here tonight?”
“No way, just dropping by. I’ve got a date—some cutie invited me out for drinks.”
Meanwhile, over at the Johnsons’.
Richard Johnson had just gotten home after a dinner meeting.
Grace Williams hurried over to help him with his coat.
“Honey, you’re finally back.”
“What’s going on?”
“Amelia went out and hasn’t come back yet,” she said, looking a bit anxious.
“Where’d she go?”
“Some kind of dinner party, I think.”
He frowned.
“Why didn’t you stop her?”
“Babe, it’s not like I could. Being a stepmom is hard enough—I can’t lay down the law like you do,” she said, clearly a little frustrated.
“And Sabrina?”
“Ethan took her to the same party. They’re still not back. Didn’t want to disturb their date, so I didn’t call.”
Richard pulled out his phone and dialed Amelia’s number, his tone sharp as a knife.
“Where are you right now?”