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Chapter 75
~Spring’s POV~
My heart clenched painfully, the warmth of his gesture cutting through the cold numbness left behind by everything else.
Rhys didn’t move imdiately after the kiss. His forehead rested lightly against mine, and for a mont, everything slowed.
"I hate that she treats you like this," he said softly. "And I hate even more that you’ve co to expect it."
I swallowed, my throat tight again. "I didn’t an to ruin her party."
"You didn’t," he said firmly, pulling back just enough to et my eyes again. "You defended yourself. That’s not the sa thing. And I’m proud of you for doing it."
I blinked fast. "Even if I broke soone’s nose?"
Rhys smirked. "You know, I used to do that for you all the ti when we were younger. It runs in the family."
A soft laugh slipped from my lips, and so of the tension in my shoulders eased. But then I looked down at my ruined gown—stained, ripped, and clinging coldly to my skin—and sighed.
Rhys followed my gaze. His expression softened with guilt.
"I should’ve gotten there sooner," he muttered. "I didn’t even think that..." He sighed again, reaching over to gently flick at one of the dried patches of wine on the hem. "Co on. Let’s fix this."
I frowned. "Fix what?"
"Your dress is ruined, your evening’s wrecked, and you’re not going ho like that. I’m taking you shopping. Tonight. My treat."
"Rhys—"
"No argunts. You’re coming ho with after this anyway, and you’ll need sothing to wear that doesn’t look like you just survived a food fight."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Wait—your house?"
He gave a sideways look. "You think I’m letting you sleep in that war zone tonight? No way. I’ll have the maid hand over your uniform to the driver and ask him to bring your things to my place."
He started the car again, pulling back onto the road with a quiet hum of the engine.
I stayed quiet after that. Not because I had nothing to say, but because... I didn’t know how to say it.
The chaos of the evening was still fresh in my mind, the ache on my cheek still sharp. I watched the streetlights blur past the window and clutched Rhys’s coat tighter around , which he had draped across my shoulders before we left.
"Hey." His voice broke the quiet again, teasing now. "You’ve been awfully silent."
"I’m thinking."
He didn’t press right away. He just nodded and drove a few more blocks before he chuckled softly.
"Okay... then riddle this," he said, glancing at with a mischievous smile. "Why did you close your eyes earlier?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"When I leaned in," he said, pretending to study the road but clearly glancing at through the corner of his eye. "You closed your eyes. Why?"
"I—!" I sat up straighter, heat rushing to my face. "That’s not—I didn’t—"
He laughed outright this ti. "Oh my gods. You thought I was going to kiss you, didn’t you?"
"I did not!"
"You totally did!"
"I didn’t!"
"Yes, you did. Don’t forget you are my sister."
"So...?"
"Funny how you’d kiss on the lips a lot when you were younger."
I paled.
I did what now? I an, Spring did what?
Rhys just grinned, then narrowed his eyes playfully. "You were five, though." I exhaled sharply.
Even though Rhys was no Storm, he was extrely handso nonetheless and totally my... cough.
Shut up, Solstice, I chided myself. I was about to speak, but I barely got the chance to say anything before he beat to it.
"Hold up..." he said slowly. "Don’t tell —Spring, have you even been kissed before?"
I choked on my breath.
Literally choked.
I turned to glare at him as I coughed. "What kind of question is that?!"
His grin widened like he’d just solved a mystery. "Oh. My. Moon. You haven’t!"
"I didn’t say that!"
"You didn’t deny it."
"Rhys!"
He laughed again, clearly enjoying himself now. "So that’s a no?"
I covered my face with both hands, absolutely mortified. "No."
"Oh, it’s a no. Tsk, looks like I should set you up with my friend’s brother."
"No."
"No?"
"I an no... no... And yes, I have been kissed."
"Don’t worry, you do not have to lie to ," he said with a wink. "If it helps, you almost looked ready. Kind of adorable, really. If you were another girl, a love interest, I may have forgotten myself and kissed you... "IF," don’t misquote ."
I peeked at him through my fingers, heart still racing. "You’re evil."
"Only to people who deserve it," he said easily. "And right now, you deserve everything sweet."
Jade purred within , stupidly, but even I was stupid with the way I smiled sheepishly.
"So we’ll get you sothing nice to wear, I’ll let you pick where we get dessert from, and then we go ho, you change into sothing comfortable, and we throw on a movie until your heart stops punching you from the inside out."
The offer was so warm, so casual, it felt like a hug I didn’t know I needed.
I slowly lowered my hands and smiled. "You’re too good to sotis."
Rhys didn’t reply right away. Then his voice ca soft again. "Not too good. Just right."
My heart fluttered at the way he said it without pressure or teasing this ti.
Just the truth.
And for the first ti all night, I realised that this night might not have ended so badly after all.
The boutique was soft-lit and warm, the kind of place where everything slled like vanilla, jasmine, and expensive fabric softener.
The floors glead like polished glass, and there wasn’t a single rack out of place. I barely stepped in before a clerk zood up to greet us like we were royalty.
Well, maybe Rhys was the royal one. He looked so effortlessly composed—broad-shouldered and annoyingly handso in his black turtleneck and overcoat.
One polite word from him and the clerks practically tripped over themselves to assist.
"I don’t even know what I need," I muttered as he ushered toward a section with soft knits and neutral tones.
He gave a look. "You need comfort. Start with that."
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