Chapter 16: Another kiss?

Twisting them playfully in her hand, she asked, “Was it Charles who reached out to you, or Tyson?”

“Knew I couldn’t sneak that past you,” Audrey said with a sheepish grin, slipping the glasses back on. “Tyson asked me to find Charles.”

“He really is…” Amelia exhaled heavily, shaking her head.

“He cares about Charles,” Audrey said quietly. “He just went about it all wrong from the start.”

“The Thornfield family isn’t what it used to be. You need to be more careful when you talk to Tyson from now on.”

Audrey nodded seriously. “I think Tyson’s changed too.”

Amelia gave a faint smile. “You actually noticed?”

“Can we still have a proper conversation or not?”

The smile faded from Amelia’s face, her tone turning solemn. “Audrey, I’m not joking. The Thornfield family has been walking on thin ice in the military alliance for a long time.”

“Is it like what happened to the Windsor family before?”

At those words, an image flashed in Amelia’s mind—the figure sitting in the wheelchair.

Before she could answer, the noise from the courtyard died down. Amelia finally spoke, “Not exactly. Things are different this time.”

Seeing the group approaching, Audrey said softly, “Alright, I understand.”

The squad members all knew Audrey. They were about the same age, so it didn’t take long before they started chatting and laughing in the living room.

August lingered for a while before heading toward the study with Jacob. After a few steps, he turned back. “Amelia.”

She looked over.

“Come here.” August gestured for her.

In the first-floor study, August brewed another pot of tea. “Brady called early this morning.”

Amelia lowered her gaze. “Haven’t gone to see him since I got back.”

“Brady doesn’t blame you.”

“Then?”

August’s hands stilled. “Liam’s injured. He didn’t want Brady to worry, so he hasn’t gone home…”

“Wait—” Amelia’s head snapped up. “You just said Liam’s injured?”

August set down the teapot and nodded. “Brady didn’t say how it happened.”

“I get it.” Amelia rose from the tea table. “I’ll reach out to him. Don’t… don’t let Grandpa Brady stress over it.”

.......

When Amelia came out of the study, the group in the living room was still talking animatedly, but she couldn’t bring herself to join in.

Her thoughts drifted to the photo she hadn’t opened that morning.

Opening her chat with Tyson, she saw there was an address beneath the two unread messages.

It was the same street she and Maverick had gone to last night.

She clicked on the photo—blurry, motion trailing across the frame.

Amelia tried to make out his eyes, but the angle was bad, and his sweat-damp hair hid them completely.

The photo was practically useless.

She quickly typed out a response, hit send, and only then felt the tension in her chest loosen.

Heading upstairs to change into something suitable for going out, she paused on the staircase, remembering something.

Pulling out her phone, she sent a message to a number she hadn’t saved yet.

She waited. No reply.

With a sharp inhale, Amelia continued downstairs. The sound drew everyone’s attention.

“Captain, heading out?”

Ignoring their stares, Amelia walked straight to the entryway, grabbed the car keys, then glanced back. “Don’t take Maverick anywhere shady.”

Her eyes landed squarely on Knox. She pointed at him with the keys. “Especially you, Knox!”

Knox froze, immediately throwing his hands up. “Captain, I’m innocent!”

Amelia snorted. “You’re a repeat offender.”

She turned to James, gave him a pointed look. He nodded, and without another word, Amelia headed out the door.

Everyone inside rushed to the French windows in the living room. Victoria started to move too, eager to join the excitement—until a hand caught the back of her neck and pushed her back onto the sofa.

James’ voice came from above her head, calm but firm. “Stay put. Don’t go running into trouble..”

Victoria pouted, making a weak attempt to push his hand away, but his strength didn’t budge. With no choice, she sank back into the cushions. Watching everyone else crowd the window, she muttered under her breath, “You’re always controlling me like this. I’m not your real sister…”

Her voice was so soft James didn’t catch it. “What was that?” he asked, tilting his head toward her.

Victoria looked up and smiled sweetly. “Nothing. Didn’t say a word.”

When she smiled, two deep dimples appeared on her cheeks—just like his own. His sharp, cold expression softened instantly. James reached out, ruffled her hair, and let it go without pressing further.

Meanwhile, at the window, a low whistle cut through the silence as a jeep rolled out through the gates.

“I’m betting the Captain’s headed to the Windsor family,” someone said.

“No need to bet.” Knox leaned against the glass with a smirk. “She’s definitely going to see a Windsor.”

Audrey nodded in agreement. “I think so too.”

Dragged into the huddle against his will, Maverick frowned. “And what makes you all so sure?”

Every single head turned toward him and, in perfect sync, they answered: “Intuition.”

