Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 95 The Gathering

I bit my lip, trying not to make a peep, scared any noise might blow my cover.

Ethan chimed in again, "Babe, how am I supposed to survive this long night?"

I rolled over on the big bed, hiding my blushing face, and mumbled, "Just go to sleep."

On the other end, I heard his frustrated sigh. "I should've come back tonight. I regret it so much."

I held the phone to my ear, picturing him. 'Where's he calling from? The couch? In bed? Or maybe he's on the balcony, leaning on the railing, staring at the night sky? He's probably frowning, maybe even holding a cigarette. Bet he looks super hot.'

"Go to bed early. Come back early tomorrow." Right then, I felt like a wife waiting for her hubby to come home, and the longing made my heart ache.

I heard the flick of a lighter on the other end, and then he said, all helpless, "Alright, you sleep too. Be good, don't miss me too much."

I wanted to laugh, so I did. "Didn't you tell me I had to miss you when you left?"

He shot back, "Missing someone is torture. Like now, I miss you a lot."

I don't know how long we talked, but the phone was burning hot by the time we finally hung up.

After that, I tossed and turned, couldn't sleep a wink. Without his warm hug and familiar scent, my heart felt so empty.

At that moment, I realized I was getting more and more dependent on him. It was scary. The more you rely on someone, the easier it is to get hurt.

I don't know when I finally crashed, but when I woke up, it was already seven in the morning.

I tried calling Ethan but couldn't get through. At nine, he called me back, saying he was back in Starlight City and had to hit the office for an important meeting.

I felt like my issue couldn't wait, scared that dragging it out would mean missing a good shot, so I decided to go to his office. Bella was right; I needed to be more proactive. When I got to the top floor of Skyline International Corporation, Piper said Ethan was still in a meeting, so I waited for him in his office.

After sitting around for a bit and flipping through some magazines without really reading them, I got restless and stood up, feeling anxious and needing something to do.

I tidied up Ethan's desk, dusted everything with a feather duster, and watered a few plants. Then I grabbed his glass, filled it with water, and placed it on his desk. Looking around, I saw the half-open blinds and, after some thought, went over to close them completely.

Just as I wrapped up all that, I heard footsteps and voices outside. The meeting must've ended.

Soon enough, the office door swung open. After a few days apart, Ethan looked as tall and handsome as ever, though he had a bit of fatigue in his eyes.

from Piper that I was here, so he wasn't surprised to see me. He tossed the files onto the

me, but I dodged and

back, his

was a hint, and I

at my sides, my face heating up as I remembered the bold words I had said on the phone yesterday. I fidgeted with my fingers to distract myself. "You came

at me calmly. His polished shoes reflected the light as he took a step towards me and pulled me

embrace made my heart race, like a couple reuniting after a brief

lowered his head to kiss me. As the kiss deepened, his arms tightened, and

against the desk, I saw the obvious bloodshot

you?" I asked, feeling it was

couldn't sleep." Ethan's hand moved up my back, unfastening my

don't you take a nap first? Flying is tiring." I

"This is the first time you've been so proactive. Of course, I have

me, and I leaned against his shoulder. I heard the sound of a belt being unbuckled, and then he pressed me onto

still couldn't calm down. Do you know how that feels?" Ethan's voice carried a hint of

I turned my head, I saw the glass of water I had poured earlier, the water inside

chair behind his desk, looking at documents with

what the doc had said, and

my upside-down view, Ethan looked at me,

bit swollen. This helps reduce the

say

a bit, he made an

speakerphone was

a private room

I'll

I asked him, "Got another

having dinner with the judge and lawyer handling Richard's case.

better not go. I don't know how to

hand gently caressing my face. "You don't

the car at the entrance of Forest Restaurant that I saw Lacey and realized she was also attending tonight's dinner. Since it concerned Richard, she would naturally do

nodded at us when she saw us. Ethan didn't rush in, saying we should wait a bit. Just as he finished his cigarette, another familiar car pulled up at the restaurant

of dinners, everyone had their role. Jason and Lacey were the social butterflies, and I was probably just

After shaking hands with each of them, Ethan introduced one as the chief judge, Mark Bryant, and the other as the

sat next to Paul, I sat on his other side, and Jason sat next to