The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 205

Maya's heart was pounding as she hurried up the stairs to her bedroom, her legs moving faster than her mind could process.

The kiss- the soft, unplanned kiss lingered on her lips like a spark refusing to burn out.

She pushed open her bedroom door and stepped inside, shutting it quietly behind her.

The room was dimly lit by the moonlight spilling through the window. Her breathing was uneven, and her chest rose and fell with a rhythm she couldn't control.

She leaned against the door, her fingers brushing over her lips as if trying to convince herself it had actually happened.

"What did I just do?" she whispered, her voice trembling. She dropped her hand and crossed the room, her steps slow and uncertain.

Sinking onto the edge of her bed, Maya stared at the floor, her mind racing. Her cheeks were warm, and her stomach churned with a mixture of exhilaration and dread. The memory of Liam's wide, surprised eyes flashed in her mind.

He hadn't even had the chance to react.

She buried her face in her hands, groaning softly. "Why did I do that?" she muttered. It wasn't like her to act so impulsively, so... boldly.

She replayed the moment in her head- how natural it had felt to lean in, how she hadn't even stopped to consider the consequences or the fact that Liam was in love with Evelyn.

She fell back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her heart still raced, refusing to settle. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips despite her turmoil.

That fleeting moment had felt perfect, as though it had been waiting to happen all along.

Still, uncertainty crept in. What if she had ruined the friendship between them with her thoughtless action?

She was nothing like Evelyn. Evelyn was a brilliant, accomplished lady. How would he drop from wanting Evelyn to someone like her?

Until now, she had been just a mere nanny with no college degree or anything special to her name. Who was she to think that someone like Liam would be interested in her?

The thought made her chest tighten, and she rolled onto her side, hugging a pillow to herself.

"I'll just pretend it didn't happen," she mumbled to herself. But even as she said the words, she knew it would be impossible to forget her first kiss.

Outside the house, Liam remained in his seat, staring at the front yard of the house with surprise. His mind was a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts, all centered on one thing: Maya had kissed him.

He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his lips pressing together. The feeling of her lips on his still lingered, soft and electric. He could still see her wide, nervous eyes as she'd pulled away and bolted from the car. She hadn't said a word, leaving him stunned and frozen in place.

"Did that really just happen?" he murmured, glancing at his reflection in the rearview mirror as though it might give him answers.

The warmth in his chest spread outward, mixing with the disbelief and confusion swirling inside him. He hadn't seen it coming-hadn't expected her to close the gap between them so suddenly, so fearlessly. But she had, and now he couldn't stop thinking about it.

A small, amused smile tugged at his lips as he started the car and pulled away from the driveway.

As he drove home, he thought of her. Maya was unpredictable and utterly captivating in a way he had not expected

He never would have imagined being in such a situation with Maya, but something about it didn't feel wrong.

it had been, seemed natural. It hadn't felt

"Maya," he said aloud,

too much meaning into the kiss? What if it

high emotions of

he pulled up to a red

could

shining in her eyes. The way she'd leaned on him, trusted him, opened up to him. Did it mean something more? Or was he reading too much into it? And what about him? Was he interested in her that way? Had he moved on from Evelyn already?

time he reached his driveway, his emotions were a tangled mess. Excitement, confusion, hope, and fear swirled together, making it impossible

sat in the dark car for a moment, staring out at the quiet street. He ran a

let her know that he had gotten home, he dialed her

couple of times, but

no response, he sighed as

regretting the kiss

bit her lip as she stared at her phone, too embarrassed and

What if he was mad and disappointed? Maya mused as she picked

didn't want to face him tonight. Maybe another

also found his way into her dreams,

the dining table for

was a bundle of nerves as she poked at the slices of melon on her plate, her

last night swirling in her mind like

had acted with Liam- throwing herself at him so recklessly. Her

acceptable excuse and could

now, she needed to avoid the possibility of hearing his voice or seeing

and Evelyn exchanged a silent look. Evelyn raised her eyebrows slightly as if encouraging Derek to say something. With a slight nod,

thoughts. Forcing a smile, she met his worried gaze. "Yes," she said quickly, though her voice was quiet.

didn't look

tilted her head,

could press further, Maya changed the subject since she didn't want them to ask

twirled her fork between her fingers and looked at Derek. "By the way," she began, her tone casual, "did your parents live in Husla before? I mean, how come they

expression softened

back his chair,

Husfa. That was before he took over the

coming here to take over. Funny how you both never crossed paths while you

head, a

fact that Husla is a really big city, we don't move in the same circles. doubt we would ever have visited the same places," she said,

difference in their upbringings.

immediately and reached out, covering his hand with hers. She gave him a reassuring squeeze and grinned. "Well, thanks to fate- and me-

My life!"

the mood lightening a little. Evelyn kept the conversation flowing

another look with Derek, this time more serious. She gave him a subtle nod,

to Maya, his expression more solemn now. "Uhm, Maya," he started

the shift in his tone. Her stomach twisted in anxiety as she looked at him curiously, suspecting he

with you," Derek continued, and she swallowed hard,

they didn't want someone like her in his life? She mused,