Chapter 7

His pink helmet had two fluffy ears, and I couldn't resist reaching up on my tiptoes to pinch them.

We were suddenly very close. Then, I heard an angry shout from behind us, “What are you doing?!”

I turned around to see Daniel, who had rushed out, looking furious, like he’d caught us doing something scandalous.

Oops. Our little flirtation had taken a bit too long.

Daniel’s eyes were wide and bulging, just like my hateful foster father when he was angry.

I patted Liam’s shoulder, ignoring Daniel. “Let’s go.”

Liam smoothly hopped onto the scooter, and I quickly followed.

Daniel yelled at Liam, “Young Master Hayes! My sister is still young! Isn’t it inappropriate to lead her into an early relationship and have her stay out late at night?!”

It wasn’t surprising that Liam and Daniel, both from wealthy families, knew each other.

But I thought about Daniel saying “late night” and checked my phone.

8:30 PM. For a night owl like me, the night was just beginning. Had the young master of a rich family started living such a healthy lifestyle so early?

It didn't seem to be working, though. I glanced at Daniel’s hair.

Even with his bangs covering his hairline, I could see a hint of the edge.

Hmm… a little bald.

Liam turned his head to look at him, raising an eyebrow coolly.

“Sister? Not necessarily! When did Young Master Daniel’s brain go bad enough for him to claim sisters and meddle in my Hazel’s business?”

He paused, seemed to assess Daniel for a moment, then nodded seriously.

“Our Hayes family’s private hospital has pretty good neurologists. I can introduce you to one if you like. Oh, and our doctors are also excellent at hair transplants.”

Liam must be a mind-reader. He knew exactly what I was thinking.

I clung to Liam’s shirt, not even trying to stifle my laughter.

His words were sharp, and I’d experienced them many times before.

Daniel’s expression looked like he was ready to eat someone, and he was about to rush forward to pull me off the scooter.

Liam twisted the throttle, and the scooter whirred, speeding away at 25 mph, leaving Daniel far behind.

From where I was, the distance wasn’t *that* far, but Daniel wouldn’t be able to catch up on foot.

All the way, Liam hummed a happy tune.

I listened to his off-key singing, “Riding my beloved little donkey, I’ll never be stuck in traffic…”

Liam’s speaking voice was pleasant, but his singing was dreadful, always tormenting my ears.

Using his body to shield myself from the wind, I said, “Liam, you won’t go bald that fast too, will you?”

A bald boyfriend… I imagined Liam’s handsome face with a receding hairline, and I shivered involuntarily.

“Maybe we should just break up while we’re ahead!”

“No way!” Liam’s gritted voice pierced through the wind. “No one in the Hayes family has that balding gene.”

He said that, but later, when we officially started dating, I noticed his shampoo bottles – every single one was for hair growth and strengthening.

The next afternoon, Richard appeared outside my small apartment door.

The apartment was tiny; Richard struggled to find a place to stand when he entered.

At that moment, I had just finished bathing Buddy.