b*/bbPatrick’s /bbthe /bbone /bbwho /bneeds ban /bbX/b–ray,” Wesley said with aughb. /bb“/bAmelia, you probably bdon’t /bknow this, bbut /bbLandon’s /bbeen btrained in /bbUnstoppable /bbForce/b. bNormal /bbpeople /bbcan’t /bhurt himb./bb” /b

b“/bbWhat/b?” bAmelia /bstared at himb, /bdumbfounded. She thought, ‘Isn’t that just some made–up thing from novels and TV dramasb?/b‘

Landon exined bcalmly/b, his eyes glinting with amusement, “Unstoppable Force is not as wondrous as as being invincible to des or bbullets/b, bbut /bbit /bbdoes /bprotect the body from impact. I’ve been practicing it since I was a kid.”

Landon clearly enjoyed Amelia’s concern–it proved she cared about him. “God, you scared me.” Amelia finally exhaled, relief washing over her.

“Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll get going,” Wesley announced, vanishing as quickly as he had arrived, as if staying a second longer would cost him dearly.

Amelia turned her gaze back to Landon’s chest, bruised and swollen. “Does it hurt?b” /b

“Not really,” he said with a shake of his head. But an idea popped into his mind, and he thought, ‘Technically, it doesn’t hurt much, but soft tissue injuries can still stingb.’ /b

Sure enough, Amelia, who had just started to rx, immediately tensed up again. Landon thought again, ‘When I got bhurt /bas a kid, my teacher’s wife, Grace, would blow on it to make it better. Worked like ba /bcharm.‘

Amelia hesitated. She remembered how, as a child, she would always run to Melissa to blow on her bruises whenever she got hurt. It didn’t actually heal anything, but bit /balways made her feel better. She thought, ‘Should I blow on Landonb, /btoo?‘

“Honey,” Landon said softly, his voice low and gentle, “time to apply the medicine.” He thought, ‘It’s already tender–putting bon /bmedicine will definitely

hurt.‘

Amelia grabbed the bottle of spray Wesley had left and knelt down beside him. Up close, the bruises looked even more rming and were pretty gruesome. Unable to hold back any longerb, /bshe leaned in and began blowing gently on Landon’s chest.

Warm puffs of air caressed his skin, and Landon’s eyes fluttered shut in bliss. He looked utterly content, like ba /bcat basking in the sun.

Amelia blew earnestly for a while before looking up at him. “Does it still hurt?”

“It’s much better now,” Landon replied, tilting his chin up just enough to hide the triumphant smirk threatening to spread across his face. “You can go ahead and apply the medicine.”

Still worried about causing him pain, Amelia carefully sprayed the medicine, her movements slow and deliberate. Once done, she got up and fetched a fresh shirt from the lounge. “Do you need help changing?b” /b

“No.” Landon paused briefly before beginning to peel off his torn shirt, leaving his upper bodypletely bare. His well–defined muscles and sharp lines were now fully on disy right in front of Amelia.

Amelia’s face turned crimson, and she instinctively wanted to look away. “What’s there to be shy about?” Landon askedzily. “It’s not like seen it before.”

you haven’t

Though flustered, Amelia had to admit he had a point. She thought, ‘Fine. No harm in enjoying the view. I can’t be intimidated. She turned back bto /bwatch Landonb, /bfeigning calm as he casually slipped into his new shirt.

Out of the corner of his eye, Landon noticed her bold gaze and smirked to himself, satisfied. He thought, ‘Amelia bis /bclearly trying bto /bbact /bbold despite being shy–it’s so adorable.‘

Landon, catching her feignedposure, deliberately slowed his movements while putting on his shirt, dragging out the process for ba /bbfull /bbthree /bminutes.

