Chapter 60: A Sweet Treat Makes the Bitterness Melt Away

Livia had thought he would escalate the incident into a big fight. After the elevator doors opened, Angelo carried her straight into their home. He gently placed her on the couch, leaning over her with deep, desire-filled eyes.

Clutching his shirt, Livia was still trying to catch her breath. "What about you?" Livia demanded an explanation.

Angelo ran his fingers through her hair, letting his fingertips glide through her soft, silky locks. "What about me?" he inquired.

"You didn't even tell me you were back. Was it on purpose?"

"Yes," Angelo admitted without any pretense. "I wanted to see if you cared about me. Clearly, you don't."

As he spoke, his other hand moved to her collar, and then to her chest, pressing down as he said with labored breaths, "Your heart is still beating. You’re still alive."

Livia was seduced by his teasing and desire. She swallowed hard, feeling the rhythm of her heart increasing as heat radiated from his palm into her chest.

She loved this man, his good side, his flaws, and didn't care about anything else as long as he was with her.

"I didn't expect things to go this way." Livia had only thought the video would be a short diversion for viewers, never anticipating those netizens' comments.

'If it had been him with Valentia, hugging and getting captured on camera, receiving comments about how well-matched they were, my anger would be no less than his.'

Regardless of his close dealings with Valentia, she couldn't help but feel jealous.

"Do you like him?"

Livia shook her head quickly.

Angelo's mood finally improved a bit, as he pressed a kiss to her lips and murmured a low warning, "Don't you dare get close to other men. You're mine."

Livia felt herself melting.

'Maybe it was his intimidation, or maybe she was feeling guilty.'

"Don't you get close to Valentia either," she retorted with jealousy.

"I'll try my best."

Having said that, Angelo kissed her again, his movements deep yet gentle, channeling all the pent-up emotions of the past days into a fervent quest for reciprocation on her body.

Livia reveled in the pleasure he bestowed upon her.

'Just a taste of sweetness from him made her forget all the preceding bitterness.'

They lost themselves in the physical union, oblivious to the passage of time, completely ignoring the vibrating and lit screen beneath the scattered clothes on the floor.

In the middle of the night, Livia lay on top of Angelo, taking deep breaths and kissing his shoulder, while he responded by kissing her forehead.

The city lights filtered through the sheer curtains enveloping them as if a layer of silvery gossamer wrapped them in an intimate cocoon.

A thin blanket was draped over Livia's waist. Her delicate and fair back was all the more enticing under the faint, shifting light.

"What did Bronte come for?" Angelo remembered the medical report he'd seen during the day, assuming she had visited the gynecologist, which was why he had been more restrained during their recent intimacy, despite her eager participation, until he could no longer hold back.

Livia, feeling a bit weary, answered with her eyes closed. "She came for a checkup Do you know any fertility specialists with high success rates for IVF?" Livia had researched and knew that IVF could be a painful process, and not all were guaranteed success on the first try.

She hoped Bronte wouldn’t have to suffer too much. Even if it was tough, better to endure it just once.

"Yes," Angelo said, caressing her back.

Livia looked up at him, her face flushed and eyes sultry. "Could you introduce me?"

"Sure." Angelo's gaze suddenly shifted, "Shouldn't you thank me in some way?"

"Thank you."

"Just a 'thank you'?"

"That’s right."

"Fine, use your mouth then."

Livia felt that his saying this was redundant and a bit off.

Angelo suddenly pushed down on her shoulders as he propped himself up.

Confused, Livia found herself being pushed down toward his rigid abdomen, and it instantly clicked what he had meant by his words.

Her face blazed with embarrassment as she grabbed his hand. "What are you doing?"

"You know what I want."

Livia, her face turning crimson, protested, "Don't even think about it!"

"You're breaking your promise already?" Angelo swallowed hard.

Livia couldn't have been part of such things. She grabbed the thin blanket covering her chest and swung her legs off the bed, not caring that the man lying there was stark naked. A blush spread across her face as her eyes quickly darted over his ever-ready manhood before she rushed into the bathroom.

Angelo cast a downward glance, raised an eyebrow, and then with a devilishly charming smile, he put his hands behind his head, having apparently let Livia off the hook.

The next day, Livia returned Bronte's message with flushed cheeks.

Bronte's call came through, her voice probing yet playful. "How did things go between you two?"

Feeling the warmth on her back, Livia spoke in a lowered tone, "Not bad."

Bronte chuckled, "Your mom asked me where you were yesterday. Your phone was off. If it wasn't for me, they would've called the cops. It's good you guys made up. I’m heading back this afternoon."

"You're going back so soon? Don't you still have a check-up?" Livia was worried.

"I've got to fill Rhodes in and discuss things properly. Even for IVF, he needs to be involved at the hospital."

"But you haven't fully recovered yet. Maybe stay a couple of days longer? I've got time, so I can keep you company," Livia suggested, concerned for her friend.

Bronte's voice was tender, "I just got too worked up yesterday, I’m really fine now. There's still a month of summer break left, so there's time. After talking things out with Rhodes, I'll come visit again."

"Then I'll take you," Livia didn't push her to stay any longer, understanding the importance of the situation.

Bronte teased her, "Do you have time to drop me off?"

Livia blushed. "Of course. You're not leaving until the afternoon, I'll be back by then."

"No need to go through the trouble. I know the way," Bronte said. "Now that you two have cleared things up, just enjoy your time together."

At that moment, Angelo was kissing her back, his voice slightly husky, "We've got no plans this afternoon. We'll take her."

Livia looked back at him. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

She quickly told Bronte, "Wait for us, we'll drop you at the train station this afternoon."

After hanging up, Livia faced Angelo, who was gazing at her with those deep, dark eyes. "It’s not like you to be so considerate."

"Bronte is a good person," Angelo leaned into her embrace.

Livia scoffed, "That’s new."

Angelo's arms encircled her waist. "Want to thank me?"

Just hearing those words made Livia somewhat speechless.

"Why so tense?" Angelo's fingers gently squeezed her rigid waist.

Livia pushed him away. "It’s not going to happen right now."

Angelo, relaxed and teasing, let his gaze wander over the curves of her chest. "This is fun."

Feeling awkward under his gaze, she pulled the covers over herself and glared at him. "Why don't you give me some fun?"

As Angelo's words trailed off, his eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of curiosity. "What do you want?"