Chapter 334 A Quiet Night, A Warm Goodbye


    Finished


    As Landon undressed her, Tessa''s heart pounded so fast it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.


    But all he did was slip off her coat-then, like a perfect gentleman, he stopped.


    "Sleep," he said.


    To keep his thoughts in check, Landon didn''t even take off his own clothes. He simplyy beside her, fully dressed, one hand gently wrapped around hers under the nket.


    "Mr. Landon-"


    "Shh. Don''t talk. Just sleep."


    Holding her like this required more willpower than he cared to admit. If she said anything else, he wasn''t sure he could keep his self-control intact.


    So Tessa shut her eyes, pretending he wasn''t there. But his presence was far too overwhelming to ignore.


    Landon gently patted her shoulder, like he was soothing a child to sleep.


    Tessa didn''t say anything more. She simplyy still, eyes closed, telling herself it was just rest.


    At first, she was sure she wouldn''t be able to sleep.


    But before long, wrapped in his arms and breathing in the calming scent of his pinewood pheromones, she drifted off with surprising ease.


    Landon watched her sleep, a soft smile tugging at his lips.


    Just lying beside her, watching her like this... made him feel inexplicably happy.


    By the time Tessa woke, it was already past 8 p.m.


    The moment she opened her eyes, Landon stirred as well-his instincts razor sharp.


    "Hungry?" he asked right away.


    "Mm. Yeah, I am."


    "Then let''s go. Ysabel and the others should still be at Silvermoon Estate. We can join them for dinner."


    Originally, they''d all nned to eat together. But after everything that happened, he hadn''t shown up. The others had probably eaten by now.


    "Let''s not go," Tessa said. "They''ve probably finished already. And it''d feel weird having them watch us eat."


    She never liked being stared at while she ate.


    Right as she finished speaking, Ysabel called.


    "Tessa, what are you doing? I''ve called you, like, ten times!" Ysabel sounded like she was losing her mind. It hadn''t even been that long since the holidays started- how had Tessa suddenly be unreachable?


    "I was napping. What''s up?"


    15:24 Wed, 21 May 20


    Chapter 334 A Quiet Night, A Warm Goodbye


    "Napping? Is my uncle there?"


    Tessa nced at Landon beside her. "Yeah, he''s here. Why? Do you need to talk to him?"


    "So... you were napping with my uncle?"


    * 82%


    Finished


    Tessa froze. She wanted to exin that nothing had happened, that it was all perfectly innocent. But at this point, even if she did exin, she doubted Ysabel would believe her.


    Landon reached over and took the phone from her hand.


    "What? You have a problem with that?"


    "No, no, not at all!" Ysabel replied quickly. "Uncle,e on! Tessa''s leaving for Falindale tomorrow. We''re all over at Merry''s ce at Silvermoon Estate. Bring her here!"


    Just the thought of not seeing Tessa for a few days made Ysabel miserable.


    Tonight''s dinner was their way of giving Tessa a proper send-off.


    "You haven''t eaten yet?" Tessa leaned over and took the phone back.


    "How could we? The guest of honor isn''t even here! Hurry up, will you?" "Alright, alright."


    After she hung up, Landon said, "They''re all waiting at Silvermoon Estate. But if you really don''t feel like going, we don''t have to."


    Tessa had just wanted to avoid keeping everyone waiting.


    But now that she knew they hadn''t even eaten, she couldn''t let them wait any longer.


    "Let''s go. I''m leaving for Falindale tomorrow. I should see them before I go." This trip... she didn''t know how long it wouldst.


    Hopefully, everything would go smoothly-and she could make it back before Christmas.


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