"How did we even get back here?" Ronan murmured, his lips still gently brushing against the soft skin of Liora's neck.
Hearing those words, Liora's eyes flew wide open. The cozy atmosphere shattered in an instant. He sat up violently on the mattress, forcefully pushing Ronan away from her.
"Wh-what?" Ronan asked, completely caught off guard as he stared up at the girl in confusion.
"Are you seriously telling me you don't remember what just happened?!" Liora raised her voice, her tone a mix of disbelief and sheer excitement.
Ronan's eyes widened in response. Sensing the sudden gravity of the situation, he sat up on the bed as well, anchoring his gaze tightly onto Liora. "I... I really don't remember. Liora, what on earth happened?" he asked, swallowing hard against a sudden wave of nerves.
"Oh my god, Ronan! We have teleportation powers!" Liora shouted, practically vibrating with adrenaline.
Ronan blinked, entirely stunned. "Wh-what?"
"You literally teleported us straight out of that shopping mall!" Liora explained rapidly, waving her hands in the air to emphasize her words. "Right before it happened, this massive, brilliant red light completely spread around the two of us, and then boom, we were here!"
Ronan watched Liora shout happily, completely captivated by the way the girl's blonde hair swayed with every animated gesture. A small, helpless smile tugged at the corner of Ronan's lips. He was completely lost in his own world, entirely tuned out of the conversation as he silently admired the adorable way Liora's lips pursed when she spoke.
Liora frowned, noticing the man's glazed-over expression. "Aren't you even a little bit surprised?!"
Receiving no response, Liora aggressively waved her hand directly in front of Ronan's face. "Hello? Earth to Mr. Brown!"
Ronan violently snapped back to reality, clearing his throat nervously. "Uh-huh... teleportation? To be completely honest with you, I don't even remember how I actually managed to pull that off." He paused, desperately trying to shift the focus away from his own supernatural anomalies. "Wait, why were you even at the mall in the first place?"
"Um... your company's training program starts first thing tomorrow, remember?" Liora noted, rolling her eyes fondly. "I went there to buy a proper outfit for it."
"O-Oh. Is that so?" Ronan murmured, and Liora nodded in confirmation.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Before they could delve any deeper into the mystery, a call to Ronan interrupted them. Ronan answered the call. After a while, he hung up, sighing in worry.
"What's wrong, Ronan?" Liora asked softly, sensing the immediate shift in the air.
"Michael's been hospitalized," Ronan whispered, his voice cracking with immense guilt. "His injuries from the beating are incredibly serious. I... I can't even bring myself to face him right now."
Without a second thought, Liora moved across the mattress and wrapped his arms securely around Ronan, pulling him into a comforting embrace. "Shh... it's going to be okay. You didn't mean to do it, hmm? Truly... this whole mess happened because of me. I am so incredibly sorry."
Hearing that, Ronan pulled back slightly, shaking his head firmly. "No, it is absolutely not your fault. Michael was completely out of line for treating you that way. Frankly, he shouldn't have even shown his face to me after what he did. What he did was wrong... but what I did was wrong too. I should have controlled my temper."
A soft, polite knock on the heavy bedroom door interrupted his thoughts.
"Little master! It's me. May I come in?" Miss Scott's voice called out from the corridor.
"Come in!" Ronan called out, adjusting his posture.
The door swung open, and Miss Scott stepped into the room with a warm, maternal expression. "Little master, I am about to prepare lunch. Will Liora be joining us for the meal today?"
The moment the question was asked, Liora's head snapped toward Ronan, her eyes tracking the man's face to see his reaction. Seeing Ronan pause to think it over, Liora's lips puckered into a slight frown.
"Mmm... yes. Liora will be eating here with us today," Ronan finally declared.
Hearing the answer, Liora's entire face lit up. A brilliant, radiant bunny smile broke across her lips as she leaped completely off the high mattress.
"Let's go, Aunty!" Liora cheered happily, effortlessly looping her arm through Miss Scott's as she guided her out of the room. "Let's cook together today! I absolutely love cooking."
Ronan was left sitting entirely alone in the massive master suite, staring blankly at the empty doorway. He shook his head, a heavy, intense gaze lingering in his eyes as he recalled the sheer beauty of the girl's smile.
