I'LL DO IT

Liam finished bathing and laid himself on the couch, his eyes staring at the designs on the ceiling in silence; there was nothing on his mind as he waited for Raelle to return.

A few minutes later, there was a gentle knock on the door and Raelle stepped in.

"Uhmm... Have you had dinner?" She asked, a little confused about how she should refer to Liam.

"Uh-uh. I was waiting for you," Liam answered, sitting up and turning to her. Her hair was still wet, evidence that she had just showered.

Raelle nodded.

"I'll just apply the balm and then we can have dinner."

She reached for the balm and sat herself on the couch next to him, about to open it when Liam stretched out his palm. Raelle raised her eyes to meet his.

"I'll do it," he said, taking the balm from her and squatting down before her. "It's hot. If you touch it, you won't feel comfortable doing anything with your hands for the next two days."

"Hmm? Is it really that hot?" Raelle furrowed her brows quizzically. "In that case, I don't think you should touch it either."

"It's fine. I'll wash my hands after this." Liam began to apply the balm before Raelle could insist.

Her skin was smooth; too smooth to be true. He continued to apply it on the sore part, rubbing it in a circular motion until the balm had seeped through her pores and into her skin.

While he was doing that, Raelle was looking down at him with a soft gaze. Although the balm was stinging her, she rarely felt it. Because of how gently his touches were, she did not know when he finished until he stood up.

"There. All done." Liam placed the balm back on the table. "You should get dressed for dinner."

"Thank you... Liam," Raelle smiled at him. "Your hands... Aren't they hot?"

"I'll wash them now." Liam turned to the bathroom.

As soon as he entered the bathroom, Raelle stood up and entered the closet. She dressed in her blue pajamas and tied her hair into a bun before coming out. Liam was already waiting for her and they went down for dinner.

Midway through dinner, Liam cleared his throat, drawing Raelle's attention to him.

"Are you alright?"

Liam nodded.

"Yes," he answered. "Although, I'd like to talk to you about some things."

"Oh," Raelle was not surprised. She would be even more surprised if he did not have any questions about her. After all, he knew nothing about her, nor why she had even accepted his marriage proposal in a flash.

"Why did you agree to marry me?" Liam's first question may not have been needed, but it was the perfect start-up point for both of them.

Raelle sat up straight and placed her spoon on the plate.

"Well," she shrugged. "I'm sorry for not catching you up on what you need to know. I'll do so now."

"I was supposed to get married but my fiance never showed up at the bureau. That was why I was stranded that day."

Liam nodded.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I guess we're sailing on the same boat then."

Raelle chuckled. "I guess you're right then."

"I came back earlier than I said because when I returned, I found my fiance and my sister making out. It was the most grotesque scene I had ever seen. I was angry, but I had to look it over," Raelle continued. There was a hint of a pained smile on her face but Liam chose to overlook it. "Going back home, I didn't know that my father would pick his second wife and her daughter over me. I had to leave on my own."

"What about your mum?" Liam asked, curious. When he saw the pain on her face had increased, he knew he had asked something he shouldn't have, so he apologized. "I'm sorry."

Raelle shook her head.

"Nah, it's okay. I was seven when she passed away in the hospital. Studies showed she had a tumor in the brain and after two operations, she could not go through another one. So, I grew up in the Collin's Mansion on my own."

Remembering it was hard, but saying it was harder. She remembered how her father never came to the hospital when her mother was on admission. He had been too busy with his job and Mistress to even care about his wife.

"My father cares about nothing but his business. As long as one cannot help his reputation and fame, then they are of no use to." Raelle scoffed and shook her head. "It's not surprising. After all, he had always been a greedy person."

Liam felt bad for her. She had to grow up with a snake for a father. It made him quite glad that he did not grow up with his parents.

"You went through a lot," he said to see her smile and nod. "How did you manage to pull it off?"

He was envious of her. Even though she lived with people who hated her, she had stayed. The courage alone was something worthy of being praised.

"Me?" Raelle's cheery laughter filled the room. "My mum made me promise her that I will remain there till I am married."

"And I did," she added with a shrug.

Liam nodded.

"I believe she's proud of you," he said the only thing that came to his mind.

Raelle turned to him. "You think?"

"I know so," Liam nodded.

Raelle nodded and picked up her spoon to continue eating. Across her, Liam had suddenly lost his appetite and was simply staring at her.

After listening to her story, he found himself more than ever, curious to know more about her family. Especially her father.

Anyone who knew Liam knew that he was very possessive of his belongs. And now that Raelle had become his wife, she had become his belonging and anyone who had ever messed with her would regret it for the rest of their life. It didn't matter who...

He would make sure punishment got to them...