Ava fled the hospital room, her heart pounding like a drum, her mind a whirlwind of confusion. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Liam Blackwood, the man who had been nothing but demanding and critical, had just kissed her. And not just any kiss – a deep, passionate kiss that had sent shivers down her spine and left her breathless.She rushed into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She splashed cold water on her face, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and something she couldn't quite name.Was it anger? Embarrassment? Or was it... excitement?She had never been kissed like that before. It was nothing like she had imagined her first kiss would be. It was bold, unexpected, and undeniably thrilling. She had felt a spark, a connection, a heat that had nothing to do with the fiery spices she had inflicted on him.She scrubbed at her face, trying to erase the lingering warmth of his touch, the memory of his lips on hers. But the harder she tried, the more vivid the memory became.When she finally emerged from the bathroom, she found Liam and Sarah enjoying their ice cream, their laughter echoing through the room. Liam, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, held up his bowl."Care for some, Ava? It's quite soothing after that fiery ordeal."Ava, unable to meet his gaze, mumbled a quick, "No, thank you," and made a hasty retreat from the room. She couldn't face him, not after what had happened. The awkwardness, the confusion, the lingering heat of the kiss – it was all too much.Sarah, sensing Ava's distress, called after her, "Ava, wait!" But Ava didn't stop. She rushed out of the hospital, ignoring Sarah's calls, and hailed a cab. She needed to get away, to process what had just happened, to understand the whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.Back in her apartment, she collapsed onto her bed, her mind racing. Why had Liam kissed her? Was it just a playful retaliation for the spicy food, or was there something more to it? Was he trying to rekindle their old flame, to win her back?She couldn't make sense of it. Liam Blackwood was an enigma, a man of contradictions. One minute he was criticizing her cooking, the next he was kissing her with a passion that had set her soul on fire.She reached for her phone, dialing Chloe's number. She needed to talk to someone, to vent her confusion and frustration."Chloe, you will not believe what happened," she blurted out as soon as her friend answered.She proceeded to recount the events of the day, the spicy food, the bathroom incident, the unexpected kiss. Chloe listened patiently, occasionally interjecting with gasps of surprise and laughter."Oh my god, Ava," Chloe exclaimed when she had finished. "This is better than any soap opera!"Ava sighed. "I know, right? I'm so confused. Why did he kiss me, Chloe? What does it mean?"Chloe, ever the voice of reason, replied, "Ava, you're overthinking this. He probably just kissed you to tease you, to get back at you for the spicy food."Ava considered this. "Maybe you're right. But it felt... different. It felt real."Chloe chuckled. "Ava, you've been spending too much time with him. You're starting to see him through rose-tinted glasses."Ava sighed again. "Maybe you're right. I just... I don't know what to think anymore.""Just relax, Ava," Chloe said soothingly. "Get some rest. Don't let him get to you. He's just playing games."Ava, feeling somewhat calmer after talking to Chloe, finally drifted off to sleep, the memory of Liam's kiss lingering like a phantom warmth on her lips. She still didn't understand his motives, but one thing was certain: Liam Blackwood had awoken something within her, a spark of excitement, a flutter of anticipation, a feeling she couldn't ignore.