A simple phone call just wouldn’t satisfy him.
If he couldn’t hug her or kiss her, at least seeing her pretty little face would do.
The video call rang on for a long time, but Alana still didn’t answer.
Stephan frowned and, with great patience, dialed again.
It was so late, had she already gone to sleep?
If she was asleep, I’ll be disturbing her.
Stephan thought that if she didn’t answer this call, he wouldn’t call again.
But unexpectedly, at the very last moment, the call connected.
Soon, a delicate, fair face appeared on the phone screen. Her features were delicate and beautiful, her skin so fair and supple it seemed as if water might ooze out if pinched.
Her eyelashes were long and curled, like the fluttering wings of a butterfly, trembling ever so slightly, especially her eyes, large and round, with distinct black and white irises, clear as crystal, pure without a single blemish.
She appeared to be sitting on the bed, holding the little white rabbit stuffed animal he had given her.
Her pointed chin rested against the rabbit’s head, her grape-like eyes wide open, staring at him blankly.
She looked so soft and sweet, so adorable.
Stephan’s heart melted as he looked at her, and he asked with a smile, “Why did you call me just now?”
Alana was also staring at the man on the screen. He appeared to have just finished showering; he was wearing a white hotel bathrobe.
His hair was still damp, not yet dried, and slightly disheveled. But that couldn’t hide the striking handsomeness of his features.
No matter the angle, his beauty was flawless.
Alana hugged the little rabbit in her arms tightly, a pang of longing in her heart.
“You’re not by my side. I miss you.”
Hearing this, Stephan’s heart softened even more. “I’ll be back soon,” he said.
Alana asked earnestly, “When exactly is ‘soon’?”
The man teased her, “‘Soon’ means exactly that.”
Alana pouted, feeling a little disappointed, but she didn’t say anything. After all... he was the CEO of the Hudson Group; work came first.
She couldn’t throw a tantrum either even though she was feeling a little down right now and really needed his company. She really wanted to tell him about Darla.
After all, she couldn’t keep it a secret, Stephan would find out eventually.
But it wasn’t something she could discuss over the phone; she’d just have to wait until he got back.
Stephan sensed that something was off with her. “What’s wrong? You seem a little down tonight.”
Alana took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Nothing.”
“Speaking of which, why didn’t you answer the phone just now? You weren’t sneaking off to see another woman behind my back, were you?”
Stephan chuckled. “No way. I was on a call from a client, then went back to my hotel room to take a shower. When would I have had time to see another woman?”
“I don’t believe you. Pan the camera so I can see the room you’re staying in.”
Stephan found it amusing. “Fine, fine, I’ll grant your wish.”
He panned the camera, showing Alana every corner of the room.
He even went into the bathroom to take a look around.
“See? It’s just me. No other woman, not even a single strand of a woman’s hair.”
Alana smiled, her lips pressed together.
“Not bad. You’re still upholding your chivalry.”
Stephan asked pointedly, “What about you? You haven’t been hiding other men in your room, have you?”
Alana pouted. “No way.”
“I don’t believe you. Pull your collar down a bit. Let me see if there are any strange marks underneath.”
Alana blinked.
She’d thought he’d ask her to turn the camera around so he could check the room, but she never expected him to ask her to pull down her collar.
He’s such a pervert.
She was currently wearing a creamy white nightgown with a round neckline.
The neckline was quite low; if she pulled it down even a little, he’d probably be able to see everything.
She chuckled, “No way. Why don’t you pull yours up?”
Stephan smiled. “So you wanted to see me? You should’ve said so earlier. I’ll show you. I’ll show you everything.”
With that, the man’s large hand grabbed the sash of her bathrobe and gave it a slight tug...
Alana’s face flushed instantly. “Ah! Hurry up, put it back on!”
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
Alana covered her eyes with her hands. “No, I don’t! Hurry up and put it back on, or I’ll hang myself!”
Stephan chuckled at her reaction. “You’ve seen this so many times, and you’re still shy.”
Alana said, her face flushing, “Can’t you... let me play coy for a bit?”
Pretend?
Stephan raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so you’re just pretending. I wouldn’t have guessed, you’re actually quite the shy flirt.”
Alana gasped. She still wasn’t as shameless as he was. “I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m going to rest.”
Stephan stared at her, his eyes darkening. “Don’t hang up. Let me look at you a little longer.”
Alana’s heart fluttered unexpectedly. She bit her lip. “Aren’t you tired?”
Actually, she didn’t want to hang up either.
But she was worried he was too exhausted and wanted him to get some rest early.
Stephan curved his lips. “Seeing you instantly revives my weary heart. How could I possibly be tired? You’re the cure for me.”
Alana couldn’t help but blush. “Here we go again...you’re such a smooth talker.”
Stephan’s eyes sparkled with sincerity as he emphasized, “It’s not smooth talk...it’s
the truth. Everything I’ve said comes from the bottom of my heart...it’s what I truly want to tell you.”
Alana’s heart was deeply moved once again.
She hadn’t been in the best of moods tonight. But hearing his thoughtful words instantly warmed her heart.
All those negative emotions gradually faded away.
In truth, upon learning he was the one from the Hudson family, she had felt a bit overwhelmed and deeply insecure.
She was afraid she wasn’t good enough for him.
She was afraid he would look down on her, and she was also afraid her parents would disapprove of her.
The more she loved him, the more she couldn’t help but scrutinize herself, every aspect of who she was, to see if she was a good match for him.
The gap was just too wide, and it really left her feeling overwhelmed and highly emotional.
These emotions aren’t something she can simply process on her own.
So, she needs to wait for him to return and be completely honest about all of this.
Problems need to be resolved; avoidance will never solve them.
Instead, they only make the situation more complicated and serious.
She didn’t want Darla to use these matters to threaten her, becoming an obstacle to her relationship with him.
Rather than living in constant fear under Darla’s threats, it would be far more cathartic for her to come clean on her own.
Alana’s eyes welled up with tears. “Stephan, we have to make this work.”
He was the first source of warmth in her life that she wanted to hold tightly in the palm of her hand.
She didn’t want to let him go.
But at the same time, she didn’t want him to give her up either.
Stephan chuckled softly. “Silly girl.”
What on earth was she imagining this time?
Haven’t they always been fine?
He said softly, “Wait for me to come back. I’ll bring you a gift.”
Alana nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
In the end, she didn’t know how she’d fallen asleep. It seemed she’d been holding the rabbit, lying down to keep chatting with him, and then drifted off without realizing it. She didn’t even hang up the video call.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter