Angus watched her frozen reaction, a faint smile flickering in his eyes.
He leaned down suddenly.
Before Liesa could react, he pressed her back onto the bed, hovering above her, his presence overwhelming.
Liesa snapped out of it. Her hands shot up, pressing against his chest.
Warmth pulsed under her palms. His steady heartbeat traveled straight through her, making her freeze for a split second.
Then it hit her—
This position looked completely wrong.
Her hands jerked back like she'd been burned.
"Sir… calm down," Liesa said, trying to steady her voice. Her eyes darted everywhere but his face.
Everywhere she looked—lean, defined muscle.
She thought,
Angus didn't move.
His dark eyes locked onto her, unmoving, like a predator watching its prey.
"You gave up so much for me," Angus said quietly. "Wasn't it all for this moment?" His voice dropped, almost a whisper.
Liesa's heart skipped. She had seen that look before.
She had treated too many people like this—people who fell for the one who showed them care.
But Angus?
She had never expected him to be one of them.
She thought,
Panic crept in, cold and sharp.
Angus was nothing like the patients Liesa used to handle. He was dangerous. Unpredictable. Impossible to read.
She thought, Her focus slipped for a second.
A flicker of displeasure crossed Angus's eyes.
His hand rose.
He caught her chin, his fingers cool against her skin. The sudden touch snapped Liesa back to reality.
Only then did Angus's expression ease slightly.
"Too happy to speak?" he asked, his tone calm.
Liesa froze.
She thought,
His thumb brushed slowly against her chin, gentle but deliberate.
Then it moved higher—pressing lightly against her lips, still warm and flushed.
The touch made Liesa squirm, a strange mix of ticklish and uncomfortable. She tried to lean back, but there was nowhere to go.
Her smile stiffened. "Sir… doesn't it get tiring holding yourself up with one arm?" she asked carefully. "Maybe you should sit up and rest?"
Angus watched her for a long moment.
Just when Liesa thought he might lose his temper, his gaze lowered slightly.
"…It is a little tiring," he said.
Liesa let out a quiet breath of relief.
She thought,
She had barely finished the thought—
A sudden weight dropped onto her.
"Mm—" Liesa let out a small, startled sound. Her eyes widened as Angus settled fully against her.
"W-what are you doing?" she asked, shocked, her hands hovering in the air.
"You told me to rest," Angus replied calmly, lifting a strand of her hair as if nothing was wrong.
Liesa's mind exploded.
She thought, Her thoughts spiraled wildly.
After mentally screaming, she forced herself to stay composed.
"Mr. Romano… I think we should talk," Liesa said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Call me 'sir,'" Angus corrected quietly.
"…What?" Liesa frowned, confusion flashing across her face.
Angus met her eyes. His expression looked clear, almost innocent.
After a pause, he spoke slowly.
"In bed… I prefer hearing you call me 'sir.'"
Liesa froze.
Heat rushed to her face instantly. Her lips parted, but no words came out at first.
"…How do you know—" she started, then suddenly stopped.
A memory flashed.
The bow-shaped brooch.
If it could transmit sound… then listening in wouldn't be a problem either.
"Figured it out?" Angus's gaze lifted slowly from her flushed lips and settled on the first button of her shirt.
The light cotton blouse was buttoned all the way up. Neat. Proper.
Too neat.
The kind that made people want to mess it up.
Angus glanced at Liesa's face. Seeing the tension still there, he pressed down the darker thoughts in his mind.
His long fingers moved.
He started undoing the buttons, one by one.
Liesa was still frozen in shock.
She thought,
All those ridiculous things she made up.
Her face burned instantly.
She thought, Her fingers tightened slightly against the sheets.
"When did you start listening?" Liesa asked, a trace of hope flickering in her eyes.
She thought,
"Want to know?" Angus asked, glancing at her.
Liesa nodded immediately.
A faint smile curved his lips. "You went to see Richard," he said calmly.
"… " Liesa froze.
Her thoughts collapsed on the spot.
She thought,
"Heard it," Angus added lightly, as if reading her mind.