Chapter 65

The old lady didn’t even glance at Arnold. Instead, she turned to Alex with a bright smile, pulling him into a warm hug.

Alex, on the other hand, looked guilty when he saw Nora. His arms hesitated before he reached out to hug her as well.

But the moment he got close, Nora caught a faint scent–one she recognized all too well.

Linda.

Her perfume lingered on Alex’s clothes.

A small, almost imperceptible flicker crossed Nora’s face. But she said nothing.

Instead, she pulled back smoothly, creating distance without making it obvious.

Alex blinked, slightly caught off guard.

There was no anger, no confrontation–just a quiet withdrawal. And somehow, that unsettled him more.

Dinner passed peacefully, filled with laughter and conversation, but Nora remained quiet. She listened, nodded at the right moments, and smiled when expected, but her mind was elsewhere.

As the evening wound down, the old lady made it clear that Nora should stay the night.

More specifically, in Arnold’s room.

There was no room for argument.

And so, when bedtime came, Nora found herself in the same space as Arnold.

Inside the grand bedroom, Arnold sat at his desk, busy with work. His sharp profile was illuminated by the soft glow of the desk lamp.

Nora, meanwhile, curled up on the couch, flipping through a book she wasn’t really reading.

Neither spoke,

The silence between them was not tense, but it was heavy.

They were used to this kind of distance.

12.11

Chapter 65

the book down and crawled into bed, keeping to the very edge, making sure there was plenty of space between

doubted Arnold

under, she

Safe.

surrounded by something

stirred

didn’t think much of it. But

breath brushed against her

mind snapped awake instantly. Slowly, carefully, she

realized- She wasn’t

wrapped around her. His strong arms encircled her waist, his legs loosely

close.

of all, it

still, her heart

this happened?

the bed. There had been plenty of space between them.

now in his arms?

moved slightly, trying to slip

she did, his hold

Her breath hitched.

he murmured, “Sleep a little longer.”

drowsy,

Chapter 65

soft kiss landed on her forehead.

mind screamed at her to move, to

But her heart?

just a

It hesitated.

Nora froze.

her body stiffened, and her mind spun

a

wasn’t talking

holding

mistaken her for someone else.

Linda.

squeezed

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