Married to a Secret Billionaire (Stella Taylor)

Chapter 35 The First Time

Liam's breath hitched, and he abruptly pulled her into his embrace.

Stella's slender waist fit perfectly in his grasp as his hand effortlessly encircled it while his other hand delicately lifted her chin.

He gazed into her clear eyes, and her pale pink lips parted slightly like a silent invitation.

He felt a fire igniting within him, one that spread to a place he dare not mention.

Avoiding his intense gaze, she felt her cheeks flush while her breath quicken. Sensing the warmth of his chest, the strong thump of his heartbeat, and his undeniable masculinity, she felt her body grow weak. However, just as their lips were about to meet, she gently pushed him away.

"Stop..." She smiled shyly. "I need to cook."

Liam paused, a hint of darkness flickering in the depths of his profound gaze.

"Save it for tonight..." Stella's voice was soft and feeble as she struggled to muster the words. After uttering them, her face immediately flushed with embarrassment.

"You don't have to sleep on the couch tonight. It's uncomfortable. Come sleep in the bedroom with me."

He froze for a moment.

This is perhaps the boldest thing she has ever said...

Suppressing his smile, Liam gently brushed his thumb against her reddened earlobe and responded in a hoarse voice, "Okay."

After dinner, he went straight into the bathroom.

Usually, he only took about ten minutes to shower, but this time he spent nearly an hour inside. Stella prepared some fruit and watched TV for a while, but he did not come out. She could only occasionally hear the sound of rushing water.

Her cheeks grew warm, and she entered the room to change into her nightgown. Nervously, she sat at the edge of the bed.

Her two petite hands fidgeted anxiously, unsure of where to place them.

She wondered how Liam would treat her. He was tall and sturdy, with strong muscles and more strength than an average person.

Pursing her lips to chuckle, Stella felt embarrassed by her thoughts. She wished she could bury her head into her chest.

Just then, the sound of running water abruptly ceased in the bathroom. She was taken aback and tightly gripped the corner of her nightgown.

As his footsteps drew nearer, her heart raced, and her two petite feet intertwined nervously with a mix of anticipation.

Stella had only read about the portrayal of first wedding nights in novels before. Even during her teenage years, she yearned for those enchanting scenes, imagining a night she would treasure for a lifetime with her beloved.

Although it was not their first wedding night, this would be her first time sharing such an intimate experience with Liam...

Stella could not help but smile sweetly.

She hoped that everything would unfold as beautifully as described in the novels and that she could cherish the memories for a lifetime.

However, an urgent doorbell rang out at that very moment.

Startled, she was even more taken aback when she answered the door. Standing outside was Samuel, his face covered in injuries, his appearance disheveled. As soon as he saw her, he burst into tears. "What happened?" Stella hurriedly pulled him inside. "Did you get into a fight with someone?"

"Sis..." Samuel looked at her with red eyes and choked up for a while, unable to utter a complete sentence.

She was extremely worried, completely forgetting about Liam. It was not until Liam lightly coughed that she snapped back to reality. She slowly turned around, her eyes meeting his furrowed brows and confused expression. Her heart skipped a beat.

She suddenly remembered that she was now Amelia, and as Amelia, she did not have a younger brother...

"H-He's my cousin." Stella forced a smile as she discreetly signaled Samuel.

Momentarily stunned, Samuel glanced at Liam and immediately understood her intention. The man before him was the one Stella had married in Amelia's stead... Therefore, Liam did not know Samuel's true identity, and Samuel knew he must never reveal the truth and ruin things for Stella.

"Samuel," she softly said, "This is Liam."

Samuel obediently greeted, "Hello, Liam," and quickly hid behind her.

He timidly looked at Liam, feeling an indescribable sense of dominance emanating from him. Does Sis handle being with someone like this every day? Isn't it too overwhelming for her?

Liam nodded slightly and retrieved the first-aid kit without uttering a word. Gesturing for Samuel to the couch, he proceeded to tend to his wounds.

Samuel was quite injured, with a swollen forehead and a large area of scraped skin on his leg. The wound stuck to his pants, and it caused intense pain with any movement he made.

Even though Liam handled him with great care, Samuel's face still turned pale from the pain while beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

"What happened? Who beat you up?" Tears streamed down Stella's face. "Did you offend someone?"

Samuel tightly pursed his lips, refusing to utter a single word.

Growing anxious, she bombarded Samuel with repeated questions. However, no matter how she pleaded, he remained steadfastly silent.

Liam patted her shoulder and offered her a reassuring look before guiding Samuel toward the balcony. She watched as they closed the sliding door behind them. After a while, it appeared Samuel was opening up to Liam, wiping away tears as he shared his story.

When Liam emerged from the balcony, Stella quickly approached him and anxiously asked, "What happened?"

"He was bullied at school." Liam's expression was cold, a faint hint of anger visible between his eyebrows.

She felt a pang of heartache and an overwhelming urge to cry.

"It's a group of senior students. They found your brother an easy target and would gather around him on his way to and from school, demanding money. If Samuel didn't have any money, they would inevitably beat him up." Liam clenched his lips. "Earlier, since he didn't have any money to give them, they dragged him by his hair and slammed his head against the wall. That's why he sustained a serious injury to his head."

Stella took a sharp breath and was about to go to the balcony to check on Samuel, but Liam gently stopped her.

"Don't go just yet," he whispered. "Boys his age have strong self-esteem. They don't want you to see them in this condition. Let's give him some time to calm down first."

"Okay." She nodded. Suddenly, she couldn't help but wonder why her own younger brother had not confided in her about the bullying, choosing instead to share it with his brother-in-law, whom he had only met

once.

Liam seemed to understand her thoughts and smiled, saying, "Some things can only be shared between men."

Stella shook her head. "He's only sixteen!"

"You shouldn't underestimate him." He chuckled. "When I was sixteen, I had already..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence and swallowed the rest of his words.

Stella was taken aback and looked up at him. "You had already...?"