NOVPUB
Chapter 131: Chapter 131 Night Crawler
Ann finally got a clear view of Liam’s hand as he stood up from the ground—and her eyes widened in horror.
His wrist was twisted in a way that made her stomach flip. The bones were clearly out of place, bulging unnaturally beneath the skin. A cold chill ran down her spine.
Liam winced, gritting his teeth as he rose slowly. He cradled his injured wrist with his other hand, and his brows furrowed in a mix of pain and annoyance.
"Can’t you watch where you’re going?" he muttered, the irritation clear in his voice.
Vanessa’s face paled. "Oh my god—Liam, I’m so sorry," she said in a rush, guilt flooding her voice. "I didn’t mean to—Are you okay?!"
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he glanced around at the street, clearly trying to push through the pain.
She hovered close, uncertain of what to do. His silence made her heart race even faster.
Then Liam groaned, wincing again as he leaned against the side of her car. "I was running back to school," he grumbled. "I forgot my house key in my locker."
Vanessa opened her mouth to say something, but he wasn’t done yet.
"And then I got hit by a policewoman... eating a donut." He looked at her, emphasizing every word with a deliberate smirk.
Her cheeks turned a deep shade of red.
"I—look, I was distracted for one second," she defended herself, though her voice was softer now. "I’m really, really sorry."
She reached out and gently wrapped her arm around his shoulder. "Come on, get in the car. Let me take you somewhere you can sit."
Liam didn’t resist. He climbed into the passenger seat while holding his broken wrist tightly, trying not to show how much it really hurt. Vanessa quickly moved to the driver’s side and sat down, tossing the rest of her donut out the window with an annoyed sigh.
She stared at the dashboard for a long moment, clearly rattled. Her hands gripped the wheel, but she didn’t move. Her eyes were wide, her breathing shaky.
Liam tilted his head. "Vanessa?"
She didn’t respond.
He leaned slightly toward her, his voice softer this time. "Vanessa... you plan to drive us anytime today?"
She blinked. "Huh?"
He grinned despite the pain. "You didn’t even put the key in the ignition. You’re just holding the wheel like it owes you money."
She looked down and realized he was right. "Shit—sorry," she muttered, fumbling with the keys. She started the engine and finally got the car moving.
Liam chuckled, resting his head back against the seat. "Relax. It’s really not that bad. Besides... it’s kinda my fault too. I did jump out in front of you."
Vanessa slumped, letting out a long sigh of relief. Her forehead tapped gently against the top of the steering wheel. "So... you’re not gonna report me?"
Liam smirked. "Why the hell would I do that? HEY WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING!"
"Sorry!"
"Are you trying to get me killed!"
She turned her head slightly toward him and apologized again.
"The last time we saw each other, you patched me up in your house after I was bleeding all over the place," he said. "I didn’t say thank you enough."
A smirk crept onto Vanessa’s lips. "Hmm. You’re still kinda bleeding, you know."
She nodded toward his wrist.
Liam looked down at the injury with mild amusement. "Eh. A little bandage will do the job."
That was a lie.
He could straighten the bone himself if he wanted to. His system made it possible—though it would hurt like hell. But he had his reasons for holding off.
Vanessa raised an eyebrow but didn’t question it. She returned her focus to the road and kept driving.
The car fell into a quiet lull. The city was beginning to dim around them as dusk painted the sky in gold and purple. The clock on the dashboard ticked quietly, catching Vanessa’s eye.
She gasped slightly. "Wait, Liam. Did you even check the time?"
He blinked. "Not really. Why?"
"It’s already past six!" she said, turning to him. "School’s definitely closed by now. You’re not getting that key until tomorrow."
Liam’s lips parted as the realization hit him. "God... damn it."
He slumped further into the seat, letting his head fall back. "I’m definitely sleeping outside today," he muttered under his breath.
Vanessa was quiet for a moment. Then she gave him a look.
"You’re not sleeping outside."
Liam glanced at her sideways.
"You can stay at my place tonight," she said simply, as if it were the most obvious solution in the world. "I’ve got plenty of rooms I’m not using. Spare beds. Clean sheets. No judgment."
Liam’s brows lifted.
She glanced at him again, a faint smirk touching her lips. "Unless you prefer cardboard and stray cats?"
Liam laughed softly. The pain was still pulsing in his wrist, but for some reason, everything suddenly felt lighter.
And as the car turned down the familiar street toward her home, Liam had only one thought circling in his mind—
The night was going just exactly as he wanted.
They finally reached Vanessa’s house as the last light of dusk disappeared behind the horizon. The large, cast-iron gates creaked open with a low metallic groan, revealing the full glory of the mansion that stood tall at the end of the private driveway.
