He was driving, so Aubree couldn’t really resist. If something happened, it’d be her life on the line.


    ‘Fine, let him hold my hand. What’s the harm?’ she thought. ‘It’s not like I’m going to lose anything!


    After a full day at Rithol High School, Aubree slumpedfortably in the passenger seat. Lulled by the car’s slow, steady pace, she soon drifted off to sleep.


    Bowen massaged her hand for a while. After a long, thoughtful pause, he finally spoke, his voice tentative. “Maybe from now on, you could-”


    Only when he noticed no response from her side did Bowen realize Aubree had fallen asleep.


    His hand stilled, but he couldn’t bring himself to let go.


    He couldpletely envelop her hand in his, and he didn’t want to let go.


    ‘Guess I’m not letting go, then,’ she wondered.


    As twilight deepened, Bowen’s lips curved into a faint smile, his eyes dark with possessive intensity.


    If Kelvin were here right now, he’d definitely be grumbling about his shameless boss.


    ‘Miss Miller is already fast asleep, yet Bowen still refuses to let go of her hand,’ he wondered. ‘And to think someone once said he only saw her as a kid, like Alvin. Yeah, right.’


    Bowen slowly pulled the car into Aubree’s apartmentplex and parked outside her building.


    Bowen watched as Aubree slept soundly, unable to bring himself to wake her. With no one else around, he dropped all pretenses, his gaze hungrily sweeping over every inch of her face.


    The longer he gazed at her, the more his heart swelled with delight.


    It was obvious to everyone how differently Bowen treated Aubree, yet he stubbornly kept lying to himself.


    The emotion in Bowen’s eyes only grew deeper, deep, thick, and impossible to hide.


    Under Bowen’s gaze, Aubree frowned in her sleep. Suddenly, she jolted awake. Instinctively, her hand shot out and seized the front of his shirt.


    Her fingers desperately clutched his white dress shirt, pulling the cor askew to reveal his well-defined corbone.


    “What’s wrong?” Bowen asked, his voiceced with concern.


    Aubree took a moment to collect herself, blinking as the face before her slowly came into focus. Only then did the pounding in her chest begin to fade-she had just relived her death in that old life once again.


    The Wilson family’s crimes against her haunted her every thought-their blood debts still unpaid.


    “I’m fine,” she said. Her grip gradually loosened as Aubree took a steadying breath. Looking up, she found herself caught in the warmth of Bowen’s gaze, though he seemed oblivious to the tenderness in his own eyes.


    “Sorry,” Aubree blurted out, instantly letting go. Her face flushed a deep crimson-now she was genuinely embarrassed.


    Bowen remainedpletely unfazed. He even reached out and pulled her hand back. “If you like tugging at my shirt, go


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    right ahead,” he said, his tone indulgent.


    Bowen asked gently, “Did you just have a nightmare?”


    ‘Even though he said I could, I’m not nearly shameless enough to actually do it, she wondered.


    Startled as if burned, Aubree jerked her hand back. “No need-just a bad dream, but I’m fine now. Since we’re home, I’ll head up now. Thanks, Bowen.”


    Aubree darted away, vanishing in a sh.


    Bowen watched her retreating figure and muttered to himself, “I must’ve been crazy back then, treating her just like a kid and making her treat me as an elder.”


    After standing downstairs in the chilly night air for a while to clear his head, Bowen made a call to Ollie.


    “Not gonna lie, Bowen, you’ve been blowing up my phely, huh?” Ollie teased. “Alright, spill it. What’s thetest friend story you’ve got for me this time?”


    Bowen hesitated for a moment before finally asking, “So how do you go about wooing a girl?”


    Ollie nearly jumped out of his skin on the other end of the line. ‘Well, looks like he’s finally seen the light,’ he wondered.


    “Oh, you’ve definitelye to the right guy. Besides, didn’t I already give you that book? Didn’t it teach you anything?” said


    Ollie.


    Bowen suddenly remembered that parenting guide Ollie had given him-no wonder it had felt so off. The veins on the back of his hand bulged as he snapped, “Seriously, do something useful for once.”


    “I am doing a good deed right now,” Ollie crowed, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. He could practically hear Bowen grinding his teeth.


    ‘Bute at me if you dare,’ he wondered.


    Ollie said, “Oh, you’ve definitelye to the right guy for advice on chasing girls. Aubree’s winter break ising up. Rithol High always lets out two days before New Year.


    “She doesn’t really have any family around, so she’ll probably be spending the holiday alone. Seize this chance—ask her out, go see the snow, and really spend some quality time together.


    “She’s pretty guarded, dude. You can’t rush her-just be genuine and take it slow.”


    Bowen took silent note of everything.


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