Chapter 945: Harlee opened her eyes slowly and met his gaze with a tranquil smile.
"I won't. I'll never look back with regret." Once again, Noel found himself captivated by her serene confidence until her movement broke his focus. He swallowed hard, struggling to mask his emotions, though the affection in his eyes betrayed him.
But Harlee never paused long enough to notice, leaving Noel's feelings unobserved.
His attempt at masking his feelings was pointless.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHarlee approached, patting Noel lightly on the shoulder with a cheerful demeanor.
"Relax. I've been sleeping fine, and nothing gets worse." It took Noel a moment to realize Harlee thought his concern was for her well-being. Lowering his head, he laughed bitterly. She truly didn't notice how deeply he cared for her. When he looked up, only tenderness remained in his gaze.
"Alright, but if anything comes up, letknow right away." Harlee nodded lightly, said, "Got it," and left with her coat in hand. The only reason she'd cfor a check-up was because Noel had been relentless with his calls.
Since returning from Gruinia, Harlee had taken refuge in Remson Manor, the sole place where she could find restful sleep. She had deliberately concealed Rhys's circumstances, leaving the Sanderson family in the dark about his return and his shifting affections.
In the stillness of the night, Harlee woke abruptly, her forehead damp with cold sweat.
A nightmare had shaken her.
Find exclusive updates galηovlsShe had dreamt of being pursued by a relentless mob. Just when she thought Rhys had shown up to rescue her, he turned on her, driving a blade into her chest. In her final moments, she saw nothing but the cold resolve in his eyes. The agony was overwhelming.
Before Harlee could fully rouse herself, a strong arm pulled her into a firm embrace, catching her off guard. The scent was unmistakable, wrapping her in a sense of safety that coaxed her back toward sleep.
Normally, Harlee's instincts would have sent any intruder sprawling, but the terror of the dream still had her frozen, her reactions sluggish.
Her thoughts were a jumble, unsure whether she was reliving the past or trapped in the present, until a familiar voice reached her ears, stirring something deep within.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Lee..." The sound of this familiar voice caused her heart to quiver. It was the voice she had longed to hear for years.
Her hand instinctively moved to reach out, only to halt midair as an image of Rhys with another woman intruded, shattering the fleeting comfort.
Harlee's fingers began to shake uncontrollably, and her lips turned white, drained of color. She quickly regained her composure and coldly pushed Rhys, the man next to her, away, searching around the bedside.
A soft glow filled the dim room as Harlee moved to the edge of the bed, ready to dismiss Rhys and let him leave when his drug-afflicted face caught her eye. Harlee paused, taken aback.
A chilling wave of recognition swept through her as she stared at the man engulfed in the bed covers dto m a reminded her starkly of Ritchie a year ago. Ritchie had once accidentally consumed drugs sold in Gruinia, and Rhys's current expression mirrored the agony Ritchie had suffered.