"What happened?” Zach asked, his eyes softening as he looked intently at her.
"It's nothing. You're overthinking," Madelyn replied, her voice flat.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtZach, sensing she was hiding something, moved closer. He gently wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her onto a table.
Reminders of their previous night together were still evident on her skin.
"Don't challenge me like this; | don't appreciate it. Got it?" His voice may have been soft, but the cold warning in his eyes was clear. Nevertheless, he seemed gentler now than before. Taking a moment to touch her hair, he gently lifted her chin, ensuring their eyes met, "Hungry? Tell me what you'd like, and I'll order from the restaurant.” Feeling a bit drained, Madelyn replied, "Anything's fine." Her attention wandered to the white bedsheet.
"That's more like it," Zach murmured, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead. He then made a call to the hotel's restaurant.
It was not long before a waiter arrived with a cart filled with snacks and dishes. "Enjoy your meal, Ms. Jent," he said, offering a courteous nod.
Zach stood by the window, talking on the phone and holding a glowing cigarette. When Madelyn coughed softly, he looked at her and quickly snuffed out his cigarette. After hanging up, he sat beside her, gently touching her hair and looking at her closely.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Kevin's taken care of the plagiarism issue. | won't stand in your way if you want to return to work. Just follow the rules, and don't even think about running off—you're aware of the consequences," he said with a hint of warning.
Madelyn took her time with her bowl of cereal, "I want to go back." Zach nodded, "Once I'm done here, we'll head back together.” "It's almost the anniversary of my mom's passing." "I remember.” Madelyn had expected his brief response. Since being with Zach, she had felt her freedom slipping away. He sat next to her, placing her favorite dishes in front of her, but she only nibbled on her cereal, feeling her appetite wane. After a while, she finished.
"I'm full," she said.
Zach glanced at the clock, "It's still early. Why not rest for now? We can head out for some shopping later.” "I'm good. | don't need anything," Madelyn replied.
Madelyn grabbed a book and lay down on the bed. Growing up, she had always been provided for and did not crave material things. However, she now deeply yearned for freedom and a sense of security. Zach understood her feelings, but he would not, or could not, provide her with that safety. He always put his own needs first. This made her ponder: how does someone as complex as Zach genuinely love? Would he be shattered if he lost the person he cherished? While Zach worked beside her, he would shoot occasional glances her way. Seeing her asleep, he gently removed the book from her grasp.
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