Chapter 1439


    As she entered, Maria found this three-bedroom apartment located in the luxurious residential area


    in Northern City wasn''t the biggest suite.


    Judging from the interior design, it was bought four years ago, and it was also renovated then as


    well.


    There was nothing in the house that belonged to a woman; the style was purely masculine. There


    was a built-in enclosed shoe cab.


    After entering, Liam ced the car key on top of the open space in the shoe cab. Then he


    opened the cab, took out a pair of women''s indoor slippers that still had the price tag on, and


    handed it to her.


    "Here you go," he said.


    Maria was stunned at once when she saw the women''s slippers. Did he have other female guests


    before?


    "My previous assistant bought them. There are a few pairs of women''s slippers as well as men''s.


    My team woulde over now and then, but they no longer do after I came back." Maria managed


    to capture the faint sense of loss in Liam''s tone.


    She shook her head and immediately said, "Oh, it doesn''t matter. Life is full of ups and downs. You


    don''t have to keep your mind stuck in difficult moments.


    "Put them on. They were bought four years ago, but it''s still brand new," he said.


    "Okay." Maria put the slippers on and followed him inside.


    "Make yourself at home," he said and went into a room.


    Maria looked up and watched as he walked into the room. She could tell it was a bedroom from the


    crack of the door.


    His cold yet muscr figure made her disoriented for a moment. In actuality, she had been very


    busy recently. She had a dream, so she had been thinking about how to fulfill it. Therefore, she


    didn''t think too much about anything else as she would feel empty if she had nothing on hand.


    The fact that she was actually in Liam''s apartment then was beyond her expectations.


    It was so sudden that Maria thought it was a dream.


    She sat on the couch, still in a daze, as well as reserved.


    Perhaps, it would be good if they were able to be friends. At least, he wouldn''t treat her cynically.


    With their current rtionship, she could at least see him and know that he was doing fine. He was


    as warm as usual. It was a good start.


    As she thought of this, a smile appeared at the corners of her lips, and her eyes were filled with


    hope.


    She quietly looked around. It was a private space for one with a ck couch and a white coffee


    table. Even the dining table was decorated in ck and white.


    She walked to the open kitchen and noticed a homemade cake on the countertop. It looked


    ordinary, and it was a work in progress. There were some washed strawberries and mangoes on the


    side; it seemed that they were used to decorate the cake.


    It was a six-inch cake.


    A cake?


    Something shed across Maria''s mind suddenly. It was Liam''s birthday that day.


    She was dumbfounded.


    She felt a little upset all of a sudden. "Was he celebrating his birthday alone? Was there no one to


    celebrate his birthday with him?" She thought.


    She stood in front of the cake and looked at the halfpleted bag of buttercream on the side. She


    then washed her hands, used whatever was avable to make some pink buttercream and


    decorated the cake.


    She was d to have learned it while she was in London as she was enthusiastic about making


    cakes. She imagined making one for Liam someday.


    To her surprise, her wish came true so soon.


    The roses she piped were gorgeous. She then wrote "Happy birthday, Liam" on it.


    After that, she ced a few whole strawberries and some diced strawberries and mangoes on the


    top.


    When Liam was done changing his clothes, He came out to find her decorating the cake in the


    kitchen.


    The beautiful flowers on the cake were shaped exquisitely under her hands. It was really lovely.


    Initially, he had only intended to make a simple fruit cake and celebrated the most shabby birthday.


    But out of his expectations, he met her on set and even brought her home.


    The cake was incredibly beautiful when it was done. The girl had a pair of very dexterous hands.


    He just watched as the girl finished decorating the cake. She walked to the dining table holding the


    cake.


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    Maria saw Liam as soon as she looked up.


    She was surprised to find that Liam was staring at her all the while.


    She thought that he was upset, so she immediately apologized, "Sorry. I decorated without your


    permission. Am I not allowed to touch it?"


    "No, no worries." Seeing that she was so cautious in front of him, Liam felt a little sorry.


    He even reflected upon himself, thinking he was horrifying to her. So she would be timid and easily


    defensive when she was in front of him.


    She was actually the daughter of the Lowe family, a true child born with a silver spoon. She was


    from a good background, and her parents doted on her.


    However, his heart sank when he thought how much she suffered because she liked him.


    He told himself the reason he would sympathize with her so much was that he felt the same as she


    did; nothing came out of their love for someone else.


    "I''ll put it on the table then." Maria was slightly relieved when she saw that he wasn''t angry despite


    theplicated emotion on his face. "It''s your birthday today. Happy birthday."


    "Thank you." He walked over and looked at the cake. His gaze were slightly stiff. "It''s very beautiful."


    "Is there only cake?" She looked at the countertop.


    "Do you want to have some steak?" He looked at her and asked.


    "I don''t know how to prepare that." Maria smiled awkwardly. "Do you?"


    "Yes." He smiled and took some steaks from the fridge. After some preparation, he began to sear it.


    Maria stood at a good distance from him, watching him the entire time.


    The atmosphere was silent.


    When Liam was searing the steak attentively, the smell made Maria a little hungry.


    He ted the steaks after it was done, one for each of them.


    "Let me take them out." Maria went forward and served.


    His cutleries were of fine dining quality; they looked exquisite.


    After cing them on the table, Liam went to the fridge again and took out a lidded big bowl. She


    wondered what was inside.


    He opened the lid after he ced it on the table.


    Maria saw there were six braised eggs inside.


    "Are those braised eggs?" She was amazed.


    "Yes."


    "You made them?"


    "I have all the time in the world, so I made them for breakfast." He said, "There isn''t much food; I


    hope you don''t mind. I''ll go get some wine."


    Dumbfounded, Maria watched as she got the wine. Soon, he came back with a bottle of red wine


    and two wine sses. He then uncorked it and poured some into the sses.


    Maria gulped, a little nervous.


    However, Liam did not notice it. After he poured some wine for the two of them, he said to Maria,


    "Maria, thank you for celebrating my birthday with me. I initially thought I would celebrate all alone."


    Maria''s heart ached to hear that. She smiled and replied, "I''m really honored."


    Liam raised his ss, "Cheers."


    She also picked up her ss, and they toasted. Then she took a small sip of wine after she swirled


    the ss and gave it a sniff.


    The red liquid entered her mouth. It passed through the gap between her teeth before filling up her


    entire mouth.


    The wine was fragrant; it was probably a red Bordeaux wine.


    "It tastes refined," Mariamented. "Did you buy it in France?"


    "It''s French, but I got it in Ennd." He said, "You''re versed in red wine?"


    "Not really." Maria shook her head. "I would sometimes see my parents drink at night. There would


    always be a wonderful atmosphere whenever they drank as if they were a pair of passionate lovers.


    I enjoyed seeing them having some wine together."


    "Your parents have a close rtionship," Liam said.


    "Yeah, quite." Maria nodded. "By the way, didn''t you call your mom? It''s your birthday today, but


    your mom suffered great pain on this same day as well."


    Taken aback, Liam stared at her. After a long while, he nodded and said, "I''ll call herter."


    "Okay, call her after I leave." She said with a smile. "Can I have a taste of the steak now, Mr.


    Birthday Boy?"


    "Go ahead and help yourself." He didn''t eat but continued drinking instead.


    Seeing that he hadn''t the slightest interest in eating, she understood how he felt. He was at the


    lowest point of his career; his future was full of uncertainty.


    He was very forlorn.


    Maybe that was why he invited her over.


    He was so lonely that all he wanted was to spend his birthday with someone, anyone.


    She understood that feeling all too well.