Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

She forced herself to keep hold of her pencil, drawing the familiar shape of her father's eyes.

Why d

did you not choose to pursue a career as an artist Kylan asked quietly.

She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "New York is expensive, for one. For two, my father was always adamant that I choose something more practical, like a business. So, that's what I did. She used the pad of her finger to provide shading to the background of the sketch, pulling her bottom lip subconsciously between her teeth.

"You're uh. You know, that's not a shit drawing. It captures his eyes well, I think." Kylan's voice was still quiet and a bit awkward, but she appreciated the very kylan compliment from him.

"It was nice to see him laugh. There was plenty of happiness during my childhood, he made sure of that. But I know he worries about me being in a place like New York City. And I know he's. Well, he's lonely. He's out on the water by himself a lot of the time, and then when he comes back home, he's still alone. He never... After my mom um, left. He never tried to find anyone else. She didn't know why she was saying so much to Kylan, and part of her wanted to take it all back already. But there was also a small part of her that enjoyed the idea of opening up about her dad and her childhood with someone

"You never met her? Your mom, I mean!" Kylan asked softly.

She kept her eyes on her sketchbook, drawing out her father's hair with a relaxed hold of her pencil "She left when I was five. My father he never really talked about her, and I haven't asked many questions, to be honest. I don't really remember her, just vague flashes of lullabies she used to sing to me, or books she would read to me. She was happy, my mom. She openly showed me love, I also remember that. And then one day, she was just.. Gone. My father picked me up from school and he took me out for a hamburger and milkshake, which he never did.

Her voice was becoming strained as she recalled painful memories she hadn't thought about in years. "He tucked me into bed that night, told me he loved me and then he. He just held my hand until I fell asleep"

She forced herself to swallow, her eyes still downturned toward her sketchbook, but her fingers no longer drawing

never came back after that day. Her lips trembled as the words left her. "My father told me my mother was never fit to be a mother, and it had eventually caught up to her. He made sure I never blamed myself, but it was pretty hard not to, you know?" She laughed bitterly and shook her head, realizing just how personal she had gotten with Kylan, of all people. "I'm sorry, I ramble

back on the nightstand,

shifted the pillows behind her and then laid down, looking aimlessly at

now, she almost

chest before she could stop them, and they landed on the tanoo she had gotten a glimpse of earlier in the night. She took notice of the

to ask him, ignoring his attempt at quelling the storm of feelings she would

abent mother

and his eyes

closely. "Why a cardinal?" she asked him curiously, unsure of what the possible symbolism for many birds was, or if he even got it for any significant reason in the first place. Behind the slight glare of the lenses in Kylan's glasses, she saw as his eyes turned an almost glassy hue of grey, a faraway expression passing over his face for a brief moment. And then it was gone, and he only

her heart. Grief? She remembered that Kylan's mother

Rylan. It's

to him, watching him closely in the slim lighting

shifted on the bed, looking down at his lap, the fringe of his bangs half-concealing his face from her. "I feel like I need to warn you about something.

stomach did a nervous flip and she slowly sat up, looking at kylan with a frown back on her face. Warn? What could he have to warn her about Countless possibilities ran

every night, I typically wake up shouting. If that happens.. I uh, well. I apologize.

who was always composed

frown deepened, Kylan had nightmares?

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Chapter 45

would wake him up screaming?

she hesitated. Did he want her to comfort him? To show him any token at all that she was there? That she