Free Web NovelChapter 528: Chapter 528 Tatiana’s Gift
The video had spread everywhere.
The governor’s carefully crafted image had been destroyed overnight.
Even after Vladimir died in front of her...
Liam had still carried his body away.
Then somehow...
The entire country woke up to find Governor Vladimir hanging naked from the roof of his own mansion.
His body had swayed above the estate while reporters, police officers, and horrified civilians gathered below.
It had become the biggest news story in years.
Authorities had launched investigations.
Enforcement agencies searched tirelessly.
Every lead ended nowhere.
Every witness remembered nothing useful.
Every trail vanished.
It was as though whoever had done it had simply disappeared into thin air.
A ghost.
As for Ivan...
Liam had shown no mercy.
He crippled him completely before abandoning him on the roadside.
A man who once sold justice for money.
Now left broken.
Liam had never pretended to be a saint.
He could forgive mistakes.
He could overlook flaws.
But evil...
Deliberate cruelty...
That was different.
He had no mercy for monsters.
Tatiana looked at him again.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Liam smiled softly.
"It’s over now."
His voice was calm.
Gentle.
"And..."
His expression softened further.
"I’m sorry no one believed you."
Tatiana froze.
The factory noises faded away.
The conversations.
The laughter.
The footsteps.
Everything disappeared.
"I’m sorry no one believed you."
Nobody had ever said those words before.
Not the police.
Not reporters.
Not teachers.
Not neighbors.
Nobody.
People doubted her.
Ignored her.
Labeled her a liar.
Even years later, nobody cared enough to listen.
Tatiana laughed quietly.
A shaky laugh.
She lowered her head.
"But you did."
Liam blinked.
She looked up at him again.
There was sadness in her smile.
Gratitude.
Affection.
"You believed the little girl from twelve years ago."
Liam didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at her for several seconds.
Then...
He smiled.
"I did."
Simple.
Natural.
As though there had never been another option.
Tatiana’s heart nearly exploded.
It beat wildly against her chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
She had never seen anything more beautiful than that smile before.
Not because it was perfect.
Not because Liam was handsome.
But because there wasn’t a single trace of doubt in it.
He had believed her.
When nobody else did.
He had listened.
He had acted.
He had avenged a little girl everyone abandoned.
Tatiana lowered her eyes quickly before he noticed the redness spreading across her cheeks.
Unfortunately...
Liam’s senses had become ridiculously sharp.
He noticed.
He just chose not to say anything.
Instead, he looked at her curiously.
"...By the way."
Tatiana stiffened immediately.
"Hm?"
Liam tilted his head.
"Why do you smell like cookies?"
Tatiana’s face brightened instantly, the soft smile on her lips growing into something radiant as she quickly stood up from where she had been standing.
"Excuse me," she said softly.
Before Liam could ask what she meant, she had already hurried away, disappearing behind a few stacked crates at the back of the factory.
Liam blinked in confusion.
"...Huh?"
He watched her go, wondering what exactly had gotten into her all of a sudden. Around him, the factory remained as lively as ever. Some werewolves were sparring in one corner while others talked among themselves. Danill remained glued to his computer somewhere in the distance. Yet Liam’s attention kept drifting toward the direction Tatiana had gone.
About fifteen seconds later, she returned.
She held a paper bag carefully against her chest.
The moment she reached him again, she stopped directly in front of where he sat. There was a slight flush on her pale cheeks and for some reason, she looked more nervous than before.
Slowly, she opened the bag and pulled out a beautifully woven basket.
Liam raised an eyebrow.
Tatiana lowered her gaze to the floor before speaking quietly.
"Can... can I sit down with you?"
Liam misunderstood immediately.
"Oh. Sure."
He shifted to the side without hesitation, leaving enough room beside him.
Tatiana froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Oh no.
That wasn’t what she’d meant.
She had wanted to ask if she could place the basket there.
But...
Her eyes drifted toward the empty space Liam had made beside himself.
Would she miss an opportunity to sit next to him?
Absolutely not.
Trying her best to appear calm, Tatiana walked over and sat down beside him. Their shoulders brushed lightly upon contact, and even that small touch made her heartbeat speed up.
She prayed he couldn’t hear it.
Liam didn’t seem to notice.
Instead, his attention had already shifted toward the basket resting on her lap.
"What’ve you got there?" he asked curiously.
Tatiana carefully opened it.
The moment Liam peeked inside, his entire expression changed.
"...Whoa."
