Too Late, Mr. Cooper: Your Bride Ran with Your Baby novel Chapter 170

A chill ran down his spine, and his heart hammered in his chest. He was still reeling from the profound relief and aftershock of what he'd almost walked in on. "He claimed to be security and had a master keycard. I was worried something was wrong, so I had him open the door."

Liliana pressed her lips together. After a long moment, she lowered her eyes and whispered, "Thank you."

"Liliana." Linton held her tighter, leaning down to press a soft kiss to the crown of her head. "Can you tell me what happened?" he asked, his voice hoarse with a patient concern.

Liliana hesitated for a second, then decided to tell him everything without reservation. This was no longer a situation she could handle on her own. She wasn't so stubborn as to refuse help when she knew she was in danger. Even if that help came from her ex-boyfriend, her ex-fiancé.

Perhaps it was manipulative, even a bit cowardly, but she wanted to live. She wanted to live, and she wanted her baby to live with her.

After she finished, Linton's brow furrowed into a deep frown.

"I understand." He took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders to warm her, then bent down and swept her up into his arms.

"Liliana," he murmured, his gaze softer and more intense than she had ever seen it. "Leave this to me. From now on, you'll stay by my side. You won't go anywhere else. I'll protect you."

Liliana looked up at the unnervingly calm man before her, her breath catching in her throat. A shiver of horror ran through her; it made her skin crawl.

Something was wrong.

This version of Linton was deeply unsettling, completely wrong.

Liliana's scalp prickled with fear. She raised her hand and, without a second thought, slapped him hard across the face, hissing through her teeth, "Linton, can you snap out of it and be normal for once!"

The force of the blow knocked his handsome face to the side. A lock of messy hair fell over his eye, concealing the complex emotion swirling within. Instead of anger, he smiled, his gaze doting and indulgent as he asked softly, "Does your hand hurt? If you want to hit me, wait until we get home. I'll let you hit me as much as you want, okay?"

Liliana's eyes widened in stunned disbelief. "Linton... are you a psycho?!"

"Liliana." Linton's brow furrowed slightly as he held her even tighter, a low, amused chuckle rumbling in his chest.

"Even if I am a psycho... I'm a psycho who's hopelessly in love with you."