Too Late, Mr. Cooper: Your Bride Ran with Your Baby novel Chapter 132

But the smile vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by a deep frown and a look of vexation as he remembered the disappointment in Liliana's eyes and the finality of her departure.

When had he started to fall for her?

He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment. It certainly wasn't when she was a first-grader, all excited about her perfect test scores as she hugged him.

Linton slowly exhaled the last of the smoke and stood up to toss the butt into a nearby trash can.

It was seven in the evening.

Some middle schools let out late, with students staying for extra classes. A few were now trickling out, heading home on their bikes.

Linton’s gaze fell on a boy in a school uniform. He was riding a bicycle with a girl, also in uniform, sitting behind him, her arms wrapped around his waist. They were laughing and talking, looking like a young campus couple.

Linton’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He suddenly remembered when they were in middle school. Liliana had been obsessed with cheesy romance novels and one day started pestering him to give her a ride to and from school on his bicycle.

He had scoffed at the idea, thinking it a waste of time. But when he saw the hopeful sparkle in her beautiful eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.

In the end, Linton secretly practiced riding a bike all night. The next morning, he showed up downstairs at her family's house, rang the bell on the handlebars, and, with a cool lift of his brow, told her to get on.

Liliana stood frozen, probably not expecting him to actually learn to ride a bike just for her. But her shock quickly turned to delighted surprise as she hopped onto the back seat, her arms tightening around his solid waist.

The happy little girl had said to him in a sweet voice, “Linton, I want you to give me rides for the rest of our lives. Remember, for a lifetime... you have to be with Liliana forever, and you can only give rides to me, no one else.”

...

By the time Liliana got home, it was past eight. After a shower, she got into bed, exhausted and ready for sleep.

By ten, she could barely keep her eyes open. Just as she was about to drift off, the doorbell started ringing incessantly.

The sharp, urgent sound startled her.

She paused, a mix of confusion and caution on her face. Who would be looking for her this late? She pursed her lips, grabbed a broom from the closet, and held it tightly as she peered through the peephole.

In the distorted view, she saw Linton’s drunken face. He patted the door, his cool voice raspy with alcohol as he coaxed, “Liliana, open up... It’s... it’s me... *hic*... your husband...”