CHAPTER 159: I LIKE YOU

Kevin pulled the car over across the street from Betty’s house, his eyes scanning the quiet, dimly lit neighborhood.

"You live here?" he asked, leaning slightly forward to get a better look at the row of small houses that lined the narrow lane. The place was unusually silent — hardly any people walking around, only the faint hum of streetlights filling the air.

From what Henry had told him, Betty was an orphan who lost her parents years ago. But Kevin hadn’t expected her to live in such a secluded area, cut off from the usual noise of the city.

"Yes, Sir Kevin," Betty replied with her usual cheerful tone. Then, as if realizing how strange that must sound, she smiled nervously. "Would you... like to come in? I can make you coffee."

Her offer was innocent, polite — the kind you make to someone you respect. Yet the way she fiddled with the strap of her bag while waiting for his answer betrayed a touch of shyness.

Kevin hesitated, caught between politeness and practicality. The contemplative look on his face made Betty purse her lips and glance away.

Before he could respond, Kevin’s attention shifted outside. "That guy," he said suddenly, gesturing through the window. "Does he live around here?"

Betty followed his gaze and her expression softened immediately. Across the street, Shawn was standing under a flickering streetlight, hands in his pockets, waiting — as if he’d been there for a while.

"Oh, yes," she said quickly, a little too quickly. "He’s bro— I mean, Shawn. A friend of mine."

Her voice wavered slightly on the word friend, and Kevin didn’t miss it.

He turned back to her, arching a brow, the faintest trace of amusement tugging at his lips. "A friend, huh?"

Betty blinked, forcing a laugh. "Y-yes, just a friend."

Kevin hummed, unconvinced but unwilling to pry. "Alright then," he said finally, leaning back in his seat. "It’s late. You should head inside."

Betty nodded and grabbed her bag. "Thank you for dropping me home, Sir Kevin."

As she stepped out of the car, Kevin watched through the window as Shawn’s face lit up the moment she approached him. Their exchange was brief — a small wave, a smile — but it carried the ease of familiarity that didn’t need words.

’So that’s Shawn,’ Kevin muttered to himself as he started the car, watching the young man in the rearview mirror. ’I wonder why Henry warned me not to trust that face.’

With one last glance, he pulled away from the curb, his car disappearing down the quiet street.

Back near the gate, Shawn watched the taillights fade before turning to Betty. His brow arched slightly.

"Your boss seems like a generous man," he said casually, though his tone carried a hint of something else. "Dropping you home himself."

Betty blinked, caught off guard by the subtle edge in his voice. "Uh, yes. It was late, and he offered since I was alone."

Her tone was light, innocent — but Shawn’s gaze lingered a little too long.

He knew she’d been working on Anna’s set for a while now, but the thought of her riding home with someone else, especially her boss, stirred an unfamiliar discomfort in him.

He sighed softly, forcing a smile as he held up a small paper bag. "Anyway, I brought your favorite dumplings. Want to eat before they get cold?"

Betty’s eyes lit up instantly. "Really? You remembered!"

Shawn chuckled, handing the bag to her. "Of course I did."

Inside her small house, the faint aroma of soy and spice filled the air as Betty unpacked the food. The simple warmth of the meal felt comforting after a long day.

Shawn sat across from her, watching quietly as she dug in with a bright smile.

"Hm?" She blinked, pausing when she noticed him staring. "Why aren’t you eating?"

Shawn leaned back slightly, his lips curving faintly. "I’m just watching you enjoy it. You look happier than a kid in a candy store."

Betty flushed. "T-That’s because it’s my favorite!" she huffed before quickly picking up a dumpling with her chopsticks.

Without thinking, she held it out toward him. "Here, have one."

The gesture was instinctive — warm, natural — something she’d done countless times when sharing meals with friends.

But for Shawn, it was different.

He froze for half a second, his eyes flicking from the dumpling to her earnest face.

It was the first time she’d ever fed him.

The air between them shifted — subtly, but unmistakably.

When he didn’t move right away, Betty tilted her head, confused. "What? Don’t you like them?"

Shawn chuckled softly, shaking off his hesitation before leaning forward. "No," he said, his voice low, "I just didn’t expect you to feed me like that."

Betty blinked, then realized what she’d done.

Her face turned crimson. "I— I didn’t mean— I just thought—"

Shawn smiled, finally taking the dumpling in one bite. "It’s good," he said simply, his eyes still on her.

Betty’s heart skipped a beat.

She quickly looked away, pretending to be focused on her food — but the small smile tugging at her lips gave her away.

"By the way, Shawn," Betty began, her tone softer now. "There’s something I forgot to tell you."

Her smile faltered as she lowered her gaze, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her cup.

Shawn frowned slightly, sensing the shift in her energy. "What is it?"

"Kathrine is back," she said quietly. "And... Big Sis met her today."

For a brief moment, Shawn went still.