Amelia, satisfied with her own show of confidence, decided bto /bpoke fun. “You should hit the gym more often.”

b1/3 /b

bWhy/bb? /bbLandon’s /bbpride /bbtook /bba /bbhit/bb, /bband /bbhe /bbjerked /bbhis /bbhead /bbup /bbto /bre bat /bher.

bYou’ve /bbbeen /bbid /bbup /bbfor /bmonthsb. /bbYour /b‘Unstoppable Force‘ bhas /bdeclined–you couldn’t even bfully /bwithstand bPatrick’s /bbpunch/bb,/bb” /bbshe /bbsaid /bbwith /bmock bseriousness/bb. /bbHer /bgaze briefly flicked downward before returning to his face. “And your abs…they’re not exactly bpopping/bb./bb” /b

bLandon /bbblinked /bbhard/b. His hand went straight to his stomach. He thought, ‘I have abs–how could she not see them? Maybe it’s because I’m bsitting/bb? /bbThat/b. bhad /bbto /bbe bit. /bbNo/bb, /bbthis /bwouldn’t do. I need to stand up and set the record straight.‘

bLandon /bsmiledb, /b“Honeyb, /bgive me ba /bhand.”

b“/bFor what?”

b“/bJust help me up.”

bUnsure /bwhat Landon was up to, Amelia obediently helped him to his feet. The next moment, Landon lifted his shirt, inhaled deeply, and flexed. bThe /bsequence of movements was as smooth–a perfect disy. Now, Amelia would get a good look.

“Does your stomach hurt?” Amelia asked, puzzled.

b“/bNo.” Landon shook his head.

“Then why are you holding your breath?”

Landon froze for a second. His wless pose copsed instantly. Recovering quickly, he grabbed her hand and ced it on his abs. “Eight–pack. Count

them.”

“Well…” That was when it hit Amelia–Landon’d gone through all this trouble just to prove his body hadn’t gone soft. Suppressing aughb, /bshe tried bto /bpull her hand back. b“/bFine. I get it.”

“No brushing me off. Feel them properly,” Landon insisted, guiding her hand across his stomach. Every ridge of muscle was unmistakable under her palmb, /bradiating warmth that seeped into her heart.

Amelia’s cheeks burned crimson. In a small voice, she admitted, “I can feel them. You’re in great shape.”

Satisfied, Landon released her hand and tucked his shirt neatly into his waistband. Amelia shook her head and thought, ‘Landon’spetitive streak is ridiculous–but those abs are really something.‘

Landon looked at her flushed face and couldn’t resist giving her a yful pinch. “Come on, let’s go to the mall.”

“We’re not done with work yet…”

“Tomorrow is Grandma’s birthday. We’re going together.”

Amelia thought he was going to buy a gift, so she agreed. But to her surprise, Landon led her into a women’s clothing store. “Do you think Donna would wear anything here?” Amelia nced around, her eyesnding on a new item the sales assistant was holding.

Amelia immediately liked bit /band wanted to buy it. It had been ages since she’d gone shopping and even longer since she bought something for herself. Nowadays, Gloria handled most of her shopping and daily needs.

To be honest, since herbeing born again, Amelia hadn’t spent any of the Kingsley family’s money–except for that one time she bought bthe /bbed with her bown /bcard. “Excuse me, can you bring the size S?” Landon asked.

S was her size. Amelia looked at the elegant silver gown, her heart racing. “Is this for me?”

“Yes.” Landon smiled as he looked at her, his eyes warm with affection.

His bgaze /bwas so tender it nearly made the saleswoman bswoon/b. “Mrs. Kingsley, bMr. /bKingsley is so good to you.b” /b

Amelia blushedb, /bflustered, and took the dress bto /btry on.

b08:37 /bbThu/bb, /bb12 /bbJun/b.

She decided to embrace it. If Landon was willing to buy clothes for her, there was no reason not to ept them. Whatever he bought todayb, /bbshe’d /bbept /bwithout hesitation. As she changed, Landon picked up a magazine and casually flipped through it, waiting patiently.

Soon, Amelia came bout /bof the fitting room. The deep–V, fishtail dress clung perfectly to her figure, and the silver–and–gold fabric shimmered elegantly in the light. She looked like a princess, stunning and ethereal. Landon waspletely mesmerized.

It took him a few moments to find his voice, and when he finally spoke, he couldn’t hide his admiration. “Honey, iyou /ilook so beautiful.”

“Stop it…” Amelia was so embarrassed by hispliment, her face turning bright red, like a ripe apple.

The saleswomen giggled, covering their mouths. “Mrs. Kingsley, Mr. Kingsley is absolutely right. You ilook /ilike a princess in that dress.”

Landon nodded in agreement, ready to ask them to wrap the dress up, but before he could, a familiar female voice called out. b“/bbI’ll /btake the inew /iarrivals you just got in today. Please wrap them up for me.”

iAD /i