Chapter 76 A Sense Of Security
Chapter 76 A Sense Of Security
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en after two tries, Quinn still couldn’t free her hand. If she really wanted to pull it out, she’d <b>have </b><b>to </b><b>pry </b>Julius’s fingers off one by one.
<i>But </i><i>that </i>would <i>definitely </i><i>wake </i><i>him </i>up, <i>wouldn’t </i>it?
She pressed her lips together and sighed. If he wanted to cling on like that, she’d let him. She could sleep. just as well sitting in a chair.
Back when she was on assignments, no matter how rough the conditions were, she always managed to grab rest when and where she could, resting efficiently to recover her strength.
So, Quinn simply sat down on the carpet by the bed, leaning against the bedside table. She let Julius keep hold of one of her hands, turned off the light, shut her eyes<b>, </b>and went to sleep.
It wasn’t until the light of early morning filtered in that she heard the sound of a door creaking open. Startled, she quickly opened her eyes and saw Fabian, Julius‘ secretary, walk in.
He froze mid–step, eyes wide. “M–Ms. Bridger, did you… sleep with Mr. Whitethorn?”
Quinn’s expression dropped immediately. “You’re overthinking it. I was just doing my job as a bodyguard, that’s all.”
Fabian’s gaze drifted down to Quinn’s wrist, still firmly held by Julius.
I <i>know </i><i>she’s </i><i>been </i><i>assigned </i><i>as </i><i>Mr. </i><i>Whitethorn’s </i><i>bodyguard </i><i>for </i><i>three </i><i>months</i>, <i>but </i><b><i>does </i></b><i>that </i><i>include </i><i>holding </i>hands in <i>bed</i>? <i>And </i><i>more </i><i>importantly</i><i>, </i><i>when </i><i>has </i><i>anyone </i><i>ever </i><i>seen </i><i>Mr. </i><i>Whitethorn </i><i>hold </i><i>someone’s </i><i>hand </i>while sleeping?
“Even if you’re his bodyguard, Mr. Whitethorn never allows anyone near him when he’s asleep,” Fabian muttered.
“You should ask him,” Quinn said coolly. “He grabbed my hand. I couldn’t exactly yank it away.”
If anything, she was the one put in an awkward spot. And this Fabian kept looking at her like she’d taken advantage of Julius somehow.
“Really?” The voice that answered was low and hoarse. “I grabbed your hand?”
A chill crept up Quinn’s spine. She turned her head and saw Julius, now awake, watching her.
“Yeah,st night… you were moving around a lot in your sleep. I heard something and came to check. That’s when you grabbed my hand,” she said simply. “I didn’t get in bed. I sat on the floor, leaned on the nightstand, and fell asleep there.”
Julius‘ gaze flickered. His fingers were still wrapped around her wrist, and the warmth of her skin <b>seemed </b>to seep straight into his palms.
I was <i>having </i>trouble <i>sleeping</i><i>? </i><i>I </i><i>must’ve </i><i>had </i><i>another </i><i>nightmare</i><i>… </i>
He vaguely remembered dreaming of his father and the beatings, the way he’d cry and <b>beg</b><b>, </b>only for the whip to strike again and again. Those nightmares used to gue him so often that he’d <b>gone </b><b>a </b><b>psychiatrist </b>and <b>even </b>taken medication. It got better over time.
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Chapter 76 A Sense Of Security
It had been years since he’d had a nightmare, butst night it hade back.
<i>“</i>Why <i>now</i>? <i>Maybe </i>it <i>was </i><i>because </i><i>she </i><i>saw </i><i>the </i><i>scars </i><i>yesterday</i>. <i>Maybe </i><i>it </i><i>dragged </i>those memories back. But her <i>handrit </i><i>felt </i><i>so </i><i>warm</i><i>. </i><i>When </i><i>I </i><i>woke </i>up <i>this </i><i>time</i><i>, </i><i>I </i><i>didn’t </i><i>feel </i><i>sick</i>. <i>In </i><i>fact</i><i>, </i>I felt well–<i>rested</i><i>. </i><i>Could </i>it really be <b><i>because </i></b>she had <i>been </i><i>holding </i>my hand <i>the </i><i>entire </i><i>time</i><i>? </i>
“Mr. Whitethorn?” Quinn prompted, trying to keep her tone neutral. “Mind letting go of my hand now<b>?</b><b><i>” </i></b>
He had held her hand all night, and now it was starting to feel a bit numb.
Julius frowned. “Didn’t we agree? You’re supposed to call me Julius, Quinnie.”
Quinn almost rolled her eyes. She didn’t respond.
Fabian, who’d been standing off to the side this whole time, was left speechless<b>. </b>It was <b>as </b><b>if </b>he’d been struck by lightning.
<i>Mr. </i><i>Whitethorn</i>… <i>is </i><i>he </i><i>really </i><i>just </i><i>interested </i><i>in </i><i>her</i>? <i>I’ve </i><i>never</i>, <b><i>ever </i></b><b><i>seen </i></b>him <i>speak </i>to a <b><i>woman </i></b><b><i>with </i></b><b><i>such </i></b><b><i>familiarity</i></b>. <i>Let </i><i>alone </i>allow <i>one </i><i>to </i><i>call </i><i>him </i><i>by </i><i>his </i><i>first </i><i>name</i><i>! </i>
Quinn pressed her lips together. “Julius<b>… </b>can you let go now?”
It was just a name. But it still felt weird to say.
Finally, Julius loosened his grip. Quinn pulled her hand back and gently rotated her wrist to get the blood flowing again. “I’m heading back to my room. I’ve got to visit the Bridger family’s ancestral hall today, so I won’t be on duty. You’ll have to rely on your other bodyguards.”
Afterying out her schedule, she opened the door on the side wall and returned to her own room.
Julius lowered his eyes, staring at his own fingers. He could still feel the warmth lingering there. When he let go just now, he hadn’t wanted to. He wanted to keep holding on because for once, he felt secure.
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