Chapter 130

Liam moved with deliberate slowness as he approached the bed, sinking onto the opposite side where Evelyn sat. Their backs remained turned to each other, the distance between them charged with unspoken tension.

He braced his elbows against his knees, fingers pressing into his temples as he exhaled sharply through his nose. The air between them felt thick enough to slice.

Evelyn hadn't spoken beyond that single question. The silence stretched like a live wire between them.

After what felt like an eternity, Liam's deep voice cut through the stillness. "Why did Victoria move in?"

A humorless smile twisted Evelyn's lips. "She's been here nearly three weeks now."

"You didn't object?"

"It wasn't my place to stop her."

The silence returned, heavier this time. Liam flexed his fingers against his thighs before trying again. "Are you still planning to take that certification exam?"

"No."

"Are you... comfortable living here?"

"It's fine."

"Has Victoria been giving you trouble?"

The questions hung between them like accusations. Each clipped response from Evelyn drove the knife deeper. Liam had hoped to bridge the gap between them, but she remained as distant as ever.

"I'm going to shower." Evelyn rose abruptly, disappearing into the walk-in closet without another glance.

Liam checked his watch - nearly midnight. He'd been waiting for hours just to see her, only to be met with this glacial indifference.

When Evelyn emerged thirty minutes later, steam curling from her damp hair, Liam hadn't moved. His broad shoulders slumped forward as if carrying an invisible weight. Even without seeing his face, Evelyn could feel the exhaustion radiating from him.

Concern flickered through her. "Liam," she said softly, "you just had surgery yesterday. You should be resting."

He straightened slowly, those piercing dark eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

"How did you know about that?" His voice held a note of something like hope.

Evelyn's gaze dropped. "I overheard Victoria talking to Adrian."

A bitter smile twisted Liam's lips. Even Victoria cared enough to check on him. But Evelyn? She'd only asked because she'd happened to hear a conversation.

The silence stretched again as Evelyn glanced around the room. "Do you need to take any medications? Have you taken them yet?"

"Already did," came the flat response.

"What about your wound dressing? Has it been changed?"

Liam simply watched her, those dark eyes tracking every microexpression that crossed her face.

"Maybe you could help me with that." He gestured toward the medical supplies on the shelf, though the dressing wasn't due to be changed until morning.

Evelyn hurried to gather the supplies, her hands trembling slightly as she arranged them on the bed. "You'll need to tell me what to do."

With practiced ease, Liam peeled off his shirt one-handed.

When Evelyn looked up, iodine swab in hand, her breath hitched. The golden planes of his chest and abdomen stretched before her, every muscle defined like carved marble. Heat flooded her cheeks as her pulse kicked into overdrive.

She stood frozen, the cotton swab forgotten in her hand, her gaze tracing the contours of his body against her will.

Liam watched the blush spread across Evelyn's face, the way her eyes darkened with unconscious desire. A slow, knowing smile curved his lips as the temperature in the room seemed to climb several degrees.