Amore went back to the room where the stranger was lying and checked his condition. She observed him carefully. She saw nothing unusual about his face except for how gentle and calm his features were.
"Why are you being hunted by Regor? What did you do to him?" Amore whispered as she sat beside the bed. "Who are you, Mr.? I wish you would wake up so I can know the real reason behind your fate."
The man was still unconscious, so she decided to leave first to buy the medicines on the prescription. She also bought groceries, fruits, and vegetables. She planned to prepare food for him. Even though she didn't know him, she felt an inexplicable kindness towards him.
She bought a lot of items. Upon arriving home, she immediately cooked. She prepared vegetable dishes. Amore was actually a great cook. Even without formal training in Culinary Arts, her skills could rival professional chefs.
"Vegetable stew really is delicious. It's been so long since I cooked this. I've been too busy with nonsense things. I hope he likes it... wait, I don't even know his name," Amore talked to herself like a crazy person.
She looked at the man again, but he was still asleep. She couldn't stop staring at his peaceful face.
She was eager to know why he had so many wounds, how he ended up in the forest, and why Regor was after him.
Regor was Amore's boss. He was the leader of one of the largest syndicate groups in the country. Anyone who opposed him was eliminated, and Amore was his top hitman.
She was excellent at her job. She was known as the Queen of Assassins, though few knew this side of her. To others, she was just an ordinary woman—gorgeous, quiet, but deadly.
She was about to leave the room when someone suddenly grabbed her arm. The man had woken up and was holding her. She turned around and looked at him.
"Wh-who are you? Are you also here to kill me?" the man asked her angrily. "Tell me!" he shouted, filled with rage.
"Huh? Me?" She rolled her eyes. "Why would I kill you? For your information, Mr., I helped you to save your life, not to end it," she replied sarcastically.
The man couldn't answer immediately, so she spoke again. "Hey, Mr. Yes, I kill people, but you are not the type of person I want to kill," she added.
She felt annoyed. How dare he accuse her of wanting to kill him? She only killed for money or if they had wronged her personally. Otherwise, she spared them.
"Then if you're not one of them, who are you?" the man asked again. "I'm leaving now. I can't stay here, you might be one of Regor's men," he said angrily, trying to stand up.
She furrowed her brows and exhaled deeply before speaking. "Yes, I know him, but I'm not that cruel to bring you here just to betray him. Fine, leave then. It's better if you're not here so I don't get involved in your problems or whatever debt you have with him. Get out," she said, pointing to the door. She was disappointed and decided to just let him do what he wanted.
"I knew it. Alright, I'm leaving. And I hope we never see each other again," he said, forcing himself to stand.
He was still weak, yet he looked at her like a tiger ready to bite. He had a gentle face, but his attitude was harsh. Regret washed over her. Why did she even save him if he was just going to accuse her and bring danger from Regor?
"Fine, leave," Amore said again, raising an eyebrow and pointing to the door. But as soon as he stood up, he lost his balance and fell right into her arms.
She couldn't move immediately; her feet felt rooted to the ground. She didn't know why, but when their eyes met, she froze. It was as if she was hypnotized. She was mesmerized by him. Her heart beat so fast it was almost deafening. It was her first time feeling this way. Was this a sign that her numb heart was finally being awakened?
When she came to her senses, she immediately helped him up. Since he was still very weak, she gently guided him back to the bed. He didn't resist anymore, knowing he needed at least another week to fully recover.
"Where is all that bravado now, Mr.? Didn't you want to leave? If I were you, I'd stay here for a week to heal properly. I promise I won't tell anyone about you. I'm not as bad as you think."
The man fell silent. He just looked at her, seemingly studying her character.
"Would I have helped you when I found you in the forest if I planned to hand you over to Regor? Yes, I used to work for him, but I am slowly freeing myself from his evil deeds," she explained, turning to leave, but he grabbed her arm again.
"Do you need something, Mr.? If you're hungry, I cooked food. The vegetable soup is still hot. Wait here, I'll get it for you. Trust me, I have no intention of poisoning you. If you want, I'll eat with you and taste it first so you know it's safe, okay?" she added. Why was she explaining herself so much to a stranger?
"Alright. I'll trust you," he answered softly.
Amore looked at him. "Just call me Amore," she introduced herself. "Okay, wait here," she said and left the room.
Amore quickly returned carrying a tray of food. She also brought fruits, water, and his medicine. She was acting like his personal nurse. She was being incredibly kind, taking care of a stranger as if he was special to her. Perhaps it was because she was alone in life and needed company.
"I'm sorry for making you wait, I just sliced some apples. Eat now, my cooking is delicious." The man just stared at her. "Okay, I'll taste it first so you believe it's safe," she said with a smile, then noticed he had been looking at her the whole time.
He had been watching her intently since she started speaking. "Ah, is there something wrong? Is there dirt on my face?" she asked.
"Nothing. By the way, thank you. Alright, I'll eat," he replied, slowly taking the spoon. But his hand was shaking, causing the food to spill.
"I'll get a cloth. Wait," Amore said, rushing out.
"I'm back," she said quickly, wiping the stain on his clothes. "Sorry you got dirty. Just a moment, I'll get you a new shirt," she said, standing up, but he spoke.
"It's okay," the man said softly, looking at her again. "Why are you so kind to me?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Ah, nothing. I just want to help. I haven't really had the chance to help anyone before," she answered honestly.
He nodded slowly, still looking at her.
"I hope you don't misinterpret my kindness. And don't be shy, let me feed you so the food doesn't spill. After you eat, you need to take your medicine," she said with concern. Was she really doing this for a stranger? She was treating him better than she would treat her own child.
"Thank you, Am..." he said softly.
Amore froze when she heard him call her that. He called her "Am". Someone used to call her that before, but she was just a small child then. She couldn't quite remember who it was.
"Alright, I agree. It's not like I have a choice anyway," he added. Good thing he was being cooperative now.
Amore smiled. It was a miracle that the man who looked like he wanted to bite her earlier was now so gentle. She slowly fed him spoonful after spoonful and let him sip the warm soup. He seemed to enjoy her cooking. Well, she really was good at it.
"Here. Take your medicine. It will help you heal faster so you can leave here," she said, handing him a glass of water and the pills.
"Okay," he answered shortly and took what she gave him. He had become very gentle towards her.
"Very good, Mr. You should be obedient, don't be grumpy because it irritates me. I might fight back even if you're still sick," Amore joked.
"By the way, my name is Liam, Miss Amore. I'm so sorry for how I acted earlier. I was just shocked and being cautious," he said.
"Wow, nice name, Liam," she said smiling. "Don't worry about it, it's okay. I think you can leave next week," she said, clearing the table.
"Okay, thank you."
"No worries. I'll go now. Just shout if you need anything. Don't stand up alone or you might fall again. You might not die from a bullet, but you might die from a head injury," she joked again, making Liam laugh.
As soon as she left the room, she quickly got her own food. She had been hungry since earlier but waited for him. She ate quickly and washed the dishes.