บททั้งหมดของ Seduced by His Touch: บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

The living room was quiet, the only sound the soft ticking of the clock on the mantel. Leo stood by the window, his hands in his pockets, his gaze on the street below. Amara sat on the couch, her hands folded in her lap, her face pinched. Liana played with her toys on the floor, her small body a beam of innocence amidst the adults' tension.The doorbell had rung, and Amara got up to her feet, her heart pounding against her chest. She glanced at Leo, who gave one nod, his expression deadpan. She took a deep breath and made her way towards the door, pushing it wide open to reveal a woman standing on the doorstep."Mrs. Miller," Amara said softly, her voice filled with deference. "Thank you for coming."The older woman, Leo's mother, came in, her eyes scanning the room before settling on Leo. "Leo," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "Too long."Leo nodded, his throat tight. "Yes, Mom."Mrs. Miller's eyes turned to Liana, who had frozen with her game to look up at the new face. "And th

"Mommy, can we write a story about the monsters under the bed?" Liana's crayon wavered over the motel notepad, smearing the Hello Kitty logo.Amara recoiled from the humming fluorescents. "What if we make them friendly monsters instead?"Liana wrinkled her nose. "Friendly monsters don't lurk in the dark.""They do if they're… scared of the light." Amara pushed the crayon box. "Use the purple one. It's your favorite."Liana scribbled with a flourish, wax spraying across the page. "This one has polka dots. And he sings.""Sings what?"Liana stopped, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "'Hidey-hole, hidey-hole, won't nobody find you.'"Amara's laughter stuck in her throat. "That's… catchy."The motel phone jangled. She snatched it up, heart pounding. "Hello?"Static. A whispery sigh: "Found your little artist."The line went dead.At the laundromat, Liana sang off-key while stuffing quarters into the dryer."Mommy, hear!" She pushed a wadded paper into Amara's hand.The words

"Mommy, look! They want me to be their star!" Liana's voice quivered as she waved the envelope, gold foil glinting in the kitchen fluorescents.Amara's throat closed up. "A… star?"Leo snorted from the couch, guitar case slung over his shoulder. "More like their cash cow. Heard this place takes tuition in Bitcoin."Liana's eyes overflowed. "But the lady said my monsters are 'innovative.'"Amara settled back into the worn armchair, the envelope trembling in her hands. "They want you to. to have your work featured."Leo's jaw hardened. "Or sell it. Depends on how you read between the lines."Liana's crayon sketch—a three-headed wolf baying at a crescent moon—flapped to the ground.The admissions director's perfume was overwhelming, all lavender and intrigue."Your daughter's work is. crude," replied Ms. Hargrove, her eye moving to Liana's sketchbook. "We work on refining odd concepts."Amara laughed sharp. "Her vision arrives with paparazzi."Leo leaned against the door frame, arms cros

"Why, Mommy, did you stop loving Daddy?" Liana's whisper was barely audible, eyes wide with pleading as she hugged Mr. Whiskers tightly.Amara's heart skipped a beat, the words cutting her like a stomach punch. She glanced at Leo, who had slumped up against the windowpane, shoulders rolled in."Baby, love's not like flipping a light switch," Amara whispered, shivering. "It gets… complicated sometimes."Liana's brow furrowed. "But you smiled when Daddy sang."Amara's throat closed. She remembered those moments—Leo's voice echoing through the room, their laughter booming in the hallways. "We still love each other," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Just… differently now."Leo pulled himself away from the windowpane. His eyes seemed haunted. "Your mom is right. Love changes. Sometimes it hurts, but it never really goes away."Liana's lip trembled. "But why did it hurt?Amara's breath hung. How could she explain the years of lying, the paparazzi, the constant running? How could she just

"Leo, this is insane." Amara’s voice trembled as she stared at the financial reports spread across the desk.Leo ran a hand through his hair, his eyes bloodshot. "Blackwood’s been siphoning funds for months. I didn’t see it coming."The hum of the air conditioner filled the silence.Liana’s laughter echoed from the hallway, oblivious to the storm brewing in the office.Amara’s heart ached. "What are we going to do?"Leo’s laugh was hollow. "I don’t know. Maybe declare bankruptcy. Start over."She crossed her arms, her voice sharp. "And leave Liana with nothing? Is that what you want?"His jaw tightened. "What else is there? The board’s already talking about a buyout."Amara’s breath hitched. "You can’t just give up."Leo’s voice dropped. "What choice do I have? They’ve got the votes. They’ve got the money. They’ve got—""—us," Amara finished, her voice soft. "But we’ve got something they don’t."Leo raised an eyebrow. "What’s that?""Liana’s songs. The media loves her. If we leverage