Loving The Temperamental Adonis
Chapter 224: Casanova

Chapter 224: Casanova

At the other part of the hall, Rayne carried the sleeping Lilly in her arms as she looked around for Liam Thompson, who’d disappeared from her view most of the time. She hadn’t had time to even talk to Mia and get the gist about how Neil turned out to be Xavier Galverra because she had been holding the sleeping girl the whole time. Lilly had eaten every single meal served to their table and had seemed to enjoy it to the extent that Rayne had joined her, but she had fallen asleep immediately after finishing eating, and now, Liam, who’d brought the girl to the event, was nowhere in sight.

Though Lilly was a petite little girl for her age, she still weighed a lot more than she looked, because Rayne’s arms were aching from having to carry her rather than leaving her to sleep on the table where the guests were bothering the girl and trying to get her to tell them more about her uncle. Rayne had made sure to shoo them off so as not to bother the girl.

And now she was walking in high heels, carrying a six-year-old girl, looking for her Casanova uncle who’d disappeared. Unable to find him, Rayne began to ask around for him, and luckily, after asking a few women, she was directed to the backstage area. The hallway that led to the backstage room was empty, and she began to doubt if there was anyone in the room until she pushed the door open and got the shock of her life by the scene she was met with.

She froze at the entrance in disbelief. Though she’d suspected Liam Thompson was probably with a woman somewhere, she’d not expected to find him making out with Linda Tudor in a place like the backstage room.

Liam, who was busy trying to get Linda out of her dress, turned angrily at the person who’d dared interrupt them but froze when he saw Rayne Wallace standing at the door with the sleeping Lilly in her arms. For a moment, he was at a loss for words as he stared back at her.

"Why are you standing there like a fool?" Linda sneered. "Can’t you see we are busy, or do you want to watch us do it in front of you? Get out of here!"

Rayne’s green eyes moved to Linda, but she had no words for a brainless fool like her. She glared at Liam before she turned on her heels and left the two to continue whatever they were doing. It was none of her business; Liam Thompson could sleep with and neck any woman he pleased. It wasn’t like they were friends or lovers.

"Miss Wallace!" She heard him call her from behind but she ignored him.

Rayne’s pace quickened as she heard Liam’s footsteps pounding after her. She tightened her grip on Lilly, who slept soundly in her arms, oblivious to the turmoil around her. Liam jogged to catch up and grabbed Rayne’s arm, causing her to stop abruptly. She yanked her arm away, glaring up at him with blazing green eyes.

"Don’t you dare touch me," she spat, her voice low and seething with anger.

Liam’s frustration was evident as he gritted his teeth. "What the hell is your problem, Miss Wallace? You’ve been glaring at me all evening for no reason and now this."

"My problem?" Rayne scoffed, her voice rising. "I have a problem with everything you do, Mr. Thompson. I have a problem with the fact that you keep lying to your niece about us. I have a problem with the fact that you allow that witch, Linda Tudor, to hurt Lilly when you’re not around. Have you even seen the marks on her arm?"

Liam’s eyes narrowed in confusion and alarm. "What are you talking about?"

Rayne turned sharply, her expression one of fierce determination. "Raise the sleeves of Lilly’s dress."

Liam did as instructed, his face paling as he saw the red marks of fingernails marring Lilly’s delicate skin. "How did she get these?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Rayne’s disgust was palpable. "She got them from your so-called girlfriend, Linda Tudor, who ’disciplines’ Lilly for always talking about me and how you promised to marry me instead of her."

Liam looked horrified, his eyes darting between the sleeping girl and Rayne. "I... I had no idea."

"Of course, you didn’t," Rayne retorted. "You’re too busy with your latest conquest to notice. I don’t care who you sleep with, Mr. Thompson, but stop lying and stop allowing people to hurt the girl for things as innocent as wanting to see her uncle happy."

Liam’s mind raced as he recalled the previous night. Lilly had come to him, wanting to talk to him about Linda, but he’d dismissed her, thinking it was just another childish complaint of hers about how Linda looked like a ghost and how she didn’t like the woman coming to the house. Now, the look in Rayne’s eyes made him feel like the worst kind of fool.

Running his fingers through his hair, he tried to explain. "Rayne, I—"

Before he could finish, Linda’s voice echoed down the hallway. "Liam, are you coming?"

Rayne’s expression hardened, unable to stand another moment with someone like Liam, or his girlfriend, she handed the sleeping child to him. And when Liam reached out to take his niece from her arm, her fingers grazed passed his arm, her touch felt like fire against his skin that made him stop for a moment.

"I’m leaving," she said coldly. "If you want to keep allowing some brainless idiot to hurt your niece, that’s your choice."

The contact of their hands sent an unexpected jolt through Liam, a mixture of guilt, anger, and something he couldn’t quite identify rushed through his veins. He watched helplessly as Rayne gave him one last disgusted look before turning away, wiping her arm on her dress as if to rid herself of the burning feeling his touch must have left.

Liam stood there, holding Lilly, as he watched her leave, her hair and hips swaying with every step she took until she disappeared around the corner.

"Liam, come on!" Linda’s voice snapped him back to his senses. And his expression hardened as he recalled Rayne’s words and the marks on Lilly’s arm. He could overlook a lot of things, but not his niece getting hurt right under his nose without his knowledge. He tightened his grip around the sleeping girl and turned back to Linda.

"We have to talk, and put your dress back on. I’m no longer interested."