The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek) novel Chapter 205

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.

That kiss, brief as it had been, seemed natural. It hadn't felt calculated or hesitant. It had felt genuine.

He shook his head, chuckling softly under his breath. "Maya," he said aloud, the sound of her name grounding him.

But then another thought crept in, uninvited. What if he was reading too much meaning into the kiss? What if it had been a mistake? What if it had been a spur-of-the-moment action born

from the high emotions of the evening?

He sighed, his grip on the wheel loosening as he pulled up to a red light. "Don't overthink it, Liam," he told himself firmly.

But how could he not?

He thought back to the way she'd smiled at him tonight, her gratitude for his support 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? Or was he just distracting himself?

By the time he reached his driveway, his emotions were a tangled mess. Excitement, confusion, hope, and fear swirled together, making it impossible to settle on one.

Liam killed the engine and sat in the dark car for a moment, staring out at the quiet street. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply.

Deciding to give Maya a call and let her know that he had gotten home, he dialed her line.

The phone rang a couple of times, but there was no response.

He tried again, and when there was still no response, he sighed as he got out of the car.

The thought of Maya pulling away- of her regretting the kiss - sent an unexpected pang through his chest.

Back in Maya's room, she bit her lip as she stared at her phone, too embarrassed and scared to receive Liam's call.

What if he wanted to scold her? What if he was mad and disappointed? Maya mused as she picked up her phone and switched it off.

She didn't want to face him tonight. Maybe another time. But not tonight.

As Maya drifted off to sleep, she dreamt of Derek, Evelyn, Samantha, and Liam, who also found his way into her dreams, as he had unknowingly found his way into her heart.

Evelyn, Derek, and Maya sat at the dining table for breakfast the next morning.

Maya was a bundle of nerves as she poked at the slices of melon on her plate, her fork moving aimlessly.

She wasn't hungry. Not with the embarrassing memory of last night swirling in her mind like a storm cloud.

In the brightness of the day, she realized that she had been out of her mind last night. Her cheeks warmed at the thought of how she had acted with Liam- throwing herself at him so recklessly.