Chapter 09
1792 Words
"Fresh seafood! Hey, handsome and beautiful over there, would you like some shrimp? They’re freshly caught and perfect for making marinated or drunken shrimp at home..."
Of course, "handsome and beautiful" referred to Liam and Ava.
They were amidst a bustling crowd, surrounded by the noisy clamor and the raw aroma of fresh ingredients.
Ava wrinkled her brow slightly.
Recent scorching heat and heavy rains in Pool City had left the market with less than pleasant odors: various meats, seafood, grilled and marinated dishes, and even the occasional poultry slaughter...
The mix of such odors...
If not for her respect for the farmers, Ava would have been pinching her nose.
She glanced at Liam beside her. It wasn’t just her; everyone around them seemed to be staring at him—his striking beauty so incongruent with the market’s ruggedness.
Liam remained unfazed, ignoring the stares, tightly holding Ava's hand as he guided her through the different sections.
Despite being near her home, Ava had never been to this market. Instead, Liam, recently released from prison, navigated it like a seasoned pro.
He effortlessly led Ava to the seafood section.
Ava scrunched her lips at the sight of lively shrimp.
She disliked shrimp, especially raw ones—having tasted drunken shrimp at a colleague’s wedding, she almost gagged.
Liam casually remarked, “No shrimp.”
He gestured towards the shrimp stall: “Let’s get a tilapia.”
Ava’s expression shifted from disgust to delight.
Tilapia was one of her favorites!
“And three pounds of mussels.”
Her enthusiasm grew even more.
Mussels were her second favorite!
Ava eagerly licked her lips.
She could almost taste the tilapia and mussels… Delicious!
Liam took the tilapia and mussels from the vendor—one hand burdened with the food, the other still holding Ava’s. With no free hand to pay, he leaned slightly toward Ava and said, “There’s money in my pocket. Could you take it out and pay the vendor?”
Ava tried to free her hand from Liam’s grip but found him holding on tighter. Annoyed, she said, “Can you let go of my hand? If you do, you can pay the vendor yourself.”
To her surprise, Liam stubbornly replied, “No, I won’t.”
Ava: “…………”
The vendor, observing their whispered exchange, couldn’t help but smile, seeing them as a loving couple: “You two are really close, holding hands even while buying vegetables…”
Ava: “…………”
This is so embarrassing!
She stopped trying to pull away from Liam, simply reaching into his pocket to retrieve some money and hand it to the vendor.
After the vendor gave change, Ava quickly pulled Liam away from the seafood section.
Next was the vegetable section.
Liam bought several items.
Each one pleased Ava—asparagus, mushrooms, tofu…
To her, it was culinary heaven!
By the end, Liam’s hand was laden with bags of vegetables, almost bumping into passing pedestrians.
Ava noticed the purple tinge in Liam’s fingers.
Her gaze moved upward—his forearm also bulging with veins.
Then she looked at his other hand.
The one still tightly holding hers.
“You…” Ava looked up and asked softly, “Why are you carrying everything with one hand?”
Liam didn’t answer directly, just smiled gently, lifting their joined hands.
The message was clear: because I want to hold your hand.
Ava blinked and said sternly, “Why won’t you let go?”
“Quite simply—” Liam said casually, “The market is crowded, and I’m afraid you might get lost.”
I’m afraid you might get lost...
Ava suddenly felt a lump in her throat.
Since her parents passed away, everyone had seen her as a capable detective, known for her countless achievements and fearless nature. They respected her, treated her like a team leader or instructor... but no one had ever seen her as a delicate princess.
“Getting lost” seemed impossible for Ava. Her strength and bravery were taken for granted.
And now...
At a time when even she believed she’d never “get lost,” someone was genuinely worried about her.
Ava looked down slightly, her gaze drifting to the pile of food in Liam’s hand.
She suddenly realized something: “Where did you get the money for all this?”
Liam glanced at her, raising an eyebrow: “The money you gave me, remember?”
“Oh—”
She had indeed given Liam some money earlier.
“Give me some of it.”
Saying so, Ava reached out.
Before her hand could touch the bags, Liam shifted, causing Ava to miss.
“I can handle it myself.”
“No!” Ava frowned, adopting a commanding tone, “Your hand is turning purple. If it’s like this when we get home, it’ll be black and red. Prolonged circulation issues can be dangerous—”
Though Liam appeared indifferent, he was secretly elated.
Is there anything more important than Ava’s concern for him?
No!
None at all!
While Ava wanted to help Liam, she ended up with only a few bags of lighter items like greens and mushrooms...
They walked slowly toward Ava’s home.
Throughout the walk, Liam felt as if he were walking on air!
Under the full moon, Ava below.
For Liam, it was better than being a deity!
When Ava was soaking in the bath, the tantalizing aromas wafting from the kitchen drove her mad.
