No longer a pushover

Chapter 106

As Noelle reached for the seatbelt, it wouldn't budge, no matter how hard she tried.

Cedric watched for a moment before leaning over to help. At that moment, the two were unusually close. He could smell the faint scent of beer on her while she noticed the length of his eyelashes. Noelle held her breath, and in a moment of impulse, she hugged his arm. Cedric froze, turning to look at her. His throat tightened as he softly asked, "What are you doing?"

Noelle didn't answer. Instead, she leaned in and kissed him. As soon as she pulled back, Noelle felt a wave of nervousness.

Cedric remained still. The dim street lights outside illuminated his side profile, making his expression hard to read.

Noelle, feeling flustered, stammered, "Sir, if you don't have a girlfriend, what do you think of me?"

For a split second, Cedric's gaze deepened. It was as if an electric current shot through him. He quickly pulled away, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "You're drunk." Without another word, Cedric started the car and drove toward the apartment. The ride was silent. It took Cedric a long time to suppress the strange tugging in his chest. At a red light, he finally spoke. "You're still young. You don't understand what love really is."

that she had already fallen asleep. He couldn't

had spent the entire drive overthinking, yet she had passed out without a second thought. He could only hope she wouldn't remember any of this in the morning. As they arrived at the apartment,

hand away and

her for a moment before sighing. In one smooth motion, he lifted her out

the blanket over her. He stood by the bed, looking at her with a complex expression. As he turned to leave, he

clenched at the sound of her calling out for her mother, feeling as though he couldn't breathe. A moment later, he returned with a glass of water. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gently helped her

around him. "Mom, I

holding the empty glass. He didn't know how to respond. For the first

of the

shadows

shake the feeling that

a pounding headache. She groaned, rubbing her temples.