Chapter 323
As for herself, she didn’t mind. She had more than enough treasures at her disposal; parting with one or two wouldn’t hurt her in the least.
"An amulet?"
Dazed, Liam gently traced his fingers over the newly added bracelet on his wrist. He could keenly detect a subtle layer of energy enveloping the beads—a distinct vibration that was difficult to describe.
But he could absolutely feel its presence. Perhaps, just as Suzy had said, this object really could protect his life at a critical juncture. Still, something like this had to be incredibly rare and valuable.
The fact that Suzy had gifted him such a precious item yet again struck a deep chord in his heart.
"I already owe you so much," Liam murmured, his voice dropping low. "This must be extremely rare... Suzy, you should keep it for yourself. I can’t keep taking things from you."
As he spoke, he began to slide the bracelet off his wrist.
Noticing his movement, Suzy immediately pressed her hand over his to stop him. "It’s fine. You are entirely worth something this valuable," she said with absolute gravity. "Besides, there’s no need for us to keep score of who owes whom."
After all, he was officially one of her people now. It was only natural to look out for her own.
Her direct words caught Liam off guard once more, causing his heart to race uncontrollably. He felt a sudden, genuine prickle of tears behind his eyes. Every single action she took, every word she uttered, seemed to dismantle his psychological defenses with surgical precision.
"Just keep it and take care of it. I don’t want anything happening to you," Suzy added, her tone filled with earnest warmth. Her bright, sparkling eyes were practically overflowing with affection.
Confronted with such an intense, loving gaze, Liam stood absolutely no chance. He felt his entire heart melt.
"Alright..." he finally relented. Yet, the small sandalwood bracelet suddenly felt as heavy as a mountain on his wrist.
Before he could even begin to process how he might ever repay her, Suzy reached down again. This time, she pulled out an adjustable silver cuff and held it out to him.
"Huh?"
"This one is for Noah. Help him put it on later."
Liam stared at her, completely stunned. "For... Noah?"
"Yes."
He hadn’t expected Suzy to consider his little brother alongside him. In that split second, it felt as though something had slammed forcefully against his chest—a sharp, tingling ache accompanied by an indescribable sweetness.
For a moment, he simply froze, forgetting to take the gift.
Seeing his lack of response, Suzy took the initiative and pressed the silver cuff directly into his palm. The moment his skin met the metal, he detected that familiar resonance again—it carried the exact same protective energy as the sandalwood beads.
Suzy had not only given him a lifeline but had remembered his brother as well.
Liam found himself entirely at a loss for words. His nose tickled with a sudden wave of emotion, and he quickly lowered his head, firmly pressing his lips together to hide his lapse in composure.
Suzy reached up, cupping his face in her hands, a tender smile playing on her lips. "What’s wrong? Are you really that moved?"
Liam gave a firm, heavy nod.
Her thumbs gently caressed his smooth cheeks, brushing against the deep flush at the corners of his eyes once more. The emotion he was holding back had caused the skin to turn a brilliant crimson, and a faint mist began to cloud his eyes.
"Don’t cry," she teased softly. "You’re going to make it look like I’m bullying you."
"I’m not," Liam tried to object, but his voice came out thoroughly thick and raspy. "You aren’t bullying me."
Suzy couldn’t help but laugh; he was being adorably earnest. "Alright, alright."
Watching her laugh, the corners of Liam’s mouth twitched upward into a fleeting smile, though he suppressed it a second later. He looked down, staring at the silver cuff resting in his palm before shifting his gaze back to the sandalwood beads on his wrist. His Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.
"Suzy."
"Hmm?"
Liam went quiet for a moment, looking as if he were wrestling with a monumental decision. Carefully setting the silver cuff down on the nightstand, he reached up and began unbuttoning his heavy winter coat.
One button. Two buttons. Three buttons.
Suzy watched his movements, completely blinking in surprise before a hot blush slowly crept up to the tips of her ears.
"Why... why are you taking off your clothes?"
Don’t tell me he’s trying to offer himself as payment?!
It wasn’t that she was entirely opposed to the idea... But this felt a bit fast, didn’t it? Plus, everyone else was still sitting right out in the living room—the timing was completely off! Stray, chaotic thoughts swirled furiously through her head.
Should I stop him? But rejecting him might hurt his feelings. Should I just let it happen?
Hearing her flustered question, Liam paused mid-motion. He looked up at her, a look of utter bewilderment in his flushed eyes. Then, as the realization of what she meant slammed into him, a furious blush erupted across his face, turning his ears a violent shade of red that completely eclipsed her own.
"No..." his voice panicked, losing all its usual composure. "That’s not what I meant at all!"
A sudden, sharp pang of disappointment flared deep within Suzy’s chest. Ah, so I completely misread the situation. "Then what do you mean?"
Liam opened his mouth to explain, but the words failed him entirely. His face burned bright red, and his fingers fidgeted awkwardly against his coat buttons. Realizing he was only digging a deeper hole, he gave up on words entirely, slid his hand deep into the inner pocket of his coat, and pulled something out.
It was a white gold pendant strung on a simple red cord. It wasn’t large, but it was entirely flawless, possessing a deep luster. The pendant looked incredibly warm and smooth, casting a soft, gentle glow under the bedroom light.
More importantly, Suzy instantly detected a massive, overwhelming surge of energy radiating from the metal. In that fraction of a second, a brilliant gleam erupted in her eyes. The raw power coming off the artifact was staggering.
"This is...?"
If my pocket dimension absorbs this... it will definitely trigger a massive upgrade! Suzy could barely contain the wild excitement hammering against her ribs.
"My mother left this to me," Liam said softly. His voice was incredibly quiet, almost as if he were speaking to himself, or perhaps to the piece of gold itself. He traced his fingers over the smooth surface of the pendant, his movements slow and incredibly tender. "I honestly don’t know how else to thank you. Please... I want you to have it."
To Liam, this pendant carried profound, irreplaceable significance. It wasn’t just a treasured Austen family heirloom. Before his mother passed it down to him, she had explicitly instructed him to save this token for his future wife.
By presenting it to her now, he was silently cementing Suzy’s place in his life.
"Are you absolutely sure you want to give this to me?" Suzy asked, making a final confirmation even though her inner gamer was practically screaming to accept the loot.
Liam looked at her with absolute gravity. "Yes, Suzy. I truly want you to keep it."
"Alright," she said.
She reached out, letting him drop the pendant into her open hand. Her fingertips brushed against his; both of their hands were notably cold. She cradled the [endant in her palm, looking down at its pristine surface.
"Then... I’m really keeping it. No take-backs!" she warned him playfully.
Liam let out a faint, helpless smile. "Don’t worry. I won’t regret it."
Securing his promise, Suzy beamed. Then, right before his eyes, she swept the pendant directly into her spatial storage.