Take Control of Yourself, Please novel (Anna and Liam)

Chapter 180 Sell Myself Out

James drove Anna to a restaurant by Lake Nora.

Liam had booked the entire restaurant.

Anna was still thinking about the ink-black expression on Chloe’s face when she entered James's car. She could not help but laugh as she entered the restaurant.

Liam was waiting for her on a seat beside the window. A vase sat on the pure white sheets spread on top of the table. Within that vase was a lone red rose.

Anna went over and casually sat in front of Liam.

Liam looked up and gazed at the smile that still lingered in the corners of Anna's lips. He asked, "What are you smiling about? What’s making you so happy?

"Can’t hide your excitement for our date?"

Anna quickly wiped away the smile on her lips. Her expression turned serious. "Why did you ask me here?"

"For a meal." Liam leaned against his chair. His gaze was calm and composed.

Anna glanced at him. After a few days of not seeing him, he appeared extremely worn out. Strands of blood -red could be seen intertwining at the bottom of his eyes.

Anna almost blurted out an inquiry of concern, but quickly swallowed her words. She turned her gaze outside the window.

In the late evening, the faint glow of stars was reflected on the surface of the river not far from them, forming a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

"It can't be that simple," she replied.

Liam could not help but laugh. "What else can it be?"

"Did you really ask me out just for dinner?" She was getting annoyed. Her cold eyes darted toward Liam.

Why would that man ask her out if it was not to satisfy his needs! After all, that was all he saw in her!

As expected...

“There can be something else if you’d like!" Liam flashed her a playful smile as he gazed at her body with somewhat enchanted eyes.

Anna quickly hugged herself. "In your dreams!"

"We’re already here-we've got to make the trip worthwhile! After all, we're both adults; we’ve both got needs. Isn’t that right?" He intentionally spoke in a nonchalant tone, making him sound exceedingly disdainful.

Perhaps he was intentionally ruffling her feathers; perhaps he was emphasizing to her that his mind would always drift in that direction.

Anna stood up abruptly. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ackman, but I can't keep you company for dinner tonight.”

Anna turned away and left. Just then, Liam grabbed her by her wrist. "Sit down. It’s just dinner. It really is."

His voice had softened. Had he given up on those intentions and chose to surrender?

Anna was stunned for a while. She wanted to escape from his large and slightly chilling hands, yet her strength seemed to have abruptly vanished into thin air. Her heart softened.

She slowly sat back down and stared at the fiery red rose on the table, mesmerized.

She would not deny that she had hopes for them to treat each other genuinely. She did not want to be the only one with a burning passion, gazing at him with eyes filled with hope and anticipation for a hint of sincerity.

However...

She seemed to be the only one obsessing over that. Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.

The rose on the table was simply part of the restaurant's decor-there was no deeper meaning to it.

It was the same with their romantic candlelight dinner -it was nothing but a normal meal and not some lovely date between an affectionate couple.

Seeing Anna not saying a word, Liam ordered a steak and foie gras in her stead.

Liam cut her steak for her and placed it in front of her. Only then did Anna finally snap out of her daze. She raised her head and stared at him with a mysterious look in her eyes which he could not decipher.

"You alright?" he asked in a gentle tone.

Anna pressed her lips together and mumbled in a low and weak voice, "Why... why are you so nice to me sometimes?"

Liam furrowed his brows and thought about it for a while. "I was nice to you?"

Anna had lost control over her emotions. She grabbed her fork and knife and stabbed the pieces of steak on her plate and stuffed them into her mouth. "I've read too much into it! Let's eat! When we're done, we can each go home to our respective houses! Don’t ask me out to dinner ever again!"

Liam's brows knitted tighter together. "Are you angry?”

"No! Why would I be? There's nothing here that's worthy of my rage!” She took a huge sip from her drink and stuffed another piece of steak into her mouth. "Eat up! Aren’t you hungry? Let me eat it if you're not!"

Anna snatched away the plate in front of Liam and started to gobble up his steak too.

Liam's brows were scrunched tighter and tighter together. It was the first time he discovered how much that little lady could eat.

She seemed full after swallowing both of their steaks alone. She burped and grabbed the drink in front of

Liam, downing the enter glass at one go.

"Alright, I'm done!"

Liam stacked his hands together on the table with an ambiguous look in his eyes. He gazed at her with stern and serious eyes as if they were sitting in court.

"Is this how you deal with eating dinner with me?" he said.

"I'm done with my meal. Can I go now?" Anna shrugged nonchalantly.

"No!” His voice became stern.

Just then, his phone rang. He did not even look at who was calling before declining the call. His phone rang again. This time, he simply turned off his phone.

"It seems like you have other things to do, Mr.

Ackman. I shall not intrude any longer!" Just as she was about to stand up, Liam's roaring voice made her freeze.

"Anna Hamilton! Don’t test my limits!"

Anna turned to him and smiled. "Of course, I won't! If you just want to play a game of cat and mouse, aren't you tired of this little mouse after toying with me for s o long?"

Liam’s expression turned cold. His gaze turned even more terrifying. "Anna Hamilton, what benefit will you gain from deliberately angering me?"

Anna was not the least bit intimidated. "Why would I

want any benefit from you?"

Her questions instantly threw him off.

A few seconds later, he finally managed to squeeze out the words, "You're always so stubborn and witty in front of me, not yielding to any humiliation or bullying. Why can’t you do the same with others!"

"Others?"

Anna bit her lip. It was because the others did not even care about her.

"You can choose a much better path! As long as you’re willing to use your brain a little, no one can touch a hair on your head ever again! Moreover, you won’t have to pretend to be blind anymore!"

Liam said, hinting at something in particular.

"What are you trying to say?"

"You know very well what I’m talking about!"

Anna turned away and gazed at the river outside the window that had been engulfed by the darkness of the night. "I don’t know."

"I don’t believe that you don’t have any schemes in your mind. Otherwise, you never would have pretended to be blind, acted weak to lower your enemies’ guard, and utilized Chloe and Bryan's success in calling off the marriage to gain sympathy for others."

"Some schemes can be used while others can't," Anna said in a resolute tone.

"Why?" Liam could not wrap his head around it. " They're all schemes-just choose the one that benefits you the most. Why must you look so far? There’s clearly a better shortcut right in front of your face! If you just use your brain a little, you can achieve the results you want!"

"What exactly are you trying to hint at? Do you want m e to kiss up to you so you will become my pillar of support?" Anna glared at his flawlessly handsome face. A feeling of unbearable grief lingered in her chest.

"In this situation, only I can help you make a comeback! I've said it before-you can only rely on me! I'm giving you this chance—it all depends on whether you are willing to seize it or not."

Anna chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ears." You’re right. If I rely on you, I can surely make a successful comeback. Moreover, no one would dare to bully me anymore!"

The smile on Anna's face gradually faded away and vanished completely. "But what's the difference between that and selling myself out?"