Down the hallway, Liora's heart was hammering wildly against her ribs. She was completely overwhelmed with happiness. After sharing their second kiss today, she had to willingly admit to herself that she was completely captivated by Ronan. She liked him, liked him an incredible amount. She didn't care to analyze whether these intense, magnetic feelings were beyond her own control; she just knew she never wanted to lose them. What she didn't realize, however, was that she was already deeply, profoundly in love with the billionaire.
. . . . . . . . . .
"Liora, why don't you go ahead and fetch the little master down to eat? Everything is completely ready," Miss Scott said with a warm smile, setting the final side dish onto the counter.
To be perfectly honest, Liora was entirely exhausted from the intense culinary session, but looking down at the magnificent spread of pristine plates covering the dining table, she happily clapped her hands together.
"No problem, Aunty, you stay right here and rest! I'll go bring him down." Liora beamed, her signature bunny smile on full display. Miss Scott chuckled softly, nodding in appreciation.
Liora practically bounded up the grand staircase. She pushed open the door to Ronan's bedroom without a care in the world, only to freeze instantly in her tracks.
The air left her lungs in a sharp gasp. Ronan had just stepped out of the adjacent master bathroom, wearing absolutely nothing but a single white towel securely fastened around his narrow waist.
Liora's breath completely stopped. She stood rooted to the hardwood floor, her eyes wide as she unashamedly stared at the man's physique. She took in the view of Ronan's perfectly sculpted, chiseled abs, his deeply defined V-line, and his messy, jet-black wet hair. Stray water droplets slowly rolled down from the tips of his damp locks, tracing shimmering paths across his tan skin.
Catching the girl's shameless, wide-eyed evaluation, a wicked, intensely teasing smile broke across Ronan's lips.
"What's up, hmm?" Ronan purred, his deep baritone vibrating through the room.
The sound of that voice acted like a splash of ice water, snapping Liora out of her trance. "A-Ah?! A-Ah... w-well... food is ready! C-Come downstairs right now!" Liora stammered furiously, her words tripping over each other as she desperately tried to hide her burning cheeks, turning on her heel to flee down the corridor.
Left alone in his room, Ronan finally let out the deep, rumbling laugh he had been desperately holding back, shaking his head from side to side. I have never seen her blush that hard before. Ronan thought to himself, thoroughly amused.
But down in the dining room, a furiously flustered Liora was fanning her hot face, fully aware of just how dangerous the billionaire's charm truly was.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Wow! Miss Scott, why on earth have you been hiding these incredible cooking skills from me for so long?" Ronan asked in genuine amazement as they settled into their seats. Both he and Liora were sitting across from one another at the massive mahogany dining table.
Miss Scott stood by the counter, completely speechless. "Uh-huh...?" was all she could manage to squeeze out.
"Seriously, these dishes are absolutely delicious." Ronan complimented, taking another bite.
Hearing the high praise, Liora couldn't contain her joy, her radiant bunny smile instantly lighting up her features.
Miss Scott offered a tender, knowing look toward the head of the table. "To be perfectly fair, little master... that wasn't my doing. That was all Liora."
Ronan raised his eyebrows in profound surprise, shifting his gaze directly onto the girl. "Really?"
"Liora cooked this entire meal completely by herself today." Miss Scott clarified proudly.
Liora's cheeks instantly flushed a deep pink, and she shyly lowered her gaze to her plate. Ronan stared at her in quiet awe, marvelling at how easily the girl blushed over the simplest things. But as Ronan's gaze scanned the rest of the table, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Why is there an extra plate set over there, Miss Scott?" Ronan asked, gesturing to the pristine setting at the end of the table.
Liora instantly sat up straight, jumping into the conversation before the elder woman could answer. "Oh! That's for Aunty! Why don't you sit down and eat with us at the table?"
An absolute, heavy silence fell over the dining room. Miss Scott's eyes widened in sheer panic. She cautiously flitted her gaze toward Ronan, her voice dropping into a nervous whisper. "Uh-uh, no... young master, I am simply a maid in this household."
Liora's brow furrowed in a deep, stubborn frown. "But I don't think of you that way at all. You take care of Ronan exactly like he's your own flesh-and-blood grandson. Isn't that right, Ron?"
Caught entirely off guard by the sudden question, Ronan found himself temporarily speechless. He looked from Miss Scott's trembling frame to Liora's fiercely hopeful, wide eyes.
"Uh... yeah. That's true." Ronan finally managed to mutter.
Liora beamed happily, a victorious smile gracing her lips as she turned back to the elderly woman. "See? Ronan understands it perfectly too! So from this exact day forward, Aunty will always eat her meals at the exact same table as her little master. Isn't that right, Ron?"
