Sky stood in the fancy bathroom. She looked at the gold faucets and the huge tub. Everything was expensive, but there was one problem.
"Empty," Sky sighed. She turned the shampoo bottle upside down, but nothing came out.
She looked into the bedroom. Liam was sitting on the bed. He was trying to balance three pillows on his head and singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." He looked like a happy child, but Sky was exhausted. Her day had been full of drama.
"Young Master," Sky called out. "I need to go downstairs to get more shampoo. Stay right here. Don't move. Don't go near the stairs. Do you understand?"
Liam looked up and gave her a big, silly smile. "Shampoo! Will there be bubbles? Big ones?"
"Yes, big ones," Sky said. She felt tired but gave him a small smile. "Just stay put."
She hurried out of the room. The big house felt very quiet and lonely as she ran toward the storage room to find the right soap.
Upstairs, the room was silent. Then, someone walked down the hallway. The footsteps were loud and confident.
Liam didn't move. He sat on the edge of the bed with his back to the door. He thought it was Sky coming back early. But when the person entered the room, the feeling in the air changed. It didn't feel like Sky.
"Well, look at you. Really enjoying playing house," a voice said.
Liam didn't jump. He didn't look scared. Instead, his body changed. He sat up straight. He moved slowly and calmly. He turned his head to look at the door.
The "childish" look in his eyes was gone. Now, his eyes looked sharp and very smart. He looked like a completely different person.
Kian was leaning against the door. He had come back to the house to get a watch he forgot, but he saw Liam's door open and couldn't resist coming in.
"You are amazing, Liam," Kian said with a mean laugh. He walked into the room, playing with his keys. "The crying, the pouting... you should win an award for your acting. I should call you the 'Professional Brat.'"
Liam didn't act like a child anymore. His voice was deep and strong. "I'm doing this for a reason, Kian," Liam said coldly. "And I like the results."
Kian walked around his brother. "You like having a girl clean up after you? You like it when she holds you because she thinks you are a 'poor soul'?" Kian smirked. "If she ever finds out that you are actually a dangerous, smart man, she will kill you."
Liam stood up. He was tall and strong. He didn't look like a "baby giant" anymore. He looked like a powerful boss
.
"She won't find out," Liam growled. His voice was scary. "Sky wants to help people. I give her someone to help. It works perfectly."
"It's a dangerous game," Kian said, but he looked amused. "What if you make a mistake? What if you forget to act like a kid?"
Liam stepped closer to his twin. He grabbed Kian's shoulder. It wasn't a friendly hug; it was a threat. "I don't make mistakes. And if you tell her anything, I will have Markus's delivery driver hit your car with the big truck. I heard the brakes on that truck are broken. It would be a shame if you had an 'accident.'"
Kian laughed loudly. He wasn't really afraid because he knows Liam would never do that to him. "Threatening your own brother? That is the real Liam. You are cold and mean."
Kian patted Liam's face. "Keep your secret. I'm leaving. Have fun with your bubbles and your songs. Try not to laugh when she washes your ears."
Kian walked out of the room, laughing as he went to his own part of the house.
Liam stood alone. For a moment, he stopped acting. He thought about Sky. He liked her warmth and the way she cared for him. He felt like he had to act this way to keep her with him. In his cold world, she was the only thing he really wanted.
Suddenly, he heard a door slam downstairs. Sky was back.
In one second, Liam changed back. His shoulders slumped. His eyes became wide and innocent. He jumped onto the bed and started playing with the pillows again.
When Sky opened the door, he looked like a bored child.
"Sky! You took too long!" he whined. He started jumping on the bed. "I almost turned into a ghost because I was so bored!"
Sky came in, holding the shampoo. She was tired and sweating from running.
"I was only gone for five minutes, Liam," she panted. She looked at him and saw the same "child" she had left behind. "Did you stay here? Did anyone come in?"
Liam tilted his head. He looked very confused. "I stayed here. No ghosts. Just me and the pillows." He held out his arms like a toddler. "Bubbles now? You promised!"
Sky sighed, but she smiled a little bit. "Yes, bubbles now. Come on. Let's get this done."
As they went to the bathroom, Liam followed her. Behind her back, he had a dark, secret smile on his face. But when she turned around to look at him, he was just "innocent" Liam again, clapping his hands for the bubbles.
"Sky is the best," he said happily.
"Sky is tired," she said. She had no idea that she was taking care of a beast in disguise.