Liesa shot Nina a quick sideways glance, then put on a polite, professional smile and stepped inside.
Silas was adjusting Richard's pillow. When he turned and saw her, he froze for a second.
"Sorry, Miss Valtieri," Silas said quickly, clearly flustered. "You look so different from yesterday. I didn't recognize you."
"We've only met once," Liesa replied smoothly. "It's normal not to remember my face."
She had never dated, but she'd had plenty of admirers. That kind of stunned admiration was impossible to miss.
Richard noticed it too. Someone as sharp as him wouldn't overlook something so obvious. And Angus, listening in, caught the meaning hidden in that brief silence.
Sam suddenly felt the room grow colder. He shivered without meaning to.
"That's enough. You can leave," Richard said suddenly, frowning at Silas.
Silas stiffened. The disappointment in Richard's tone was obvious.
"Of course," Silas murmured, lowering his head before leaving with Nina.
Soon, only Liesa and Richard remained.
Richard didn't even glance at her. He sat on the bed, focused on his work as if she didn't exist.
Liesa took one look and understood.
She didn't care.
After standing for a while, her legs began to ache. Without hesitation, she pulled out a chair and sat down beside the bed.
Richard's voice turned cold. "Miss Valtieri," he said without looking up, "before your parents passed away, didn't they teach you to ask before sitting?"
The moment he finished speaking, Sam monitoring the feed saw Angus's expression darken. Sam hesitated, then said quietly, "Should I bring Miss Valtieri out? That was… a bit too harsh."
Inside the room, Liesa blinked in surprise. Then she smiled.
"Ten million?" Liesa repeated softly, tilting her head.
She thought,
For a second, she looked almost tempted.
Richard watched her carefully, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"As long as you leave him," Richard said coldly, folding his hands. "You'll never have to worry about money again."
Liesa lowered her gaze, as if seriously considering it.
The tiny bug hidden in her brooch carried that silence straight into Angus's room.
Sam leaned forward, curious. He thought,
Angus didn't react. His fingers tapped the armrest again, slow and steady.
The silence dragged on.
Richard's patience snapped. He frowned. "Well? What's your choice?" he pressed, voice sharp.
Sam held his breath.
Then Liesa spoke again, her voice softer this time. "Ten million sounds nice," she admitted. "It'd keep me worry-free for the rest of my life."
Angus's fingers stopped, resting lightly against the armrest.
There was a short pause.
"But I don't quite understand," Liesa continued, her tone turning thoughtful. "You said Angus is your son and can't marry someone ordinary…"
She hesitated, as if piecing it together.
"Are you planning to marry him into someone else's family?" she asked, sounding almost innocent.
Then, a hint of brightness slipped into her voice. "If so, could he marry into mine? 'The Valtieri family' wouldn't sound bad with him in it…"
A loud crash cut her off.
Glass shattered.
Richard's furious roar followed right after.
Angus shot to his feet before he even realized it.
A second later, Liesa's voice came through again, light and easy.
"Anyway, I'll head out now, Mr. Grayson," she said casually.
She sounded completely fine.
No hurt. No hesitation.
Angus slowly sat back down, his face returning to calm, as if nothing had happened.
Sam flinched at the crash from the bug.
Then Angus suddenly standing made him jump again.
Two shocks in a row left him awkward. He cleared his throat. "Miss Liesa is… quite something," he said, a little amused. "Life around her is never boring."
Angus stared at his phone, expression blank, as if he hadn't heard a word.
After that sharp comeback, Liesa walked out in a great mood.
She had only taken a few steps when she spotted Nina waiting in the corner.
Liesa paused.
She thought,
A minute later, they stepped into the women's restroom.
Nina studied Liesa for a long moment.
Then she let out a cold laugh.
"Dr. Valtieri," Nina said, crossing her arms. "Could you please introduce myself."
Liesa blinked, surprised. "You know I'm a doctor?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I know more than that," Nina replied, lips curling slightly. "I know you're not Angus's girlfriend."
She watched Liesa closely, full of confidence.
"I heard the staff," Nina added. "They call you 'Doctor Valtieri,' and you call Angus 'Mr. Romano.'"
Liesa let out a quiet scoff.
"No girlfriend talks that formally to her boyfriend," she said, shaking her head slightly.
Liesa raised a brow and thought it over.
She thought,
Then she smiled, completely sincere. "I didn't expect this," Liesa said lightly. "You seem a bit slow, but your instincts are sharp."
Nina didn't react.
"You don't have to provoke me," Nina said coolly, her gaze sliding over Liesa. "I know you're scared."
Her eyes turned mocking.
"If Richard finds out the truth," Nina continued, voice laced with disdain, "you'll lose your excuse to stay close to Angus. Right?"
Liesa's smile didn't fade.
"I think you misunderstood," Liesa said calmly. "I am Angus's girlfriend. That's the truth."
She tilted her head slightly.
"And yes, I'm a doctor. That part's true too."
"Really?" Nina let out a sharp laugh.
"Then what I heard this morning must've been fake?" Nina narrowed her eyes. "You called him 'Mr. Romano.'"
Liesa sighed and lowered her gaze, looking a little embarrassed.
"I panicked," Liesa said softly. "When I saw Mr. Grayson about to hit Angus, I got scared."
She hesitated, then added awkwardly, "I accidentally used… my private nickname for him."
"Nickname?" Nina almost laughed. "You call that a nickname?" she repeated, clearly amused.
Liesa nodded seriously and lifted her head.
"It really is," Liesa said, her tone completely sincere.
She paused for a beat.
"Angus has a bit of a thing in bed," Liesa added calmly.
Then she continued without blinking.
"He especially likes it when I'm crying and calling him 'Mr. Romano.' So when I got nervous, it just slipped out."
Nina froze.
Sam froze.
Angus Romano, who had just learned about his supposed "preference," also went completely still.