Ronan simply nodded his agreement, completely captivated. In truth, he had never once considered these kinds of domestic dynamics before. He had never intentionally forced Miss Scott to serve him; he had simply assumed it was her default corporate duty, having never truly understood the emotional weight of family and human connection. He hadn't comprehended it until Liora laid it out for him today. Furthermore, he flatly refused to do anything that would erase the beautiful, radiant smile currently lighting up Liorak's face.
Tears of profound gratitude filled Miss Scott's eyes as she slowly took her seat at the grand table, looking at Liora with boundless affection. She realized, with absolute certainty, that this extraordinary girl was single-handedly melting the ice around the billionaire's heart.
Throughout the rest of the meal, Miss Scott happily observed the changing atmosphere. Ronan spent the entire time watching Liora's animated expressions with a soft, persistent smile on his face. To her absolute amazement, the usually stoic CEO even laughed out loud multiple times at Liora's ridiculous jokes, his beautiful boxy smile illuminating the room.
For the very first time in history, the cold, silent Brown mansion was filled with the echoing sound of genuine laughter, erasing the deep-seated loneliness that had plagued it for years. And it was all because of Liora.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Ron... please, don't go in there..." Liora pleaded softly, her fingers frantically tugging at the sleeve of Ronan's designer coat as they walked through the luxury shopping center.
"Why?" Ronan asked, turning around with a confused frown.
"The price tags on those racks over there are completely insane..." Liora whispered, pouting heavily as she gestured toward an elite, high-end designer boutique. "Let's just buy something from a normal store."
Ronan let out a soft chuckle, highly amused by the girl's distress. "So what if the prices are high, hmm?"
"I don't have anywhere near that amount of money!" Liora whined, her frown deepening.
Following their peaceful lunch, Ronan had insisted on driving Liora straight to an elite luxury mall to replace the cheap clothes he had been forced to abandon at the boutique earlier. Liora had tried her absolute best to protest the trip, but Ronan had flatly ignored her arguments. Now, standing face-to-face with the most expensive international brands in the country, Liora was genuinely terrified. She only possessed the strictly limited amount of won that Sophia had loaned her.
Ronan let out a smooth, relaxed sigh. "Well, fortunately for you... I happen to have money."
Liora looked at him, thoroughly bewildered. Before she could even process the statement, Ronan turned on his heel and marched directly into the high-end store. Realizing the billionaire's implication, Liora's eyes widened to the size of saucers, and she scrambled to follow him.
"R-Ron! Wait, stop!" Liora hissed, grabbing the man's sleeve again, practically hanging off her arm to pull him back. But Ronan effortlessly ignored the resistance, systematically scanning the racks and pulling out premium, tailored corporate office blouses for the girl.
The surrounding shoppers and boutique staff couldn't help but turn their heads, quietly admiring how incredibly cute the two of them looked together. Because Ronan was wearing a sleek black mask and a cap, no one recognized him as the famous, ruthless Vante CEO.
A short while later, they exited the boutique. Ronan couldn't help but smile beneath his mask as he glanced back at Liora, who was trudging along behind him, carrying a massive, premium shopping bag while sporting a heavy, disgruntled pout.
"Don't look at me like that." Ronan teased lightly, his eyes crinkling. "You're practically burning a hole through my back."
Liora pushed past him, deliberately looking away to hide her face. "I just... I don't want anyone to pity me."
Ronan immediately stopped in his tracks, waiting for the girl to turn around. "Who on earth said anything about pity, hmm? This is a personal gift from me to you."
Liora's stubborn frown instantly melted into pure surprise. She stared at the man, her heart leaping with an uncontainable, secret joy. This was the very first gift Ronan had ever given her.
"T-Thank you, Ron." Liora murmured shyly, her voice dropping into a breathless whisper as she used the affectionate nickname.
Ronan's smile grew exponentially. "A simple thank you isn't going to cut it. I need something proper in return."
Before Liora could react, Ronan gave her a highly suggestive, playful wink, suddenly pressing his face inches away from Liora's. The sheer proximity sent a violent jolt of electricity through Liora's veins. Blushing furiously, she spun around and bolted down the mall corridor to escape.
"Hey! Wait up!" Ronan laughed loudly, instantly jogging after her.
