CHAPTER 3
Liam was stunned by Amelia's sudden action, his eyes blinking rapidly as he struggled to process what was happening before him. With a mix of confusion and surprise, he immediately released his grip on her and left her standing bewildered in the middle of the living room.
"What's wrong with him?" Amelia asked, her voice laced with confusion, as she tried to make sense of Liam's sudden departure.
Liam stormed into his room, slamming the door shut behind him. Overwhelmed with emotions, he ran his hand through his hair, tugging at the tangled strands while letting out a frustrated groan. His heart raced, realizing that he had just experienced his first kiss, albeit with a stranger inside his own house.
"I have to get her out of here. I can't let her stay here anymore!" Liam's frustration mounted as he held his head, contemplating his next move.
Lost in his thoughts, Liam's concentration was shattered by a loud noise that reverberated through the house, resembling an explosion. Without wasting a second, he rushed downstairs to find the living room engulfed in black smoke.
Coughing, Amelia emerged from the kitchen where the smoke originated, causing Liam to rush to her side, concern etched on his face. He took hold of her, supporting her as she tried to catch her breath.
"What happened?" he asked, his impatience evident in his voice, as he shook her gently, urging her to provide an explanation.
"I..." Amelia's voice trailed off, barely audible amidst the chaos.
"Speak!" Liam demanded, his frustration boiling over.
"I'm so sorry... I wanted to... cook something... for you," Amelia stammered, tears welling up in her eyes as she struggled to compose herself.
"Did I ask you to?" Liam shouted, unable to contain his anger.
"You seemed stressed, so I thought..." Amelia's words were cut short as Liam interrupted her.
"You thought you could just make some food for me because I was stressed out?" Sarcasm dripped from Liam's voice.
"Yeah," Amelia murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"And what did you make?" Liam frowned, making his way towards the kitchen, where the smoke billowed out from the microwave.
He cautiously approached the appliance, feeling the burning sensation on his hand as he grasped the handle. With a sharp hiss of pain, he quickly released his grip.
"Are you okay?" Amelia rushed to his side, reaching out to examine the burn, but Liam jerked his hand away from her touch.
"Don't touch me!" Liam barked at her, his anger consuming him.
"I'm sorry, Andrew," Amelia hung her head in disappointment, her voice barely audible.
"Stop saying sorry. It doesn't fix everything, okay!" Liam's frown deepened, and he walked to a nearby cabinet, retrieving a pair of mittens. He donned them and returned to the microwave, determined to salvage the situation.
Reaching into the microwave, Liam retrieved a plastic bowl filled with burnt noodles. He looked at Amelia in disbelief. "What is this?" he asked, a mix of astonishment and disappointment in his voice.
"Uh, noodles," Amelia muttered softly.
"Are you kidding me? Who cooks noodles in a plastic bowl?" Liam scoffed, his disbelief evident.
Amelia remained silent, her head still bowed, a solitary tear escaping from her eyes and rolling down her cheek.
Liam discarded the plastic bowl in the trash, removing the mittens from his hands and returning them to the cabinet. He stared at Amelia, whose head remained lowered.
"You can lift your head up," Liam commanded, gently urging her to make eye contact, but she ignored him.
Rolling his eyes, Liam closed the distance between them, reaching out to lift Amelia's head. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of her red and teary eyes.
Without a moment's hesitation, Liam pulled her into a tight embrace, his heart melting at the sight of her distress. "Hey, it's okay. Don't cry, okay?" he whispered softly, his voice filled with genuine concern.
Amidst her sobs, Amelia managed to choke out, "I'm so sorry, Andrew. I know I'm not good enough and useless, but please don't leave me."
Liam tightened his hold on her, his voice filled with reassurance. "I'm not leaving you, okay? Stop crying," he assured her, his words laced with sincerity.
"Don't... okay?" Amelia's voice quivered as she continued, "You are the only one I have left in this world. If you leave me, I will die, Andrew."
Liam gently pulled away from the hug, his hands still resting on her shoulders. He held her face, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "Hey, don't say that," he said firmly, his gaze locked with hers.
"But it's the truth, Andrew. You are the only one in my life. I have nobody," Amelia blurted out, her voice filled with vulnerability.
Liam's confusion deepened as he processed her words. "I'm the only one?" he asked, his brows furrowing in confusion. Amelia nodded in response, and Liam, overcome with a mix of emotions, pulled her back into a comforting embrace.
Liam found himself in the kitchen, tidying up the mess Amelia had inadvertently created. He glanced over at her, noticing that she was wearing his hoodie and a pair of sweatpants she had found in his wardrobe. His eyes roamed over her figure, momentarily captivated by her presence.
"Why are you wearing my clothes?" Liam raised an eyebrow, a curious expression on his face.
Amelia shifted uneasily, offering an explanation. "Well, I couldn't find mine, Andrew."
