?Chapter 149:


    She swayed, eyes wild, and bolted toward the nearest door.


    “The bathroom’s this way!” Ralphy called out, rushing to guide her.


    A momentter, the sound of retching echoed through the hall.


    The smell hit Ralphy hard. He gagged, eyes watering. In the end, both of them were leaning over toilets in separate corners, vomiting in unison.


    The next morning, golden sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, soft and warm. Christina stirred. She blinked at the brightness, frowning slightly as she sat up.


    She stretched, slow and sleepy, and then slid toward the edge of the bed. But the moment her toes touched the floor, they bumped into something unexpected. She froze. Her foot recoiled like it had touched fire.


    Sleep vanished in an instant. Her senses snapped awake. Alert and wide-eyed, she stared down—ready to face whatever it was.


    A flicker of uncertainty crossed Christina’s face as she paused and stared once more, still grappling with disbelief. Nestled together on the plush carpet, two meny intertwined in sleep beside the bed. Christina’s attention lingered on the scene before her, eyes drawn and unmoving. Sleep had softened Dn’s and Elliott’s usual rigidity, stripping away that air of aloofness they always wore while awake. Rxed and peaceful, their faces lost all trace of harshness, the tension gone.


    Sunlight meandered in through the gauzy curtains, spilling gently across the room and illuminating the pair with golden warmth. Anyone would find their looks striking, but among the two, Dn’s features were even more memorable.


    Hesitation made Christina falter. She weighed the idea of waking them, reluctant to cause difort. Seconds ticked by as she sat on the bed and then quietly resolved to slip out and let them have their privacy. Maybe, without a witness to the scene, their embarrassment might fade.


    Intent on making her exit unnoticed, Christina began to inch toward the far side, careful not to disturb the quiet. Just as she neared the edge of the bed, a faint noise from behind made her freeze, every muscle tensing at once.


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    That softmotion stirred the two men. Alertness crept into their movements as their eyes snapped open. The moment they became aware of their embrace, an icy chill swept over their expressions. An instant of rm sent them scrambling apart, their arms practically flying away from each other as though the air had turned electric. Irritation shed in Elliott’s eyes. “Have you lost your senses?” he snapped, unable to hold it back.


    Dn answered with a re as cold as winter, “You’re the one who’s lost it.”


    “You…” Just then, Elliott’s words faltered. Realization hit him. He mped his mouth shut and shot upright in one swift motion. Casting a nce toward the mattress, he spotted Christina still lying there, appearingpletely undisturbed. His shoulders loosened with quiet relief.


    Truthfully, Christina had only slipped beneath the covers moments earlier. If anyone tried to drag her off to some dreadful ce now, she would still have feigned sleep without hesitation.


    Dn, not wanting to linger, stood up at once, his gaze glinting coldly as it darted toward the bed. Relief washed over him once he saw that Christina had not stirred and was still in her slumber.


    A stare as sharp as a knife was directed at Elliott from Dn, the air suddenly heavy between them. Despite acting tough, Elliott found himself wilting under that stare. It wasn’t just his family who found Dn’s presence daunting. Almost everyone thought twice before meeting his eyes for long.


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