Chapter 5 Such a stalker

When Liam arrived at the dinner table, the housemaid was still warming up the food, but water was already on the table. Liam drank slowly.

"It won't take long, but if you're feeling very very hungry, you can eat this bread and jam first to fill your stomach."

Liam ignored the bread proffered to him, he asked, "What's with this mess?"

"Um. Perhaps young master's mood has soured again." She was nervous.

"Again?"

"Eh? Oh, n-no ... I mean, if young master is feeling bored, he usually can't hold back his temper, s-so ..."

"So this isn't the first time?" Liam cut her off.

She glanced left and right with her eyeballs, before nodding.

Liam realized that it seemed like a secret that shouldn't be revealed and saw that the housemaid was wary of her own words. But he didn't think about it. With a soft ding sound, the microwave finished warming up, the smell of food wafting as soon as the small machine was opened.

Immediately he was surprised to see the food served on the table for him.

It was sweet and sour squid with green chilies and paprika. The squid was almost as big as two adult thumbs, fat, thick and mouthwatering.

Besides himself no one knew that this was his favorite food. Because his mother was allergic to seafood, the chef at home never prepared the food, even if he wanted it, he could only eat it outside.

"Sir, is this not to your taste?"

Liam noticed that he looked completely shocked and his expression calmed down immediately. "Did you make this?"

The housemaid blushed. "This is my first time making it. Young master asked me to learn some food recipes and he often brings prepared food as samples."

'He did?' he thought.

As soon as the squid stuck to his tongue, he tasted the familiar seasoning and felt a feeling of joy. This was exactly what he used to buy at seaside restaurants.

"It's good," he smiled.

"Wow, you are so handsome when you smile, sir." She covered her mouth stunned.

The smile on Liam's face faded.

The housemaid seemed to know that she was talking less and gave an excuse, "I-I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to say you weren't handsome when you didn't smile, i-it's just that you are much more handsome when you smiled. All women would surely kneel at your feet."

Liam couldn't believe anyone would use an excuse like this to defend themselves. He changed the subject, "You said your young master brought some food for you to copy the recipe from, so where did you get this squid recipe from?"

"That's ... I heard from the driver, the squid recipe is from a seaside restaurant not far from here."

Liam fell silent.

The restaurant had food recipes passed down from generation to generation, almost nothing could match the taste. Their flavors were rich and the spices were naturally processed. If this maid could really learn the recipe, he believed it would be from the owner directly.

Did Adriel get the recipe secifically?

"Is something wrong, sir?"

"No." Liam put down his spoon and drank. "What's your name?"

"Shari."

"Okay, Shari. This is good, but I think you added too much acid."

Without seeing Shari's shocked expression, Liam returned to his room. On the stairs, he took another look at the chaos below, his expression unchanged.

'Such a stalker,' he muttered.

Not only a stalker, that man seemed a bit strange. To achieve his goal, Adriel even made a house design that was similar to his parents' house, even the room decorations were similar, almost every detail, he also made the house maid learn the recipes of the food he liked. Now Liam wasn't sure he would ever like the food again.

The next morning, he came out of his room neatly dressed. He had promised to accompany his mother at home. His mother had a headache after the party, he was worried and wanted to see her.

As Liam descended to the stairs, he was surprised to see the room that was torn apart earlier was as tidy as ever. As if it had never been completely destroyed. Adriel was also there. The man was still in his pajamas and was busy staring at the work tablet.

Liam kept walking without minding him, until the man called out to him.

"I want to accompany my mom, she is under the weather." He gave an excuse.

"Mrs. Halsey is in bad health, I understand. I will arrange for a driver to take you." Adriel stood up.

"No need." Liam cut him off. "I'll go by taxi."

"Taxi?" Adriel frowned. "I personally arranged for a driver instead of letting me personally drop you off, and you still mind? Wow, you're awesome, aren't you?"

Liam didn't answer.

"Follow me."

Liam gasped as his hand was pulled away. Even though it wasn't as rough as before, he still couldn't extricate himself. It was then that he noticed that the hand holding him was clad in its original gauze, and there was a bit of red seeping through it.

"Wait." Liam tried to pull his hand away.

"You don't want a driver to take you, it's ok. So I will take you instead, Young master."

Liam saw the grin on Adriel's face as a threat. Before he could escape, he was thrown at the co-pilot, and Adriel got in at the wheel, starting the car immediately.

"I hope you're okay because I'm still in my pajamas."

"You--"

The car grunted, along with Liam's words being swallowed back up into his throat. The car slowly backing up before turning around and driving out of the fence. The speed used was stable, but the expression of the person behind the wheel looked harsh with blue veins protruding on his forehead.

"Do you hate having to share a car with me? I'm sorry, but from now on I will drive you wherever you go." Adriel grinned.

"I don't need. Stop the car!" Liam tried to open the door and jump out, but Adriel locked it immediately.

"And do I look like I'm asking for your approval? This is my own wish."

"What the hell are you--"

Liam stopped, not because he couldn't reply, but because he saw that the bandages on Adriel's hands were completely soaked red. His forehead twitched.

"Stop the car," he said, his voice was lower this time, "please."

Adriel glanced at him but didn't stop, he was even angrier and stepped on the gas pedal hard. They had entered the highway and there were several cars. Adriel deliberately kept speeding until he overtook other vehicles several times.

Liam's heart pounded hard, he wasn't wearing a seatbelt, so when the car suddenly braked he was almost thrown forward, but someone's hand caught him in the chest.

The car stopped.

"Do you want to die?!" Liam exclaimed, when he found his voice again.

Adriel laughed as if he heard a joke. "Heh. So you can make that expression too?"

Who was not horrified to realize that he could just smack his head forward and crash? Although Liam was tired of this world, he didn't want to die a silly death, at least he didn't want to die before his mother.

Liam was really annoyed with this man; stubborn, reckless, arbitrary, hot-tempered, unpredictable. What exactly did this crazy man want when he married him?

Did he want to play with him? Torture him? Kill him slowly?

Seeing the edges of Liam's eyes turning red, Adriel's smile crumbled. "... Liam?"

Liam closed his eyes and tears of annoyance forced their way down. 'Shit.'

Adriel was speechless for a moment.

"Wait. Are you hurt, huh? Did you get hit hard enough?" He asked frantically.

Liam's watery eyes met the man's oddly worried expression and his heart fluttered. What now, he thought. He never showed his weakness to others, whoever it was, and he was so angry he was crying like this.

"Ridiculous," he muttered.

"Huh?" Adriel took off his seatbelt and got out of the car. Liam followed his figure and realized they were on a lonely sidewalk by the side of the road.

Suddenly the door beside him opened and Adriel pulled him out. The movement was oddly gentle, so gentle it was as if he were touching a piece of fragile glass.

"You okay? Huh? Show me, are you hurt somewhere?" Adriel turned his body, feeling all over the place to convince himself.

Liam hung on for a moment unable to get the words out, but then he pushed the man away. He gave the man a disdainful look, before getting back into the car ignoring him.

Adriel was stunned. He quickly got back into the car too.

"You sure, you are ok?"

Liam wanted to spit it out, but couldn't stand the worried look. "I am ok, but you're not."

Adriel blinked.

Liam groaned and tugged at the man's hand, showing the wet bandages.

Adriel didn't seem to notice because he was immediately startled. "Ow, what the fvck!"

He bit the end of the bandage with his teeth until it tore, then peeled off the soaked bandage until Liam could see the long tear in the palm of his hand.

What the ...?

When did he get that wound?

... to be continued ...