Chapter 330 Sleepless Confessions


    Cradling her pillow and nket, she crossed to the couch and settled there.


    Sharing a bed until dawn no longer suited who they were–or who they had be.


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    She told herself she had agreed only out of gratitude for his help, nothing more.


    <i>Yes</i><i>. </i>Nothing more than that.


    Then why did her heart ache, a quiet throb, as though mourning for the man on the bed?


    <i>No. </i><i>Do </i><i>not </i><i>pity </i><i>him</i><i>! </i>


    Because pity could entangle this already frayed love even tighter, until none of them could breathe.


    <i>But </i><i>can </i><i>I </i><i>really </i><i>be </i>with him <i>again</i>? <i>Even </i>if he swore never to lie, the <i>years </i><i>ahead </i><i>might </i>find me <i>questioning </i><i>every </i>word<i>, </i><i>turning </i><i>me </i><i>into </i><i>someone </i><i>suspicious</i><i>–</i><i>someone </i><i>I </i>would not recognize.


    That was not the future she wanted.


    Quinn shut her eyes, and only then did sleep im her.


    Yet once she drifted away, a shadow rose from the bed and walked, soundless, to the couch.


    Julius gazed at her sleeping form, bitterness blossoming across his tongue.


    Even <i>if </i>it <i>was </i><i>only </i><i>repayment</i>, she still would <i>not </i><i>stay </i>with me until <i>morning</i><i>? </i>


    <i>Does </i><i>she </i><i>truly </i><i>believe </i><i>a </i>few <i>carefully </i><i>chosen </i><i>words </i><i>can </i><i>draw </i><i>a </i><i>boundary </i><i>between </i><i>us</i><i>? </i>


    They had passed the point of clear borders long ago. However many walls she tried to raise, he would shatter them, every single time.


    “Quinn, what must I do for you to take me back?” Julius‘ voice came out rough, ragged around the edges. The plea rasped through the dark room, fading into the quiet as he crouched beside her, resting his brow against the couch’s edge. His fingers inched toward hers, hovering, barely brushing her skin–afraid that too much pressure might stir her from sleep.


    Morning light slipped past the drapes when Quinn’s eyes opened, and the first thing she saw was Julius‘ face inches from her own. His fringey in a careless tangle across his forehead; eyes shut,shes dark and long, separated like fine ink strokes viewed up close.


    That high, straight nose and lips tinted with the faint sheen of sleep drew her in, tempting her to reach out and trace their shape.


    Then the question pierced the haze. <i>What </i><i>is </i><i>he </i><i>doing </i><i>here</i><i>? </i>


    A sharp shiver coursed through her as memories of the night before snapped into ce,


    She had invited him to stay. Last night, he had fallen asleep on the bed. So what’s he doing <i>on </i>the couch <i>now</i><i>? </i>


    She shot upright. The sudden movement roused him; his eyes fluttered open, still fogged with sleep.


    “Morning, Quinn,” Julius murmured.


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    16:58 Thu, 21 Aug 0


    Chapter 330 Sleepless Confessions


    “Morning… but why are you sleeping here? Weren’t you on the bed?” Quinn asked, puzzled.


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    “Because I can only sleep well at your side,” Julius replied. “You chose the couch, so I, of course, settled right next to it.”


    “But you fell asleep on the bedst night,” Quinn protested.


    “I did drift off,” he admitted, lifting her hand. “You promised to repay me. Don’t change terms halfway. If you truly want me to rest, you must hold my hand until morning.”


    Quinn found no words.


    The doorbell rang, sharp and unexpected.


    She snatched her hand back. “I’ll get the door,” she said.


    Without another nce, she hurried to the entrance and swung it open.


    16:58 Thu, 21 Aug