Winnie was exhausted. Despite the bumpy ride, she still fell asleep with her head on Xavier’s shoulder.

However, it was not a good sleep. Groggily, she returned to the waking world with Xavier’s voice. He sounded like he was on a call.

Her eyes were half-opened, but she noticed that the sky was still dark. Thus, she muttered, “What time is it?”

By the time she asked the question, Xavier had ended his call. He glanced at his phone and replied, “It’s thirty minutes past twelve. We’ll be meeting with Christopher and the others soon.”

Winnie continued mumbling, “We’re reaching Salinsburgh so soon?”

Xavier smiled. “No, we’re only resting here for a while. I’ve asked around and found out that the authorities at Salinsburgh have been strict recently. No cars are allowed in or out of the city after twelve midnight, so we’ll only be able to go there when the sun comes back up again.”

Winnie nodded. “It’s great to have you around. I don’t need to think about anything.”

Xavier lowered his head to plant two soft kisses on her forehead. “I’ve always been great. Did you only find out about that now?”

Winnie was still sleepy. She closed her eyes and quietly laughed. “It’s not too late to find out now.”

Xavier smiled and ruffled her hair. “Rest well. I’ll wake you when you’re there. Why don’t you lie down instead? Lay your head on my lap.”

“Okay.” Winnie moved toward the side before lying down on Xavier’s leg. “This is much more comfortable. By the way, who were you calling when I was sleeping?”

“Josiah,” Xavier replied. “We’re leaving this place soon, right? We can’t possibly ditch him here.”

“Haha!” A chuckle left Winnie’s lips. “I almost forgot about him. Where is he right now? How is he?”

“You don’t need to worry about him. He’s like a roach. Nothing will happen to someone like him.”

“Good to hear that.” Winnie lifted her arm to touch Xavier’s arm. “If anything happens to either of you, I’ll be overwhelmed with guilt. I was the reason the two of you came to this darn place.”

Xavier held her hand and played with her fingers. “Why are you saying these things when we’re about to go back?”

“I’ll stop, then. I don’t really want to remember this moment ever again.”

“Don’t think about it anymore. I’ll bring you around to do happier and more meaningful things in the future. I won’t let you have the time to recall these moments. I’ve already made a plan. Once we’re back, we’ll hold the wedding. Does that sound good, Winnie?”

When Xavier heard nothing from Winnie, he lowered his head, only to discover that she had fallen asleep again.

Xavier did not know whether to feel amused or resigned. She had fallen asleep in the blink of an eye, and she had missed out on the important part of his proposal.

Still, it mattered not. He could ask her again after she woke.

Approximately half an hour later, the car came to a stop.

The car with Christopher in it was right in front of them. This was the place they were going to rest at before they depart for Salinsburgh before the sun rose again.

Mason was in the car in front, so when the car fully stopped, Greta exited the car. She was planning to head to the front to talk to her significant other.

The sound of Greta opening the door woke Winnie.

As she had been tensed for long periods of time, Winnie bolted upright upon hearing the sound.

Xavier, who had been closing his eyes to rest, was startled by Winnie’s abrupt motion as he too, opened his eyes.

“What’s the matter, Winnie? Did you have a nightmare?” He held her hands.

Only after Winnie heard Xavier’s voice did she remember that she was already away from the wolf’s den.

The hairs on the back of my neck

find hair-raising in this world.” Despite Xavier’s teasing

we’ll sleep in our house, and I’ll keep you company every night whether you wake from a dream at night or you wake in the morning. The first person you’ll see will always be me. That way, you’ll

at Xavier’s words. “Haha! Mr. Fairchild, you’re getting

together. “I don’t do sweet nothings. Everything I say is

smile widened. “That’s about the

with what?” Xavier

said, “Well, about the same

as his voice lowered. “Why don’t I find

sweet, then?”

tell you when I have a taste of

reached out to hold the back of Winnie’s

to do next, but she wanted

as he was about to kiss her, she turned her head and avoided

her avoidance,

Winnie abruptly froze in her

half-opened for ventilation. When she avoided Xavier, she accidentally looked

glimpse she caught

second, she shoved

Xavier could differentiate them. He could sense that Winnie genuinely wanted him to

is she pushing me away all

looked in

outside. He had not rested since

stopped, and when he saw Greta going to Mason, he decided to come over to take a look at Winnie. He wanted to discern

sight that greeted him was Winnie and Xavier

struck his heart. He wanted to turn and leave immediately, but unexpectedly, Winnie turned in his direction. That was how

even Xavier had noticed

to squeeze a smile to his lips.

her, so she told Xavier, “I have some things to talk to Christopher about, so I’ll get out of the car for a moment. Are you going to stay here, or are you going to stretch

before muttering, “Go on. I’ll be waiting

shoulder and

walked by Christopher’s side for a while. Soon, the two of them came to a stop not far

they had stopped at had beautiful scenery without any

stared at the twinkling stars above for a moment before lowering his head to look at Winnie, who looked even more

he said, “It looks like everything’s going well

so his focus was

Lightspring and maybe the entire world too. You’ve gotten rid of two nests of

turned to look at Christopher with

did she notice the

scratched her head. “I… I didn’t tell Xavier about what happened in the

a tight spot. He tucked away the yearning in his eyes and sighed. “Sorry for interrupting

happened in the basement and in the forest. He was afraid that he would not be able to control

a distance away before continuing, “I know that I’ve requested something absurd in the basement. As for the promise… I know that you were pitying me because I was about to

and made it seem as if he was unperturbed by all that. “Just pretend as if those things hadn’t happened. I don’t want you to

chuckled. “Do I? Are you talking about the look I had just now? That’s because I was feeling

head. “We’re still good friends. Do tell me if you need any

Winnie nodded. “That’s great.”

them then shared a

he wound down the window and stared at Winnie

about

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