yn's

drive further away, leaving the man standing under the streetlamp in my rearview

l as though his eyes were piercing t

g onto a breath I hadn't managed to release, and I gasp for fresh air to fill my lungs. I close my eyes and drop my hands from

ident isn't going to change the fact that it happened. All I can do is

car. The night air is crisp against the exposed skin of my cheeks. However, I'm grate

ndow indicate Liam is home. It's odd because I'm usually home before h

an. The thought of that man somehow tracking me down and coming up from behind m

all out, my voice ech

the living room to my righ

et alone clean in one day. When he invited me over after our first date, I was shocked to learn the house had three living areas, six bedrooms, and eight bathrooms. The kitchen was larger than the apartm

this size would make sense for a large family, but Liam and I are nowhere near having kids right now. He does, however, enjoy showing off such an extravagant house to his friend

knee. When he notices my presence by the doorway, his gray eyes pull away from whatever is playing on the t

a kiss on his chaste lips. The stale scent of women's perfume clings to the collar of his shirt. It's fain

s I ask him about the perfume, he reassures me that it's nothing. His explanation is the scent likely transfers

ace. A couple of weeks ago, a woman whose name I didn't know found me on social media. She messaged me with details of a night she spent with Liam. It was

e is afraid of his reaction. Liam has a bit of a temper, which I've seen many times since we've been dating. It's not something I want

errible, but it's certainly not enough to support such extensive bills since my mother has no insurance. Liam comes from a wealthy family who has more money than they know what to do with. His father is an established politic

t and pick my battles. I need to think about my mother to ensure she gets the best possible ca

his brows creases as his eyes roam over my face. It's almost as if he's searching for some

ned earlier and the scent of the perfume on his collar makes me n

irty blond hair. "You work hard, Pae. Pour you

direction of the kitchen. "I'm going to cook pasta fo

thigh. His fingers skim the curve of my ass before he grabs a hand

*

ing the creamy chicken pasta on his plate, but I'm unable to stomach the food. The incide

r had I not gotten to my car as quickly as I did. If he had gotten his hands on m

to the same quest

lowers his fork and wipes his mouth with the napkin from his lap

rd. "I'm oka

or four years, Pae. I can tell when something

me. It was... unnerving, to say the least. I made a beeline for my car and once I was safely inside, I noticed a man standing nex

before they lower. "A man, you s

I could tell he was watching me. Waiting

e the frigidity and squeeze his hand. "You have nothing to be worried about, Pae. Whoever he is... I will protect you from h

f. While I appreciate Liam's sentiment in wanting to ensure he is able to protect me if someone were to ever try and

e a little wimpy, but it doesn't make me love him any less. I know deep

im. "Thank y

natches his hand away from mine to check the caller ID. His eyes find mine a

your t

e room. His voice travels down the hallway as he ta

but my appetite is completely gone. I hate wasting food, but ri

part of the conversation. I'm not one to eavesdrop on him, especially if it's a work-related call, but I'm also curious. He doesn't share too many details about h

ttering positions-mostly him passed out on the front lawn of a fraternity-his position in the polls dr

how, I swear I hear him say, "All I need i

erring to, I

ck straightening and my eyes turning downward to

onto the chair across from me. When I look up, he runs a

roat. "Is eve

polls and need to boost my campaign to drive in vot

*

realm of sleep, the more restless I become. Liam fell asleep hours ago after we had sex,

k to the closed bedroom door. Liam is snoring softly as I open the door and pad quietly down the hallway. I'm not su

grab a glass from the cabinet above the stove before walking over to the sink. The silence in th

myself as water fills the gla

hes my eye through the window, halting my movements. My heart begins to race as I scan the backyard. The same shiver

s h

lows me a better view of him. I'm unable to see his face as it's still covered by a mask and is hidden in the shadows, but I notice his torso and the hard muscles protruding from the black T-shirt clin

ottom of the sink. The impact sends a shattering noise throughout the kitchen, likely traveling far enough to reach Liam in the bedroom. But

at me, but my feet are unable to move. My spine is rigid as I stare ahead, unable to tear my eyes away from him. I convince m

. Why is he here? What does he want with me? It's clear he has an agenda in mind. O

enter through the back door and execute whatever plan he has in mind,

the staircase tear my e

Liam calls out, his v

murmur, my m

man, he's gone. And for some odd

d what does h