Chapter 78:

Curiosity got the better of Amelia, so she asked, “Aren’t you put off by these? The food here sits out in the open, with crowds brushing past all evening. Aren’t you worried we might get sick after eating it?”

Wyatt grinned and responded, “Honestly, our bodies are tougher than we think. A little street food now and then won’t hurt us.”

The sincerity in his answer made Amelia burst into laughter despite her best efforts to hold it in. While Wyatt wasn’t sure what had sparked her laughter, her amusement was contagious and lifted his mood.

After hearing Wyatt’s words, Amelia relaxed. She went from stall to stall, arms soon full of snacks and a few souvenirs for her friends.

Wandering along with her hands full, neither Wyatt nor Amelia noticed when the crowds thinned, and they ended up in a quieter alley. With Wyatt’s hand entwined with hers, Amelia strolled onward, her thoughts drifting back to the first time they met two years ago.

It had been in a similar alleyway. At first, she hadn’t intended to help Wyatt. For a moment, she meant to ignore him and walk away, but everything changed when Wyatt suddenly grabbed her ankle. Instinct kicked in—she gave him a sharp kick. Only afterward did she realize what was happening. The memory brought a smile to her lips.

Catching Wyatt’s confused look, she said, “Funny, you were lying in an alley back then, too.”

Wyatt’s features softened as he thought of it. “I remember how terrified you looked. What made you decide to save me then?”

ѕа𝘃𝘦 𝘺о𝗎𝗋 𝗳a𝗏𝗈𝗋𝗂tе 𝘯𝘰𝗏𝖾𝘭𝘀 𝗈𝗇 𝗀𝘢𝗹𝘯𝗈𝘷𝖾𝗅𝘀.c𝗼𝗆

Amelia’s cheeks grew warm at the question. How could she admit the truth—that his face alone made her hesitate to leave? At first, she had planned to call the police and go, but one look at the handsome stranger lying helpless made her reconsider.

Of course, she couldn’t let Wyatt know that, so she switched topics without missing a beat and asked, “So, what really happened that night? Why were you hurt so badly?”

Wyatt’s status meant there were always people shadowing him for protection, and even now, Amelia spotted a few distant figures tailing them with practiced subtlety. But back then, he had been hurt with no one to help him.

Wyatt didn’t reply right away, the question giving him pause. Just as Amelia began to worry she’d crossed a line, he spoke, his voice suddenly cold. “My uncle set me up. He sabotaged the brakes on my car. I was on the highway when the brakes failed.”

With just a few words, Amelia grasped the danger he had faced. Losing the brakes on a highway could easily turn deadly.

She wanted to ask why his uncle would do such a thing, but the answer was obvious. People always spoke of power struggles in wealthy families, and within the influential Stewart family, the stakes were surely higher still.

The lighthearted mood between them vanished in a blink. Silence lingered until they reached the edge of the alley, when Wyatt finally said, “Amelia, if you marry me, you’ll have to face those threats, too. Still, you can believe me when I say I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

His earnest look held her attention. She met his gaze and answered with certainty, “I believe you.” A mischievous smile followed. “Even though your family might be dangerous, my family is no better. That means we’re on equal ground.”

By the time they returned to where they were staying, midnight was close at hand. Davin sat in the living room, patiently awaiting their arrival. Amelia felt slightly guilty about coming back so late and handed him some snacks and trinkets she had bought.

Despite working as Wyatt’s assistant and having more money than some business owners, Davin smiled with genuine joy as he accepted them. However, just as he was about to take a bite, he noticed Wyatt’s icy gaze.

“I should go back to my room and get some rest. Good night,” he said quickly.

Without another moment’s delay, Davin retreated to his room, snacks in hand. Although Amelia had managed the walk in heels without complaint earlier,

Exhaustion set in now that the excitement had faded. She excused herself, letting Wyatt know she was heading upstairs to rest.

Watching her climb the stairs, Wyatt found himself sulking. Even Davin had received something from her. What about him?

Unbeknownst to him, Amelia had picked out a gift for him as well; she had simply forgotten to give it to him. Only when she was back in her room did she remember. She had bought Wyatt a small wooden carving, an adorable little rabbit.

Without wasting a moment, she slipped out of her room with the item.

Inside his bedroom, Wyatt had just removed his shirt and was about to slip into a robe when a gentle knock sounded at his door. Amelia called out, “Wyatt, are you still up? If you are, I have something for you. If you’re sleeping, then I’ll just—”

Before she could finish, he pulled the door open from inside. He stood before her in a black robe, the sash loosely knotted. The sight of his chest, faintly visible beneath the fabric, caught her off guard.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, and the wooden rabbit slipped from her grasp, landing on the floor.