His voice carried genuine surprise. freewebnovel.cσ๓
Inside the basket rested rows upon rows of beautifully crafted cookies.
Each one looked like a tiny piece of art.
Some were shaped like flowers with delicate icing petals painted across them. Others had intricate patterns carved onto their surfaces. Tiny stars, leaves, hearts and elegant swirls decorated them with astonishing precision.
The golden-brown color alone looked mouthwatering.
It was obvious these weren’t store-bought.
Every single cookie had been handmade.
"You made these?" Liam asked, sounding genuinely stunned.
Tatiana straightened a little, pride flickering in her eyes.
"Of course."
Liam looked from the cookies to her.
Then back again.
"They look beautiful."
A small smile tugged at Tatiana’s lips.
"They taste even better."
Before Liam could react, she picked up one of the cookies.
Then she lifted it toward his face.
Liam blinked.
"...Woah, woah, woah."
He instinctively leaned back.
"Isn’t that meant for you or something?"
Tatiana immediately shook her head.
"No."
Her voice softened.
"I made them for you."
Liam stared at her.
For him?
He looked down at the basket again.
The detailed decorations.
The careful craftsmanship.
The time it must have taken.
She had gone through all that effort...
Just because she wanted to give him cookies.
His expression softened without him realizing it.
Tatiana extended her hand again.
The cookie remained inches from his lips.
A faint blush spread across her pale cheeks as she whispered,
"Bite."
Liam glanced between the cookie and her face.
"From your hand?"
Tatiana nodded.
For a second, silence settled between them.
Then Liam chuckled softly.
"You know... you really don’t do things halfway."
Carefully, he leaned forward.
Tatiana unconsciously stopped breathing.
Liam took a gentle bite, making sure not to accidentally brush his teeth against her fingers.
The cookie crumbled almost instantly.
And then...
His eyes widened.
The buttery richness melted across his tongue first.
Warm vanilla followed immediately after, balanced perfectly with just enough sweetness to avoid becoming overwhelming. There was a subtle hint of cinnamon beneath it all, adding depth to the flavor.
The edges were delicately crisp.
The center remained soft enough to practically melt in his mouth.
It tasted homemade.
Comforting.
Like something crafted with patience rather than rushed together.
There wasn’t a single flaw.
It wasn’t just delicious.
It was incredible.
Liam slowly finished chewing.
Then he looked down at the remaining piece in Tatiana’s hand before turning toward her.
"Tatiana."
She stiffened.
"...Y-Yes?"
"This is insane."
His voice sounded genuinely serious.
"I’ve never tasted anything like this before."
Tatiana froze.
Then her entire face lit up.
The smile that spread across her lips wasn’t the reserved smile Liam had occasionally seen before.
This one was bright.
Pure.
Unrestrained.
Her eyes curved beautifully as happiness poured through her expression. The cold walls she’d built around herself seemed to vanish completely in that moment.
She looked younger.
Lighter.
Beautiful.
Liam found himself staring.
Two thoughts crossed his mind simultaneously.
The first.
These cookies were ridiculously good.
The second.
Tatiana looked unbelievably beautiful when she smiled like this.
Her model-like features softened with joy, making her pale skin seem almost luminous beneath the factory lights. Loose waves of red hair framed her face as she tried and failed to suppress her happiness.
"You really like them?" she asked softly.
Liam laughed.
"Really like them?"
He immediately reached for another cookie.
"Tatiana, if you ever quit being a werewolf, you could open a bakery and bankrupt every other business in town."
Her laughter slipped out before she could stop it.
It was soft and melodic.
"You think so?"
"I know so."
He took another bite.
"Seriously, these are dangerous."
Tatiana watched him eat with shining eyes.
Her heart beat so fast she thought it might burst out of her chest.
She had spent hours making them.
Remaking the ones that weren’t perfect.
Decorating each piece carefully.
Worrying he wouldn’t accept them.
Worrying he would refuse.
Worrying he might still hate her.
But now...
Liam sat beside her with cookie crumbs on his fingers, smiling as he reached for another one.
And somehow...
That simple sight made all her efforts worth it.
She lowered her gaze to hide the redness creeping up her cheeks.
A small smile remained on her lips.
"...I’m glad." frёewebnoѵēl.com
"Hm?"
Tatiana looked toward him.
"I’m glad you like them."
Liam met her eyes and smiled again.
"Then you’ll have to make more."
The warmth that flooded Tatiana’s chest at those words was so overwhelming that she had to look away before he noticed.
"...Okay," she whispered.
"I’d like that."
