"I did nothing wrong, so why should I reflect on it!" Ann Vaughn had a look of accusation, as if "you’ve changed," clutching her chest as she questioned, "Tell , do you have another dog out there?"
Another dog...
Cyrus Hawthorne’s lips twitched slightly, his face dark and cold as if ink could drip from it. He then raised his hand and pulled Ann Vaughn into his embrace, issuing a low warning, "Don’t regret it."
She wouldn’t regret it!
Ann Vaughn happily snuggled against his waist and abdon, quietly chuckling.
A sliver of dawn lightened the horizon.
Winter always has short days and long nights, and now sunlight was pouring into the room—it was evident how long this night had been...
The bathroom door opened, Cyrus Hawthorne walked out holding the now-sleeping Ann Vaughn and placed her on the big bed in the room before lying down.
As soon as she sensed his closeness, Ann Vaughn, in her sleep, instinctively shrank back.
The man’s narrowed eyes held a thousand years’ worth of intense, fierce cold, frighteningly intimidating.
The pair of cufflinks, signifying "destiny," appeared on Eli Sheridan’s suit, ultimately causing him to lose his composure.
...
Pain.
Nothing but pain.
Ann Vaughn stared numbly at the ceiling overhead.
She arduously got out of bed, freshened up, changed clothes, and ca out to find her phone ringing. She walked over, picked it up, and answered, "Hello?"
"Just woke up?" Eli Sheridan’s gentle voice ca through.
"..."
She was drunk last night... did she offend Cyrus Hawthorne?
Considering the way he seed ready to devour her whole last night, it really didn’t feel like nothing had happened.
"Be honest with , did I say sothing I shouldn’t have to Cyrus Hawthorne last night?"
"You didn’t, but I might have." Eli Sheridan replied calmly.
"What do you an? What did you say to him?"
"Not much—just bragged a bit about the birthday gift you gave ."
Those athyst cufflinks?
Ann Vaughn’s face crumpled with confusion, she bit her lip and tried hard to recall, "That shouldn’t be a big deal..."
"By the way, do you know the significance of the cufflinks designed by Ms. Garnet?"
"That thing has significance?? What is it?"
Knew she didn’t know... on the other end, Eli Sheridan rubbed his forehead, smiling wryly, "Those cufflinks signify ’destiny;’ you truly didn’t know."
If she knew, this little innocent soul probably wouldn’t have been so carefree.
Destiny?!
"Oh my gosh!" Ann Vaughn stood up with a start, her eyes welling up with disbelief, "It’s just a pair of cufflinks, and it has such implications? The shop assistant never ntioned this!"
If they had, she wouldn’t have gifted Elliot a thing that’s so easily misconstrued!!
After speaking, she quickly added, "I have no improper intentions towards you, it’s purely a mistake, don’t overthink it!"
Eli Sheridan held back laughter, reminding her, "I won’t overthink, but soone else might."
"Who?" Ann Vaughn felt a vague sense of unease.
"Cyrus Hawthorne."
She knew it!
Ann Vaughn suddenly felt like dying; no wonder his attitude changed so drastically and he kept her up all night in turmoil—it was all due to those cufflinks!
"Silly girl, our relationship— receiving such a gift doesn’t an I’ll overthink it, and I’m truly pleased you gave such a thoughtful gift. However," Eli Sheridan chuckled softly, "Cyrus Hawthorne has a very strong possessive desire towards you."
Upon hearing this, Ann Vaughn was taken aback, "What do you an by possessive desires?"
"For example, when he sat down last night, he naturally placed his hand behind you, forming a protective gesture, which proves strong possessiveness."
Did Cyrus Hawthorne do that last night?
Ann Vaughn tried to rember, then said, "Isn’t that just his habit?"
"But in the short twenty minutes since he sat down, he looked at you fifteen tis, six of which lasted over two minutes. Didn’t you notice, whenever you reached for sothing, he’d always get to it first and place it in front of you?"
"What does that prove?"
"Silly, a man who pays that much attention to a woman, what do you think that proves?" Eli Sheridan’s voice carried a teasing hint of laughter.
It naturally proves... that this man likes that woman!
As soon as this thought crossed her mind, Ann Vaughn beca flustered, nearly knocking over the water cup beside her, her heartbeat slightly erratic.
Cyrus Hawthorne likes her?
Is she imagining things, or is Eli Sheridan planning on becoming a psychologist?
Maybe it’s the unconscious habit of every secret admirer—the closer they want to be, the more they fear getting close.
Likewise, with liking—
The greater the affection, the more cautious one becos, like walking a tightrope, one misstep, and all chances could be lost.
She didn’t dare let Cyrus Hawthorne know her feelings, not out of pretentiousness, but rather because...
Even if he doesn’t like her, she could at least pretend to gracefully wave goodbye, preserving the last shred of dignity.
Ann Vaughn felt a bitterness in her mouth. Thinking of the unresolved matter of Kenny’s custody, all those thoughts in her mind faded away.
Reviews
All reviews (0)