Maverick: “…”

That’s one hell of a weird ‘intuition.’

And they were half right. Amelia was going to find Liam—but not at the Windsor estate.

Inside the car, Amelia stared at the gates in front of her, exhaling slowly. She didn’t expect to show up here again so soon.

The message she’d sent earlier still had no reply.

Pocketing her phone, she unbuckled her seatbelt, pushed the door open, and stepped out.

The doorbell rang—once, twice, three times. Silence.

Amelia waited for a while before leaning against the wall, one leg bent lazily, her body language calm but patient. Her head dipped, eyes fixed on her phone screen, while the single-family house sat in heavy stillness. Not even a bird chirped.

Time dragged. She lifted her eyes to check the time, just as her phone vibrated in her hand.

That same unmarked number flashed across the screen.

She put it to her ear, and before she could speak, his voice came through—low, rough, threaded with exhaustion. “I fell asleep… didn’t hear your call. Huh…”

“I’m at your door.” Her tone was simple, matter-of-fact. Then, pressing the doorbell again, she added softly, “Outside your door.”

“…What—” His breath hitched slightly. “Why are you here?”

His voice… It was different from every other time she’d seen him before. No pretense. No cold, composed facade. Just raw, husky honesty.

She stretched her hand out toward the sunlight, her fingers open, the warmth filtering through her palm. “Can I come in?”

A beat of silence. Then: “Wait for me.”

Amelia curled her fingers into a loose fist and whispered back, “Take your time. I’m not in a hurry.”

Upstairs, in his bedroom, Liam pushed himself off the sofa, stripping off the bloodstained shirt from last night.

In the bathroom, he caught sight of his reflection. The scar on his face stood out more than ever. He brushed the damp edge of it with his fingertips; it burned red against pale skin.

He didn’t want to keep her waiting. Hell, he didn’t want to keep her outside at all. A part of him—dangerous, reckless—wanted to throw everything aside and just see her.

That wild impulse evaporated the second he sat in the wheelchair.

And just like that, he was back to being that man.

The man everyone saw as useless. The coward who couldn’t even say the word love out loud.

But then he rolled forward, reached the gate controls, and through the iron bars, he saw her—standing in the sunlight, waiting.

His fingers dug into his palm, sharp pain grounding him, feeding a fragile kind of courage.

The gate unlocked with a heavy click.

Amelia turned slowly at the sound, sunlight glinting in her eyes.

Amelia took a step forward and held out her hand in front of him, fingers curled into a loose fist.

“Give.”

Liam’s gaze drifted from her face to her hand. He didn’t overthink it—just pushed the wheels forward with his fingertips, closing the gap between them, and stopped right in front of her.

Then, without a word, he leaned in and brushed his warm lips across the back of her hand.

Her body went rigid. Her heart thudded so hard she could feel it echoing in her ears.

Amelia yanked her hand back, her ears burning scarlet. “I didn’t tell you to kiss me.”

The second the words left her mouth, they sounded… wrong.

Liam looked up, his voice quiet and almost apologetic. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”

“I didn’t ask you to apologize either.” Her voice dropped an octave, softer than before. “Already kissed. Why apologize?”

Color crept across his face. Watching the red deepen on her ears, Liam felt something in his chest swell, his heart so full it almost hurt. Or maybe it was just her—filling every last corner of him.

He lifted his hand toward her, palm open, and asked with a faint smile, “Then let me return the favor. A gift in exchange—won’t you kiss me this time?”

“You…” Amelia didn’t expect him to tease her like this. Her eyes flicked down to his hand, only to freeze at the sight of raw scrapes and half-healed wounds. They stood out stark in the sunlight.

“You’re hurt?” she asked, frowning.

Liam lowered his gaze to the same hand, the corner of his mouth quirking in bitter humor. “Yeah. I’m hurt.”

“How?”

His lashes lifted, and for a second his laugh sounded like broken glass. “You don’t want to know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Yesterday, on the phone… you didn’t want to hear me out.” His voice thinned, frayed with something fragile—and something almost pleading. “I figured you wouldn’t want to hear it today either.”

Her eyes flicked to the scar tracing his jaw, then back to his face. “Yesterday I was outside,” she said, her tone steady.

For a moment, silence hung heavy. Then a flicker of surprise sparked in his eyes, quick and bright, like the first crack of sunlight after a storm.

“Really?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

Amelia broke the silence first. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

His lips curved faintly as he wheeled back, making space for her with a graceful tilt of his head. “After you.”

They passed through the yard in silence—until Amelia suddenly stepped in front of him again, hand outstretched like before.

Liam raised a brow beneath the curtain of hair falling over his eyes, then leaned forward slightly, the ghost of a smile tugging at his mouth. “Another kiss?”