?Chapter 939:


    As the door clicked shut, Elena nced at Wesley. “What was that about? He looked like he was running from something.”


    There was no immediate answer. Then, in one swift movement, Wesley closed the space between them and lifted her into his arms.


    Wesley carried Elena into his arms and made his way up the stairs without saying a word.


    Elena’s brows knit together as she stared at him. “What are you even doing right now?”


    He didn’t bother to answer. Once they reached the room, he dropped her onto the bed and kicked the door shut behind him with a loud thud.


    “We’re taking a nap.”


    She shot him a look. He wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all her.


    By the time Elena opened her eyes again, daylight had slipped away.


    Thest remnants of sunlight painted the trees in soft amber. Outside the window, the branches swayed slowly, touched by a light breeze that hinted more at fall than the middle of winter.


    Despite the season, the warm spell had turned the air crisp but gentle, moreforting than expected.


    She turned her head and found the other half of the bed empty. At some point, Wesley had slipped out without a sound.


    Grimacing at the ache in her back, Elena muttered a curse directed at Wesley and rolled off the bed. She grabbed her clothes from the floor and got dressed without wasting another second.


    When she finally made it down the stairs, Charlette was stepping inside, brushing a few leaves off her coat.


    The moment Charlette caught sight of Elena, a smirk tugged at her lips.


    “Ah, youth!”


    Elena blinked at her, confused, but kept quiet.


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    That was when Charlette leaned in, tapping a finger lightly on Elena’s neck. Her grin only widened. “Mr. Spencer really wanted to mark his territory, huh? That little souvenir he left behind—pretty bold.” From her pocket, Charlette pulled out apact mirror and offered it to Elena with a mischievous glint.


    Elena took one look and winced. Faint, reddish, and obvious—the mark sat just behind her ear. No wonder he had been nuzzling into her neck like that. That man knew exactly what he was doing.


    Elena’s face darkened. Charlette gave the concealer bottle in her hand a shake and held it up. “Want me to fix it? If you walk around like that, the gossip mill will have a field day before lunch.”


    Charlette didn’t mind the drama herself, but she had always looked out for the women around her.


    Elena gave a resigned nod. “Yes, please.”


    A few dabs of concealer, and the hickey vanished. Then, with her arm looped through Elena’s, Charlette led her straight to the bar she’d hit the night before.


    Elena tried to refuse at first, but Charlette wouldn’t have it. Charlette’s philosophy was simple: life wasn’t worth living without fun. Their research routine had long turned into a soul-numbing loop. Something—anything—needed to shake them out of it.


    Stepping into the bar, Charlette didn’t waste a moment before scouring the room. Her shoulders slumped slightly when she didn’t find the face she was hoping to see. With a sigh, she signaled for two drinks. Unlike the night before, when she came solo, tonight’s entrance drew more than a few stares. Elena was hard to ignore.


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