Chapter 303 The Devil Returns
Liam was frozen for a moment, entirely unprepared for the force behind Vanessa’s kiss—the way her lips crashed into his, fierce and really hers. Her hands wrapped around his neck as though she couldn’t let him go. Time slowed, and for a second it felt like the world had narrowed to only her, only that moment.
Then his instincts snapped back fiercely. He gently but firmly removed her hands from his throat, pushing her back just enough to create distance. His breaths were shallow, heart pounding with adrenaline and tenderness. His touch was gentle as he guided her away from him.
Vanessa staggered back a step, clutching at the hem of her gown. Her eyes were wide, lips quivering. "I’m... I’m sorry," she whispered, choking on the last word. "I couldn’t control it."
Her voice cracked. He could hear it. The raw emotion spilling through the words.
Liam exhaled and softened. "It’s alright," he said quietly. His tone was steady, but inside his chest, everything had shifted. His heart pounded as he watched her struggle for composure again, shoulders trembling.
But he didn’t leave it there. He needed to do something more—something active. "There’s a way to help you," he said carefully. "Do you have anything here... that can make you sleep?"
Vanessa’s eyes flickered with urgency. She nodded, gaze darting toward the corner of the room. "There’s... a kit. Under the desk, by my setup. A tranquilizer gun."
Liam followed her look. Beneath a mess of cables and papers, he could barely make out a small carrying case. "Show me."
She pointed, her arm shaking slightly. With slow precision, Liam moved toward the desk, pulling aside papers, discs, cables—anything obstructing his path. He lifted the case, unzipped it. Inside lay a sleek black tranquilizer gun, small vials, syringes.
He picked it up, loaded one of the vials into the chamber. His fingers were steady.
When he returned to Vanessa, she was sitting upright on the couch, gripping the fabric of her dress like it was the last frayed rope in a storm. Her knuckles were white.
"Do it now," she hissed, voice rough as she tried to sound calm. "I’m...I’m doing everything I can not to... lose it."