Chapter 38: Just Wanting to Keep It That Way

Florence, sensing the situation, excused herself and left.

"Sorry, I didn't realize you'd be back so early," Livia felt compelled to explain, knowing that he cared about their affair being discovered by others.

"What do you want to eat? I can have something delivered," Angelo offered as he removed his coat and dialed for food. He looked appealing in his white shirt, which seemed to soften his overall appearance.

"When are you heading back?" Livia waited for him to put his phone down before posing the question.

Angelo took a seat on the couch and patted his thighs, inviting her to sit.

Livia straddled his lap, her hand reaching for his throat, noticing that the bite mark there was now a fading bruise.

"When do you want to go back?" Angelo, with one arm wrapped around her waist and the other resting along the back of the sofa, tilted his chin up in a gesture that exuded both desire and tease.

Her hand had already slipped under his shirt. "I was planning to have fun for five days."

Angelo frowned slightly. His trip was only supposed to be a three-day affair for business.

"If you need to go back, just go," Livia didn't insist on him staying with her like other women might.

She knew well enough that accompanying her here didn't compare to being at home.

But she didn't want to go home just yet.

Allowing her hand to roam inside his shirt, Angelo lazily surveyed the traces of their passion on her body. "With you looking like this, what fun could you possibly have?"

"That's my business," Livia shot back defiantly, not yielding to his insinuations.

Angelo extracted her wandering hand. "You're really not coming back with me?"

"No," Livia replied decisively.

"Then where do I stay?"

"You're not homeless," Livia remarked. "You don't have to stay with me anymore."

Angelo's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

" Don't you find it tiresome to always be moving back and forth?" Livia's argument seemed sensible.

Angelo leaned back into the couch. "We've always done this. Why send me packing now?"

"Guess I've grown up," Livia responded, her flirtatious smirk not entirely convincing.

Studying her, Angelo sensed she had changed a lot this time. In bed, she was as passionate as ever, matching him perfectly. But her demeanor towards him was often cold and distant, as if she wanted nothing more than a physical relationship.

"So we won’t be living together?"

"That's right."

Angelo pursed his lips. Seeing no hint of longing or hesitation on her face, he felt a sudden unease.

She was in his arms, yet he felt she was miles away.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Livia said, cradling her face.

"I suddenly don't feel like leaving." Angelo wasn't sure what would change between them after he returned this time, yet he sensed she wasn't as persistent as before.

Livia laughed. "Do I have that much charm to make you not want to work?"

"Yes." Angelo wrapped his arms around her waist, his gaze falling on her lips. The bruise there was like a withered petal that didn't mar her beauty but added an exotic allure instead.

He leaned in and kissed it gently, his eyes deep and earnest, lips parting slightly as he whispered devoutly, "I want you."

Livia was mesmerized by his gaze.

Their embrace stirred deep emotions, like boundless seas of passion, enchanting her heart.

She swallowed, her eyes flickering away. "I'm hungry."

Just as she spoke, there was a knock on the door—the waiter delivering their food.

Livia breathed a sigh of relief. Truth be told, she was finding it hard to cope. Angelo seemed to have an endless supply of energy, and just as she was catching her breath, he was ready to go again.

She feared he might wear her out completely.

A spread of seafood, prepared in various ways, lay before them. Livia ate a few lobster rolls and sipped some rich clam chowder, soon feeling full.

Angelo picked the meat out of a large lobster and placed it on her plate. "Eat some more."

"I don't think I can."

"You need to keep your strength up."

Livia inhaled sharply at his sincere look.

She had just taken the plate when Angelo's phone rang.

She instinctively thought it might be Valentia, but his expression suggested otherwise.

After answering, Angelo's face turned grim. "I'll be right there."

"What's wrong?" Livia noticed his concern.

"Valentia was harassed, hit someone, and is now at the police station," Angelo grabbed his jacket. "I'm going to check on her."

Livia nodded. She didn't offer to join, preferring not to see Valentia, who likely shared the sentiment.

Angelo turned back at the door and said, "Eat up."

With no appetite left, Livia nonetheless finished the lobster meat he had prepared for her. She then had the waiter clear the table and sat alone on the balcony, enjoying the sea breeze.

Several times, she thought to call Angelo but ultimately refrained. Not dwelling on it was her way of letting go.

She had learned to live in the moment. Disappointment would find its own time to surface.

That evening, as Livia prepared for bed, Angelo had not returned.

She wasn't restless as she had been before. Feeling tired from scrolling on her phone, she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Florence sent Livia a text with a link to a Facebook post.

[#National Celeb Fights Creep Late Night, Mystery Boyfriend Stands By At Police Station]

Livia scrutinized the post. The photo was blurry, but she could make out that the woman was Valentia and the man was Angelo.

Seeing them together gave her an uneasy feeling.

She knew it would end up this way, perhaps more intimate behind closed car doors at the hotel, yet she felt a twinge of jealousy.

"What's going on?" Florence asked in a voice message.

Livia took a deep breath and simply replied: "They're friends."

Florence didn’t press further.

Looking at the love bites fading on her neck, Livia thought a bit of concealer should do the trick well enough for her to step out.

She donned white wide-leg pants layered with a tank top under her sun protective clothing, letting her hair fall over her chest, concealing the marks quite effectively.

She arranged to meet with Florence for an outing.

Upon seeing her, Florence nodded in approval. "Looks good. I can't even tell at all."

“Shall we go? What’s the plan?” Livia needed to distract herself, keen to avoid dismal thoughts.

Florence, intuitive as ever, sensed her mood.

"Somewhere far or close?"

"A bit farther. I don't mind not coming back tonight."

"Alright then."

They hailed a cab right off the street and drove away from the resort.

When they arrived at the small town, Livia was busy taking pictures with her phone, snapping lots of great shots for Florence, too.

During their meal, they exchanged photos and chose a few good ones to post on Facebook.

Livia even added a location tag.

Several hours had passed since the Facebook incident, and no call or message had come from Angelo.

However, soon after their posts went up, her phone rang.