Too Late, Mr. Cooper: Your Bride Ran with Your Baby novel Chapter 173

The pain was so sharp Linton felt like he was about to cry. His chest ached, and a vast, nameless dread coiled around him, threatening to drag him into an abyss.

Liliana fell silent.

Linton, still kneeling, held her tightly, his eyes closed. His long lashes trembled as he peppered kisses across her brow, her eyes, her nose...

He traced a path down her face, finally nibbling on her soft earlobe before slowly opening his eyes. A startling, fiery intensity burned in their dark depths.

Liliana kept her gaze lowered, her pink lips trembling. "You don't have to be afraid anymore," she said, her voice a hoarse whisper. Her tone was completely calm.

She hadn't been swayed by his sudden display of affection. She looked up, fighting back the redness in her eyes. "Linton, I'm grateful that you saved me, but that's where it ends. Let me go home. I'm begging you, Linton. Let me go, and I'll protect myself."

"And how do you plan to do that?" Linton pressed, his almond-shaped eyes fixed on her pale face. His fingers gently traced the beautiful lines of her eyes. "On your own? Do you have any idea who you're up against? Do you know what kind of power they have? The methods they use?"

Liliana opened her mouth to speak, but Linton gave her no chance. His gaze was dark and inscrutable, his tone bordering on obsessive. "Or will you rely on Aiden? Or Liam? Your brother? Do you really think they can help you?" He paused, then pulled her tighter, pressing her head against his warm, broad chest.

He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Liliana, you know as well as I do that right now, the only person who has the power to help you, to protect you, is me. It can only be me." His cool, raspy voice was laden with meaning, and a chilling madness flickered in his eyes.

She wanted Linton to get rid of Isabella. If Isabella was out of the picture, similar threats wouldn't happen again. Then she could leave Linton and be free again.

Of course, she kept that last part to herself for now.

She was afraid that if she said it out loud, the damn man in front of her would completely lose his mind. Linton stared back at her, his gaze just as intense. "So, if I take care of Isabella, you'll be satisfied?"

"It's not about me being satisfied," Liliana said calmly. "Linton, I'm not throwing a tantrum over our relationship. I'm being serious. This is a complex situation involving powerful people."