The two of them spent the remainder of the afternoon wandering the vibrant city streets, stepping in and out of local shops in a state of pure, effortless happiness. Whenever Ronan bought her street snacks or drinks, Liora accepted them without a single murmur of protest, completely surrendering to whatever the man wanted to do. It filled Liorak's heart with a profound sense of peace to watch the cold billionaire spend his entire day laughing so freely. They walked wherever Ronan's whims took them; the CEO clearly wanted a complete change of pace.
With every passing hour, the cosmic distance between them rapidly shrank. They were getting to know each other on a deeply personal level. This literally feels exactly like a romantic shopping date. Liora thought to herself, her face flushing warm at the thought. She kept sneaking furtive glances at Ronan's handsome profile, happily sipping on her favorite banana milkshake as they walked side-by-side.
. . . . . . . . . . .
By six o'clock in the evening, the sky had faded into a beautiful, deep twilight dusk. As they strolled down a quieter avenue, Liora abruptly stopped in her tracks. She turned toward an elegant, high-end jewelry store display window, staring with intense fascination at the glittering pieces inside. Liora had always possessed a deep love for fine jewelry, but her financial reality had never allowed her to indulge in it.
Her gaze anchored completely onto a stunning, intricately designed silver bracelet resting on a velvet cushion. Her eyes literally sparkled with longing.
"Mis? Would you like to take a closer look at that piece?"
The sudden voice of the shop owner snapping her out of her trance caused Liora to jump slightly. "M-Mister... how much is this bracelet?" she asked cautiously.
"That will be ×××× dollar, mis." the owner replied with a polite smile.
Liora's eyes nearly popped out of her head at the astronomical figure. That much?! she thought to herself in absolute horror. Forcing a polite, deeply embarrassed smile onto her face, she took a step back. "Oh, I see. Thank you anyway."
She turned to walk away, and Ronan offered a silent, knowing nod to the shop owner before quickly following after the girl.
"Mmm... Liora?" Ronan called out smoothly.
"Mmm?" Liora hummed, still happily content with her banana milkshake.
"I need to make a highly important corporate phone call. Can you wait right here for a few minutes?"
Liora nodded easily, entirely unsuspecting.
The moment the girl's back was turned, Ronan spun around and marched straight into the luxury jewelry boutique. Fortunately, Liora was too distracted by the evening view to see where he had gone.
Ronan pulled his black credit card from his wallet, sliding it across the glass counter. "Give me the exact bracelet that girl was just looking at." he commanded smoothly.
The shop owner's face instantly lit up with a warm, knowing grin. "Oh! Your girlfriend is going to be absolutely surprised! She is incredibly lucky to have a partner like you, sir."
Ronan completely froze, his eyes widening beneath his sunglasses. Girlfriend? "W-What did you say?"
"Here you go, sir." the owner said, entirely ignoring Ronan's confusion as he handed over a beautifully wrapped gift box, along with a massive, lush bouquet of deep red roses.
Ronan stared down at the flowers in utter bewilderment. "What exactly is this for?"
"Oh, sir, today is Valentine's Day!" the owner explained with a cheerful laugh. "Our shop is giving away a complimentary bouquet of red roses to all the lovely couples who purchase from us today."
"B-But we-"
"I wish the two of you the absolute best for your future together, sir! Thank you for your business!" The owner offered a deep, respectful bow, leaving Ronan entirely breathless.
Do outsiders really think Liora is my girlfriend? Is that exactly what we look like to the rest of the world when we walk down the street together? A million complex, thrilling questions swirled through Ronan's head.
Lost in deep, profound thought, Ronan walked back out onto the sidewalk. He was so completely wrapped up in his own mind that he didn't even notice Liora turning around and happily running toward him.
"Wow!!!! Wow, wow, wow! That is absolutely stunning!" Liora cheered, her voice snapping Ronan right back to reality.
"A-Ah?" Ronan blinked, startled.
"Where on earth did you get that gorgeous bouquet, Ronan?" Liora asked, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the flowers. "It's beautiful! I absolutely love red roses."
Ronan cleared his throat nervously, desperately trying to formulate a plausible excuse to cover his intense embarrassment. "Oh... this? A flower girl down the street practically cornered me. S-She forcefully insisted that I buy it from her. I didn't want to cause a scene... so I just bought it."
Liora tilted her head, a sweet, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Oh, really? Is that what happened?"
Ronan nodded quickly, his heart skipping a beat as they walked side-by-side into the glowing evening light.