Page 155 of Royal Bargain

When we finally pull up, the house looks… old. Like something forgotten, hidden deep in a fold of land where no one’s looking. The gravel crunches under the tires as we stop, and for a second none of us move. Even Lily stays asleep.

The place is wrapped in overgrowth—ivy climbing the stone walls, garden beds long past neatness. Weeping willows hangheavy over the drive, brushing the roof of the car like they’re checking who’s arrived.

Liam gets out first and unbuckles Lily, cradling her like something breakable. I follow, dragging my bag behind me, heart hammering way harder than it should be.

The house doesn’t feel like much at first glance. Not homey, not cold, just peaceful. Like it’s been waiting.

The front door creaks when we push it open. Inside, it smells like old wood, dust, maybe cedar? There’s a fireplace in the main room and tall windows that let in more light than I expected. The air is cool, stale but not unpleasant. Like the house has been asleep and we just woke it up.

It’s bigger than I thought it’d be. Not fancy—just wide spaces, worn stone floors, beams overhead that creak when Liam steps too hard. There’s a stillness to it that settles in my bones.

I don’t know if this place is a new beginning or just a pause—but I know I needed the quiet. We both did.

It’s not home. Not yet.

But it doesn’t feel like running, either.

It feels like we’re finally able tobreathe.

Later that afternoon,we put a blanket out in the grass. Nothing fancy. Just enough space for Lily to lie on her back and kick at the air.

She babbles at the sky like she’s telling it a story. Every time the wind brushes her face, she squeals like it surprised her. Like she forgot it was coming.

Liam sits next to me. Close, but quiet. His arms are wrapped loosely around his knees. I catch him staring at her. That soft kind of stare, like maybe he’s afraid to blink.

“I didn’t think I’d ever get this,” he says finally. “Her. You. All of it.”

I glance over. He’s still looking at Lily.

“I really thought I lost you,” he says. “When you showed up at my place—I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to believe it was real.”

There’s a beat of silence. He rubs the back of his neck.

“And then when you got hurt…” His voice trails off. “I’ve never been that scared in my life.”

I reach for his hand. It’s rough and warm and trembling just a little.

“You didn’t lose me,” I say.

He exhales. Doesn’t look at me, not yet. “I was so stupid, Ana. I didn’t fight for you when I should have. I thought pushing you away would protect you. But I think I was just scared.”

Another pause.

“I don’t expect you to just forget everything,” he says. “But if there’s still a part of you that wants this—wants me—I’ll be here. However long it takes. I just… I need to know.”

I watch Lily for a second. Her little foot jerks up, chasing a sunbeam.

“There’s more than a part of me,” I say. “It never went away.”

He looks at me then. Finally.

“Say it.”

“I love you.”

His mouth twitches like he might cry or laugh or both. He leans in and kisses me, soft and slow. Like he’s afraid he’ll mess it up if he moves too fast.

Lily lets out a dramatic squeal mid-kiss.