It was simply absurd!
Why had Liam returned to her home?
How could she have allowed him in!
A stranger!
She actually let a stranger into her home!
And time and time again...
Ava sighed deeply, burying her face in the hot water.
People shouldn’t be too kind.
Let them in once, and there’ll be a second time...
Then a third, fourth... until infinity...
Ava suddenly sat up, water splashing everywhere.
Infinity meant he would be living in her home for life?
Rounding up...
She and he...
Ava scrambled out of the bathtub.
Ahh, so terrifying!
After her bath, Ava followed the scent to the kitchen.
Through the glass door, she could see Liam busily at work.
He pulled ingredients from the fridge, chopping and cooking with fluid motions, creating a picture-perfect scene with the oven, microwave, and pressure cooker.
Perhaps someone like him, no matter where he went or what he did, was like a moving painting.
Liam finished a dish.
Ava opened the kitchen door, and Liam naturally handed her the dish.
She eagerly took it, eyes shining.
It was her favorite asparagus and mushroom stir-fry!
Ava placed the freshly made dish on the dining table.
The fragrant dish was irresistibly tempting.
Finally, she couldn’t help but “commit a crime”—sneaking a large bite.
Divine!
The deliciousness made Ava’s eyes well up.
Liam called softly, “Ava!”
Ava covered her mouth and chewed quickly—if Liam found out she was sneaking food, she’d be humiliated beyond measure...
Liam observed Ava’s straightened posture, suppressing a laugh: “Come help me.”
Ava swallowed the bite quickly, walking over to Liam while pretending nothing had happened.
Liam had a large bowl of mussels, rinsed them under cold water, and brought them to Ava.
“Help me scoop the meat out of these mussels into the bowl, okay?”
Ava was puzzled: “Why scoop? Mussels are best eaten with the shell. I prefer them with garlic.”
Liam smiled enigmatically: “I’m giving you a new way to enjoy them.”
— He couldn’t let his Ava continue eating the garlic mussels she’d been bored of years ago, even though they were her favorite.
Totally inexperienced in cooking, Ava followed Liam’s expert instructions.
While Ava diligently scooped the mussels, Liam prepared the filling.
After Ava finished scooping, Liam mixed the minced meat and vegetables with the chopped mussels.
Dumplings took shape under Liam’s skilled hands.
Ava watched, mesmerized: “Mussels can be used for dumplings! I’ve never had that before!”
Liam smiled.
Ava stared at Liam’s hands, unable to look away: “Did you learn this? Or... are you a professional chef? Were you a chef before you went in?”
“…………” Liam’s hands paused.
Thirty years of ebb and flow—never had he imagined being considered a chef...
Liam soon resumed his dumpling-making speed: “Don’t you know what I did before? You... really haven’t looked into it?”
Ava, slightly caught off guard, shrugged.
But then she thought—she was a police officer, he was a suspect, what was the harm in her checking on him? No laws were broken, right?
“I did look into it,” Ava admitted openly, “But your records were incomplete, probably sealed by higher-ups. I couldn’t find much—your background or the details of your case.”
“I only know the charge was aggravated assault. But from your files and the length of your sentence, it’s quite ambiguous.”
“Liam,” Ava asked softly, “Was your crime actually self-defense…”
“Or intentional homicide?”
Hearing Ava’s guess, Liam didn’t show any emotion, “Do you think I look like a murderer?”
“…………” Ava studied Liam carefully, finally offering a vague answer: “You resemble a movie’s leading murderer.”
“If I were indeed guilty of intentional murder, I’d have received a death sentence or spent life in prison without seeing daylight.”
Ava remained noncommittal: “So I think it was excessive self-defense.”
One dumpling after another emerged from Liam’s hands. After making a dozen, he said to Ava: “………… I don’t want to deceive you, but I can choose to remain silent.”
Ava gazed int
ently at Liam’s face, as if seeking the truth.
Liam’s gaze was serene, even a bit sleepy.
Ava’s heart pounded violently.
Liam’s indifferent expression was so similar to that of the murderer in her case, making Ava’s heart uneasy.
After an endless silence...
Liam suddenly said: “It was indeed self-defense.”
“Actually,” Liam sighed, “If I’d wanted to kill, I could have done it long ago. It’s strange, but I had no intention of killing anyone.”
Ava’s eyes widened.
After that incident, Ava had felt more and more detached from her emotions, unable to distinguish them clearly.
So perhaps... it was self-defense.
Ava sighed lightly, trying to think clearly.
“What’s important is that now, you’re no longer in prison.”
“I...” Liam gently lifted his head, revealing a hint of yearning: “I don’t want to go back. So let’s focus on what’s ahead.”
His voice was calm, yet Ava felt an indescribable intensity.
- Writer
