Chapter 140

Evelyn's cheeks burned under Liam's intense gaze. "Would you... like some too?" she stammered, gesturing toward her plate.

Liam remained silent, shaking his head slightly. The tension between them grew thicker as Evelyn nervously bit her lower lip and looked away.

After taking a steadying breath, she tentatively tried a piece of the perfectly seared steak. The rich flavors exploded on her tongue, followed by the delicate smoothness of the egg custard. With each bite, she became more impressed by Liam's culinary mastery.

Midway through her meal, his deep voice shattered the comfortable silence. "You don't want to share a room with me tonight?"

Evelyn nearly choked on her food. The question caught her completely off guard. She hadn't even considered sleeping arrangements - she'd been avoiding Liam all day, uncertain how to face him after everything.

What shocked her most was his directness, the complete lack of shame or hesitation in his question.

A bitter smile played on Liam's lips as he watched her tense reaction. "I can move to the guest room," he offered quietly.

"No!" The word burst from Evelyn's lips before she could stop it, startling them both.

Liam's brow furrowed slightly, his expression a mix of confusion and something else she couldn't quite identify.

The truth was, Evelyn feared Victoria might visit during the night. The mere thought of that betrayal made her physically ill. She couldn't endure that pain again.

"Alright," Liam agreed, a hint of warmth coloring his tone.

Blushing furiously, Evelyn kept her eyes downcast as she added in a whisper, "But... please don't touch me tonight, Liam."

Her heart hammered painfully against her ribs as she spoke, the awkwardness nearly suffocating.

Liam's hand clenched into a fist at her words, a flash of hurt crossing his features before he schooled them back to neutrality. Her blunt rejection stung more than he cared to admit.

He simply nodded in response.

Relieved by his acceptance, Evelyn finally relaxed - until the screech of chair legs against the floor startled her. She looked up just in time to see Liam striding away, his broad shoulders tense as he disappeared up the stairs.

Had she upset him? The thought gnawed at her.

Though her memories were gone, Evelyn knew she wasn't some naive virgin. If Liam could accept her complicated past, she wanted to create beautiful new memories with him. But first...

She needed a full medical examination. Liam had mentioned her history of STDs, and Rosalind had hinted at expensive treatments. While she'd experienced no symptoms in years, for Liam's sake, she wanted to be certain before taking that step.

After finishing her meal, Evelyn tiptoed into their bedroom. Liam lay motionless on the bed, his breathing deep and even. Unsure if he was asleep or pretending, she moved silently, turning off the lights before slipping into the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later, freshly showered, she carefully slid into bed beside him. Listening to his steady breathing, a quiet happiness filled Evelyn's chest. She didn't dare hope for too much - just that Margaret would live to 120, giving her and Liam fifty years together as husband and wife.