Chapter 19

As soon as I stepped out the door, someone forcibly pulled me into the hallway, and I was so startled I nearly screamed.

When I saw it was Liam Evans, I was furious and raised my hand to hit him.

He didn’t flinch at all, just stared at me directly.

Feeling guilty under his gaze, I withdrew my hand.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice lacking confidence.

You see, this hallway is right outside my house. My mom could come out to throw away the trash and see us both.

He didn’t speak, just lowered his head, forcing me to look at him.

“If you have something to say, say it. Others are waiting for me.” I was losing patience.

He pressed his body against mine, forcing me against the railing, making my waist ache.

After a while, he finally asked in a low voice, “Playing games with me?”

I was taken aback.

Who’s playing games with whom? He clearly has a fiancée, yet he’s being ambiguous with me.

Although I felt downhearted, I couldn’t lose my momentum.

“We’re all adults here. Let’s not talk about playing games. If we set things straight, we can still be friends.”

He paused for a moment, then said, “Kissed me, slept with me… Is this how you communicate with friends?”

“I didn’t kiss you. It was always you who initiated it. How can you accuse me?” I protested.

He was the one who forcefully kissed me several times. Does he have any shame?

Suddenly, he laughed, took a step back, unbuttoned the first button of his shirt, tugged at the collar, and pointed to his collarbone. “Do you want to kiss it back?”

I followed his gaze down his throat, stopping at his collarbone, and swallowed involuntarily.

“Better… not.” I turned my face away, not daring to look. If I looked again, my legs would go weak.

Yet he took my hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. The sensation made me shiver, and I quickly withdrew my hand.

“You can do whatever you want with me,” he said with a smile, paused, and then added softly, “Can you stop causing trouble?”

His words tickled my ears, and my resolve nearly crumbled again.

“I’m not causing trouble, Liam Evans.” I composed myself and made up my mind to clarify things. “You have Sophia Martinez, and I have my own life. I can’t keep making mistakes because of one accidental error. We both need to get back on track.”

He fell silent, his face suddenly turning grim.

“You consider that a mistake?” he asked me, word by word.

“Isn’t it?” I retorted.

“I’m 26 this year. I’m not a kid anymore. I don’t have time to play those on-again, off-again games with you.” Saying these words was difficult, and I felt bad inside.

He pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, “Miss Thompson, you really have a heart of stone.”

I didn’t understand the meaning behind his words.

“You coaxed me when you bullied me, and now you don’t acknowledge it after having your fun.”

Each word pierced my ears, and I wished I could find a hole to crawl into.

Just then, my phone rang, breaking the silence.

I glanced at the phone; it was Ryan Chen, probably calling because I hadn’t shown up yet.

My first reaction wasn’t to answer the call, but to look at Liam Evans.

His face was calm, but his whole demeanor was tense.

Why am I afraid of this guy who’s clearly younger than me?

I picked up the phone, ready to hang up, but he took it from me.

“You…” I reached out to grab it, but he stood there motionless, raising his hand so I couldn’t reach it.

Then I heard Ryan Chen’s voice.

“Hello, is this Ella Thompson?”

I couldn’t guess what Liam Evans intended, so I dared not speak.

Liam Evans glanced at me with a smile and leisurely said, “No.”

I was about to cry. Why did he answer my call?

My heart was pounding so fast it was about to leap out.

“Then… may I ask who you are?” The other side asked politely, and I remembered it was a WeChat voice call, making it impossible to lie about a wrong number.

I’m doomed.

Liam Evans looked at me but didn’t answer. I behaved, not daring to provoke him.

“She’s–in–the–shower.”

My brain exploded.

This guy! I jumped up, and this time he seemed to have a conscience, not making it difficult for me, and returned the phone to me.

“Be… right out. That was my cousin… Sorry.” I truly admired this cunning cousin, making me stutter in my explanation.

The other side paused, seemingly half-believing, “Okay, take your time, no rush.”

After hanging up, I was about to confront Liam Evans, but that brat had already left, leaving me with only a carefree silhouette.

Then a text message popped up.

“Girls should be more reserved. Come back early tonight.”

Me: …

Why should he care? I simply didn’t reply, pressed the elevator button, and hurried downstairs.