Chapter 70
Chapter 65: Flashback Continuation I
Seven years ago…
I woke up to a heavy weight around my waist. Someone was hugging me, and I was certain it wasn’t my Grandma.
Slowly, I opened my eyes, and my breath caught in my throat..
Liam Anderson.
He was sleeping beside me, his arms wrapped around my waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I gasped, my eyes widening in shock. Confusion followed.
I clearly remembered falling asleep next to Grandma, just as I had for the past few nights. I told her I preferred sleeping with her because I was afraid of accidentally hurting Liam’s wound with the way I moved in my sleep
That, and I had used the excuse that I missed sleeping beside her
But the truth was, it had been my way of keeping my distance from Liam Anderson–after that kiss.. after his declaration of making me his
So how did I end up back in this bed
How had I not woken up, despite being this close to a man who was supposed to be a stranger to me–even though he was my husband and I was his wife!
And why, despite my racing heart, did I feel no fear like 1 had when I first met him!
Why couldn’t 1 End the strength to remove his arm from mine!
My gaze wandered to Liam Anderson’s face. His hair, usually brushed up, had fallen over his forehead, making him look different–softer. Peaceful
There was nothing flawed about his face. His strong jawline, the faint scruff on his chin, his long lashes
I swallowed hard, hating the way my chest tightened at the sight. I shouldn’t be admiring him. I shouldn’t feel this strange pull toward him.
Then his eyes moved slightly as if he were waking up
Panic shot through me. I tried to slip away, afraid he might catch me staring.
But it was too late.
Before I could move, his fingers wrapped around my wrists. He moved swiftly, effortlessly.
And suddenly, I was trapped beneath him
His body
body caged mine, his arms bracketing me in place.
I sucked in a sharp breath as his face dipped closer, mere inches from mine.
“Going somewhere, Camille?” His voice was rough with sleep, deep and low, sending a shiver down my spine.
I swallowed, my mind screaming at me to push him away, to put distance between us.
use of he
how he made me feel
But my body betrayed me–frozen, breathless, caught in the intensity of his gaze.
Liam Anderson was dangerous. Not just because of who he was, but I realize it was because
“Liam… let me go.” My voice was barely audible, like a whisper, though I knew he heard me.
But instead of letting me go, his grip on my wrists tightened slightly–like he hadn’t heard me.
I couldn’t finish my protest as I felt his warm breath against my skin.
1 froze as he buried his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply.
Slowly, he released my wrists, shifting his weight, his hands pressing into the mattress on either side of my head to keep from crushing me.
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Chapter 70
Liam.” I breathed again, but my voice was weaker this time
His lips brushed against my skin–just a whisper of contact. I jolied. Then he did it again, sending another shiver racing down my spine.
“You smell like flowers.” he murmured, his voice husky, laced with something ungradable,
I swallowed hard, my hands pressing against his chest, but it was useless.
He wasn’t holding me down forcefully. He didn’t need to.
Because somehow. Ecouldn’t imme
Thated how my body reacted to him. Thated how I forgot everything for a split second–who he was, who I was, and the distance I was supposed to
1 squeezed my eyes
yes shut, try
trying to gather my strength.
“Liam.” I said, firmer this time. “Let me go
He exhaled against my skin before finally pulling back slightly, his gar locking onto mine
But he didn’t move away completely.
And I wasn’t sure if it was my own trembling breath or the intensity in his eyes that scared me more.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“Make me.”
1 pressed harder against his chest, but he didn’t budge. A smirk crossed his lips as his gaze dropped to my hand resting against him. With only a thin shirt separating us. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, and my checks grew warm.
“Liam. I’m serious” I said, though my voice and body betrayed me. I trembled with nervousness and embarrassment at how close we were.
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. “So am 1”
I sucked in a sharp breath as his fingers brushed along my arm–barely a touch, yet it left a trail of warmth in its wake.
“You keep running from me these past few days, Camille, he murmured. “But you always end up back here. With me.”
I swallowed hard, my voice unsteady. “W why am I even here? Where’s Grandma!”
He chuckled. “Obviously, in her room. And you? You’re here because this is your room–our room. This is where you belong”
I pushed against Liam’s chest with all the strength I could muster, and this time, he let me go.
1 scrambled to my feet, putting much–needed distance between us. My heart pounded, my breaths uneven.
“Stop this, Liam.”
He remained of the bed, propped up on one elbow, watching me with unreadable eyes. “Stop what?”
I gestured between us, frustration tightening my throat. “This!”
He sat up, his gaze steady. “What do you mean?”
I clenched my fists, my emotions threatening to spill over. “I don’t understand you. Everything you do, everything you say. We had an agreement-
I was just a substitute. And once Callie comes back, I go back to the life I had. A life without you. A life where I’m not your wife
I took a shaky breath. So whatever this is please stop. If you’re only doing this because you think Callie might not come back and you’re planning
to replace her with someone who just luppens to have the same face, then please stop. I won’t be that person”
Liam’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. The warmth from earlier vanished, replaced by something colder, sharper
“Th not replacing her with you,” he said, his voice low but firm. “I have no plans of doing that.”
1 swallowed hard, my pulse hammering Then why-
“If that were my plan,” he cut me off, rising to his feet, his gaze pinning me in place, “why would I marry you as you instead of using you as her?”
Illinched at his words, at the harsh reminder.
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Chapter 70
“You have the same face, after all.”
Liam reached out, his fingers grazing my cheek slowly, deliberately.
I stiffened at the unexpected touch and instinctively took a step back. But before I could waist, pulling me closer,
wild put more
e distance between us, his arms encircled my
“Stop involving that woman here,” he murmured, his voice dangerously calm. “Callie is not you. You’re you, Camilliana Anderson”
I sucked in a sharp breath, my hands pressing against his chest. “Why are you saying that? Callie’s your fiancéel I’m sure you loved her-
Liam let out a mocking laugh, his grip on me tightening slightly. “No. I didn’t. Never. She
was just a
business.
His words stunned me. My lips parted, but before I could utter a response
CRASH!
A loud, shattering sound echoed from outside.
I barely had time to process it before Liam moved.
In the blink of an eye, he let me go, and he was already holding a gun, pointing it at the door as if someone would open it and hurt us.
“Stay behind me he commanded, his voice now edged with danger.
Liam moved swiftly, his grip on the gun firm as he reached for the door handle. Without hesitation, he flung it open, his body tense, muscles coiled, as if ready to shoot whoever–or whatever–was on the other side.
Then-
“HOLY F*CK?
Liam’s curse echoed through the room as something white and fluffy launched at his leg, letting out the most pathetic, dirty–sounding meow ever heard.
I blinked.
nearly leaped out
ped out of my chest
And then my heart ne
“SNOWBALL
Shoving Liam aside without a second thought. I dropped to my knees and souped up the filthy, oversized cat, cradling him in my arms.
Meanwhile, Liam was still frozen in place, gun lowered, staring at the cat like it had personally tried to assassinate him.
“That’s what made that noise?” he asked, running a hand down his face,
1 buried my face into Snowball’s fur, ignoring him. “You ran away months ago! Where have you been, you little troublemaker!”
Snowball let out another weak meow, nuzzling against my chin.
Liam scoffed. “Are you seriously cuddling that filthy thing? It looks like it crawled out of hell.”
I glared up at him. “He’s not a thing! He’s my baby!”
Liam blinked at me. “Your baby?”
Ligne
-ball’s fur
Liam
“Unh