He wasn’t surprised — Anna had mentioned the possibility of her sister’s return before — but hearing that it had happened so soon still made his chest tighten.

He leaned back, exhaling through his nose. "Anna truly knows her sister well enough to predict her moves."

Betty nodded slowly, though her expression clouded. "She does. But..." Her voice trailed off as worry crept into her tone. "What happens now?"

Her mind flashed back to Anna’s firm words — her decision to end things with Daniel if Kathrine ever came back.

A strange heaviness filled her chest.

Shawn noticed the way her expression dimmed, and without thinking, he reached forward, gently pinching her chin to make her look at him.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice laced with concern. "What happened?"

Betty blinked up at him, startled by the sudden closeness. Her heart stuttered in her chest, and she parted her lips to answer —

—but before she could say a word, her phone buzzed sharply on the table.

The loud trill broke through the moment like a crack of thunder.

She quickly pulled back, her cheeks still warm, and fumbled to grab the phone. "S-sorry—"

She swiped to answer it — and immediately flinched as Kevin’s voice boomed from the speaker.

"E. I AM BLEEDING!"

"..."

****

After driving Anna from the set, Daniel didn’t head straight home.

Instead, he took a detour — to a quiet, upscale restaurant tucked away from the city’s usual chaos. The kind of place where privacy wasn’t requested — it was guaranteed.

Anna hadn’t asked where they were going, but the moment she saw the place, she already knew Daniel was up to something.

Now, sitting across from him, she sulked in silence — her arms crossed, her expression somewhere between irritated and flustered.

Daniel, of course, found that absolutely delightful.

The faint smirk playing on his lips told her everything she needed to know — he was enjoying this.

Her lips still tingled faintly, a reminder of his impatience in the car earlier, and though she hated to admit it, she hadn’t exactly pushed him away.

She caught her reflection in the window — her lipstick slightly smudged, her cheeks warm — and cursed inwardly.

’Perfect. Now I look like I walked straight out of a scandal.’

Her glare snapped back to him. "You’re impossible."

Daniel rested his chin on his hand, watching her with unhidden amusement. "You look beautiful when you’re angry."

"Don’t start."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice dipping just enough to make her pulse skip. "Beautiful... and with that smudged lipstick?"

Her eyes narrowed immediately.

"It just makes me want to smudge them even more."

Anna’s jaw dropped. "Daniel!"

Her voice came out louder than intended, earning a few curious glances from nearby tables. Flustered, she ducked slightly, glaring at him from under her lashes. "Do you ever stop?"

His grin widened. "Not when you look at me like that."

She exhaled sharply, trying to hide the warmth spreading across her face. "You’re insufferable."

Daniel chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair, his gaze never leaving her. "And you make me want to pounce on you."

Anna blinked, her jaw slackening. "..."

’What is he, a lion?’ she thought incredulously, her brow furrowing deeper when she noticed the amused glint in his eyes.

He chuckled again, clearly entertained by her expression.

"Anyway," he said smoothly, brushing an invisible speck off his sleeve, "since my wife seems angry... what should I do to make her forgive me?"

Anna exhaled, her patience thinning but her curiosity piqued. She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms and giving him a pointed look.

"I thought bringing me here was supposed to be your way of making it up to me," she said dryly. "But since you’re still asking, I doubt I’ll forgive you anytime soon."

Daniel’s lips twitched into a half-smile. "And why is that?"

She arched a brow, her tone sharp but teasing. "Because you seem to think ’assaulting my lips every day’ is an acceptable hobby."

For a split second, Daniel looked caught off guard — then his grin widened into something downright sinful.

"Assaulting,’ hmm?" he repeated, clearly savoring the word. "That’s a dramatic way to describe something you don’t seem to hate."

Anna’s cheeks heated instantly. "I—what—excuse me?"

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze locked on her with disarming intensity. His voice dropped to a low murmur — smooth, teasing, yet threaded with something that made Anna’s pulse skip.

"You heard me right, wifey," he said, the corner of his lips curving into a faint smirk. "And since you don’t hate me kissing you... then you must also not hate me liking you."

For a moment, Anna just stared at him — her mind completely blank.

Her jaw fell open, eyes wide in disbelief, as his words sank in like a slow, dangerous melody that wouldn’t stop echoing.

"W-what did you just say?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Daniel didn’t flinch or take it back — not this time. His expression softened, the usual teasing glint replaced by quiet conviction.

"Yes, Anna Clafford," he said clearly, leaning in close enough that she could feel the heat of his words. "I like you. A lot more than I probably should."

Her breath hitched, her heart betraying her with a wild rhythm.

Before she could gather her thoughts, he smirked again — the dangerous, confident Daniel she knew returning in full force.

"So," he continued, sitting back with casual ease, "you’d better get ready, because I’ve decided to pursue you."

Anna blinked at him, speechless, her lips parting as if to speak — but no words came out.