Liesa's "fainting" wasn't as spontaneous as it seemed.
She had carefully thought through her plan—lying on the dirty floor would be out of the question, and Sam was old enough that he might not be able to carry her if things went south. She didn't want him to hurt his back.
So, after considering her options, she decided falling into Angus's arms was the most practical choice.
To make sure he didn't just toss her aside, she figured she should act fast, look graceful, and, of course, grab onto his waist to make sure he wouldn't forget she was there.
Once her plan was in place, Liesa squeezed her eyes shut and let herself fall, but to her surprise, Angus didn't toss her to the floor.
Instead, he caught her effortlessly, adjusting her until she was more comfortable. The small moments of contact between them weren't intentional, but it was still a bit… intimate.
Angus pressed the wheelchair's button, pivoting to leave, but before they could, Silas spoke up. "Angus, you can't just leave like this. Nina's situation hasn't been resolved yet…"
Angus gave him a chilling look, and for a second, Silas froze as if someone had squeezed his throat. The words he had been about to say vanished.
In the brief moment that Silas was speechless, Angus had already wheeled Liesa out, leaving Sam behind.
Sam, standing in the silence, turned to Silas and said softly, "Sir, I know you're upset, but please try to understand. As for today's events, the truth remains unclear. If things escalate, Miss Swanson only has you as a witness, while Miss Valtieri has both Angus and me. So, we don't really know who'll come out on top."
"You're threatening me?" Silas's tone had lost all of its earlier warmth, his face now serious as he stared at Sam.
Sam, however, wore a calm, almost cheerful expression. "Of course not, sir. I'm only looking out for you. After all, if Miss Valtieri leaves, Mr. Romano will likely follow. Who, then, will handle the old members of the Romano family at your father's birthday banquet? Isn't that something to think about?"
His words hit home, and Silas shot him a dark glance before turning to Nina. "This is your doing," he snapped, before storming out in frustration.
Nina's eyes welled up with tears. The memory of how Angus had been so gentle with Liesa earlier made her feel even more bitter.
She shot Sam a glare before running off. Sam simply smiled and, pretending nothing had happened, walked out, leaving the bathroom in chaos.
Back in the wheelchair, Liesa opened her eyes a tiny bit, checking to make sure no one else was around. She couldn't help but whisper, "Mr. Romano, no wonder you don't like walking. This wheelchair is so high-end."
"Shut up," Angus muttered, his voice flat and curt.
Liesa pouted at the lack of response, closing her eyes again and falling silent.
When they finally reached the room, and the door shut behind them, she quickly jumped off Angus's lap, smoothing out her clothes and returning to her graceful and gentle demeanor.
"Sorry, Mr. Romano. I've caused you trouble again."
Angus shot her a glance. "Tell me, what happened?"
Liesa paused for a moment, then cleared her throat. "Here's the situation. Miss Swanson seems to have some unresolved feelings for you, so she blocked my way and started causing trouble. She kept insulting me, and I couldn't hold back, so I taught her a lesson. I'm sorry it turned out this way, but if I had to do it again, I'd probably do the same."
Angus silently studied her, his dark eyes seemingly reading right through her.
Liesa felt a flicker of guilt, but she held his gaze with confidence.
It wasn't that she was avoiding the truth—it was just that the truth, when it came to Angus, would only serve to fuel his anger.
So, it was easier to take the blame and figure out how to resolve things later.
He stared at her for a long time, long enough that Liesa, still in her damp, clingy clothes, shivered. Finally, his voice broke the silence.
"Go take a shower."
"…Okay, Mr. Romano."
But seeing no objection in his expression, she quickly turned and headed for the bathroom.
Angus watched the bathroom door for a while before turning his gaze elsewhere. There was something he needed to rethink.
The moment the hot water hit her skin, the tension in Liesa's body finally began to melt away. Early autumn wasn't exactly cold, but the cold water had been enough to make her feel stiff.
She stood under the shower for a long time, letting the warmth wash over her, until she finally felt herself thaw out. After drying off and wrapping herself in a towel, she felt like a new person.
Liesa stared at the pile of wet clothes scattered on the floor, her thoughts momentarily lost in silence.
Half an hour later, a head with a messy bun peeked out from the bathroom. Liesa hesitated before speaking. "Mr. Romano, could I borrow something to wear?"
Angus looked up at her, and for a moment, she seemed to glow under the steam, her fair skin flushed a soft pink from the long shower. Her delicate shoulder peeked through the narrow doorframe, water droplets sliding down her skin.
"Mr. Romano?" Liesa repeated, feeling awkward.
Angus barely spared her a glance. "Figure it out yourself."
"…?" Liesa blinked, confused.