The realization that she didn't have enough clothes of her own tugged at Liam's heart. "Tomorrow, we'll go shopping and get you some new clothes," he declared, a hint of determination in his voice. Amelia's eyes lit up with excitement, and she clapped her hands happily.
"You don't need to clean up my mess. Give it to me; I'll do it," Amelia offered, trying to take the rag from Liam's hand, but he raised it out of her reach.
"It's fine. I've already finished, though," Liam responded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Oh, and I made the noodles you were attempting to cook," he added, his smile widening.
"Aww, you're so sweet!" Amelia exclaimed, unable to contain her joy, as she hugged him tightly.
Liam playfully used his middle finger to gently tap her forehead, breaking the hug. "I'm not sweet. Now, let's go eat. I'm starving," he said, the teasing tone evident in his voice. He walked towards the dining table, with Amelia trailing behind him.
After finishing their meal, Amelia offered to wash the dishes while Liam idled with his phone. As he browsed through the internet, he attempted to find information about Amelia but came up empty-handed.
"I guess she's a bit of a mystery," Liam murmured to himself, a hint of intrigue in his voice. Glancing over at Amelia, who was diligently cleaning the kitchen, he couldn't help but feel a growing curiosity about her background.
Moments later, Liam received a call from one of his clients. "Hello, Mr. Rover," he greeted confidently, holding the phone to his ear.
The voice on the other end of the line informed him that they had seen his project and expressed a strong interest in collaborating with his company. A smile spread across Liam's face as he heard the news. Amelia, noticing his change in demeanor, looked at him with anticipation.
Liam hung up the call and turned towards Amelia, his eyes filled with excitement. "Guess what? The project I've been working on is finally going to be launched," he announced, unable to contain his joy.
Amelia's face lit up with genuine happiness. "That's fantastic news! I'm so happy for you," she exclaimed, stepping closer to him and giving him a warm hug.
"Thank you, Teddy," Liam said gratefully, his voice filled with appreciation.
Amelia's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she looked at him. "So, what should we do to celebrate?" she asked, a hint of playfulness in her voice.
Liam paused for a moment, thinking, and then replied, "Are you not sleepy?"
She shook her head. "No, let's watch a movie together," Amelia suggested, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Liam nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Okay, what do you want to watch?" he asked, eager to spend more time with her.
"After the movie," Amelia teased, her smile mischievous.
Liam's curiosity piqued, but he decided to go along with her playful game. "Alright, after the movie," he agreed, heading to the entertainment center to set up their movie night.
Liam returned to the living room with a bowl of popcorn, drinks, and various snacks, all carefully chosen from his cabinet. Amelia's eyes lit up as she saw the assortment he had brought.
"Netflix and chill," she chanted happily as Liam settled down beside her on the couch.
The movie began, and Amelia's attention was captivated by the screen. Liam occasionally glanced at her, observing her genuine interest in the film. As the movie progressed, a kiss scene appeared on the screen. Amelia looked at Liam with a mischievous grin, causing him to sit up nervously.
"Should we?" she puckered her lips, teasing him.
Liam, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty, grabbed the nearest couch pillow and playfully tapped her head, making her yelp in surprise.
"Focus on the movie," he reminded her, earning a groan from Amelia, who reluctantly turned her attention back to the screen.
Hours passed, and the movie finally came to an end. Liam looked over at Amelia, who had dozed off during the film, her peaceful expression making her even more endearing.
He gently stood up from the couch and carefully scooped her into his arms. As he carried her, her head nestled against his chest, he couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness wash over him.
Making his way to the guest room, Liam gently laid Amelia down on the bed, tucking her in with care. He was about to leave the room when he felt her hand grab hold of his arm, her voice filled with vulnerability even in her sleep.
"Why did you cheat on me, Andrew?" Amelia's voice trembled as she muttered the words, her brows furrowed in confusion.
Liam's eyes widened in surprise. "Cheat? Wasn't I good enough for you?" she continued, her words laced with pain.
A mixture of concern and bewilderment filled Liam's heart. "Gosh, she even talks in her sleep," he muttered to himself, a frown appearing on his face. Leaving the room, he quietly closed the door behind him.
As he made his way back to his own bedroom, Liam couldn't shake off the uneasiness that Amelia's sleep-talk had stirred within him.
Liam's POV
My alarm clock pierced through the tranquility of the room, jolting me awake from a deep slumber. Annoyed by the interruption, I groaned and clung to my pillow, desperate to hold onto a few more moments of blissful sleep.
But as the insistent ringing continued, I begrudgingly accepted that the day had begun. Reluctantly, I released my grip on the pillow and slowly sat up, rubbing my eyes to shake off the remnants of drowsiness. As I glanced at the pillow, however, a flicker of confusion crossed my mind. It seemed to be moving, as if it had a life of its own.
Intrigued and slightly bewildered, I peered closer, my eyes widening in astonishment. Nestled amidst the tousled fabric, half-buried and radiating warmth, was Amelia.