As the car rolled to a stop in front of the massive entrance, Liam stepped out and stretched his legs, cradling his injured wrist carefully. The mansion loomed above him, still as impressive as he remembered it. But this time, he couldn’t hold back the question that had lingered in his mind since his first visit.
He turned to her as she walked around the car, keys in hand. "Hey... I’ve been wondering—why do you have a mansion this big and live here all alone?"
Vanessa slowed her steps and looked at him, a faint, unreadable look crossing her face. "I used to live here with my father and my brother."
Liam nodded slowly, his expression neutral. He didn’t ask what happened to them. Something in her voice warned him not to.
She led him up the short flight of steps, and when she opened the front door, Liam was hit again by the same scent that had clung to the air the last time—rich, polished wood and a subtle trace of perfume, elegant and faintly intoxicating.
The interior was just as grand as he remembered, but it felt even more personal now that he wasn’t limping in bleeding from a gunshot wound.
The entrance hall welcomed them with its high ceilings and warm lighting. Marble floors stretched out like a river of stone beneath his feet, polished to a mirror-like sheen. Antique chandeliers hung gracefully above, casting soft golden light on the classic cream walls. The furniture was elegant—dark mahogany pieces with gold detailing, plush velvet couches arranged perfectly around a glass coffee table.
Every detail was meticulous. Every corner of the house screamed wealth—old money wealth. There was no flashy modernity here. Just timeless taste and quiet power.
Vanessa led him down the hallway. They moved through the halls until they reached the familiar room from last time.
It was just as he remembered—surprisingly warm, cozy, and private. A soft lamp glowed in the corner, casting golden shadows over the stacked cabinets. And like before, one whole section was lined with medical kits. Enough supplies to run a small clinic.
Liam gave the corner a brief glance and raised an eyebrow again.
Still weird, he thought—but he didn’t say anything.
Vanessa didn’t waste time. She pulled out a fresh bandage from one of the kits and motioned for him to sit. Liam dropped onto the edge of the examination table as she knelt in front of him, her fingers delicate but firm as she checked his wrist and examined it carefully.
Her touch was gentle, but confident—practiced. She handled him like she’d done this a thousand times.
Liam watched her quietly, not really paying attention to the pain anymore.
Vanessa was still in her uniform. The navy-blue shirt clung tightly to her curvy figure, the buttons strained slightly across her chest, giving glimpses of the tempting outline beneath. Her waist was slim, the belt of her uniform accentuating her hourglass shape. Her hips were full, her legs long and toned inside the fitted police pants. She looked every bit like a dream wrapped in authority.
There was something about her tonight—more intense than usual. Maybe it was the lighting, or maybe it was just that she was focused, completely in her element. She wasn’t trying to be attractive—she just was.
In that moment, Liam couldn’t help but think... she was even more beautiful than Ann.
Not just because of her face, though that alone was flawless. Her high cheekbones, sharp jawline, and piercing blue eyes could silence any man. But it was the way she carried herself—this quiet dominance, confidence, grace. Her body was perfection, a few years more mature, more developed than Ann’s, and her curves... damn. Her curves could turn a priest into a sinner.
Liam caught himself staring but didn’t look away. He just watched her—openly, boldly.
Vanessa noticed. She had noticed for a while now.
Her hands slowed slightly, her movements suddenly more delicate. Her face began to flush a soft red, and her breaths grew lighter.
She didn’t say anything at first, but the room had shifted.
The air was thicker. Warmer.
She finished wrapping the bandage a bit faster than necessary and tightened it with a tug that made Liam wince slightly.
"There," she said quickly, avoiding his eyes. "That should keep it steady until morning."
Liam tilted his head and smirked slightly, watching the pink in her cheeks deepen.
Vanessa stood up quickly and took a step back. "I’m... I’m going to go change," she said, her voice a bit higher than usual.
"Right," Liam said with a teasing tone. "Go do your thing."
She turned and hurried toward the door, her long ponytail swishing behind her. She paused at the doorway, glancing back at him briefly—but he was already watching her, and their eyes locked for half a second too long before she disappeared down the hallway.
As soon as the door shut, silence fell again.
Liam glanced at the clock on his phone.
7:04 p.m.
His face hardened.
He didn’t have much time left. The window for his plan was narrow, and he couldn’t afford delays.
He stood up slowly, tested the weight on his wrist, and let out a sigh.
Vanessa was sweet. Too sweet. But she had no idea who he really was—what he was about to do tonight.
He shoved his phone into his pocket and crossed to the window, cracking it open slightly to listen to the outside.
Everything was still.
But Liam’s heart was already racing. His body buzzed with anticipation.
He had a job to do.
