chapter33


    Lenora, not being very shrewd, started chatting with him non-


    stop.


    The two of them stood at the door talking for a full three


    minutes before Lenora finally finished recounting her day out


    with friends.


    “It’s gettingte, so I won’t disturb your rest any longer.”


    “Mm.”


    Only after Lenora left did Joaquin open the main door again.


    He quickly locked the door behind him and turned on the dim


    wallmp inside the room.


    The light wasn’t very bright, but it was enough to wake the


    person on the bed.


    Romina merely turned over and did not fully wake up.


    When Joaquin saw the person lying on the bed, his brows


    furrowed slightly.


    That’s right.


    It really was that woman.


    He reached out to nudge her shoulder, but Romina instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.


    In the next second, he found himself pulled into her embrace.


    The sudden closeness allowed him to catch a faint, familiar


    fragrance from her, a feeling that surged up once again.


    The woman moved closer, and her lipsnded squarely on his


    left cheek.


    In that instant, Joaquin’s pupils widened noticeably.


    A tingling, numbing sensation instantly spread through his


    heart.


    It was the first time he had ever experienced something like


    this…


    The atmosphere suddenly became subtle.


    He quickly pried Romina’s hands off, straightened up, and


    looked down at her.


    Jericho had already left the Bowman’s mansion, but Hayden


    was unaware, having already gone to rest with the children.


    All the guest rooms around were locked, and even the room


    next door couldn’t be opened.


    If he let her rest here alone, and someone saw her leaving his


    room the next morning, there would be no way to exin it.


    He had thought about leaving, but given the current situation,


    he couldn’t just let her go.


    After a moment’s thought, he finally picked up his pajamas and


    headed to the bathroom.


    When he came out after showering, Romina was still lying on


    the bed in the same position.


    She really couldn’t hold her liquor, which exined why he


    had to lock the door earlier.


    But how exactly did she get in here?


    Joaquin nced around, his gazending on the balcony.


    He let out a low, huskyugh, then walked back into the room.


    He took a new nket from the wardrobe and strode over to


    the sofa.


    He thought he was making quite a bit of noise.


    But from start to finish, the figure on the bed never woke up.


    The next morning, at dawn.


    Romina was awakened by the sound of knocking from the


    room next door.


    “Mom, Dad, it’s time to get up.”


    “I’m about to bete for school, you have to take me.”


    It was Kashton knocking on the door.


    Romina opened her sleepy eyes and nced toward the door.


    The sofa was right next to the door, so the first thing she saw


    was not the door itself, but the figure lying on the sofa.


    When Romina met the man’s gaze, her eyes widened in


    surprise.


    “Jo…”


    Before Romina could finish her sentence, the man cleared his


    throat, cutting her off.


    He gestured toward the door, and only then did she quietly get


    up, her mind racing.


    She finally remembered why she was in this room…


    So, this was Joaquin’s room?


    The child’s knocking at the door next door continued, even


    disturbing Lenora.


    If she left through the main door now, it would be a disaster!


    Romina quickly walked toward the balcony, only to find


    Joaquin following her.


    He pulled the sliding door shut with one hand, then leaned


    against the railing, looking at her with a cold expression: “Ms.


    Sandoval, don’t you think you owe me a reasonable


    exnation?”


    The knocking outside the door of the room next door grew


    louder and louder.


    “Mr. Bowman, this is just a misunderstanding. I’ll exin


    everything to youter, but right now I have to leave through


    the room next door…”


    Romina quickly turned around, intending to climb over, but


    suddenly stopped.


    In broad daylight, and right in front of Joaquin, climbing over


    the ss railing would look anything but graceful.


    “You’re not really nning to climb over right in front of me,


    are you?”


    At that moment, the man’s extremely deep voice sounded


    behind her.


    Romina turned around, forcing a strained smile at the corners


    of her lips.


    She gritted her teeth and blurted out, “Mr. Bowman, could I


    trouble you to look away for a moment?”


    As soon as she said this, a faint smile appeared on the man’s


    face.


    This man was always cold and distant, giving off a strong sense


    of detachment. It was the first time she had ever seen such a


    gentle smile on his face.


    He continued to watch her quietly, showing no intention of


    leaving.