Chapter 146 I Shouldn't Have Asked

Noel's voice was deep and husky like it was coming from far away but also so close. Whitney felt her mind go blank, a slight duziness overwhelming her

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Delure she could even process what was happening, she was lifted into the air and gently placed on his lap. To steady herself, the instinctively peached for hus shoulders Noel set up straight, leaning forward, and kissed her lips once again.

Aldenchill ran through her as she realized her clothes had been removed without her noticing Whitney instinctively shrank back, but the next moment. pressed down on her, her back meeting the soft warmth of the bed beneath them. Their skin touched, but Nor didn't mish

He looked into her eyes, glistening with confusion, and smiled softly. "Til take that as a pes

"What?" Whitney was dazed, forgetting the question he had asked earlier.

Noel chuckled lovely. "Don't ask Even if you know, it's ton late. The time for an answer has passed."

with those words, her vision went black, and all she could feel was his overwhelming persence,

When Whitney awoke, it was still dark outside. A soft, warm light from the bedside lamp illuminated the room. Noel was seated next to her, migrossed in the blueprints displayed on his tablet.

His shirt was half-open, revealing a large expanse of his chest.

Whitney lay still, a voice echoing in her mind. "What's wrong with me? How did I end up with him again?"

She couldn't explain how she had given in again. Their relationship was forbidden. Her engagement wasn't annulled yet, and he was Damian's cousin.. These were boundanes they shouldn't have crossed. But once again, they had crossed that line.

And now, she wondered how this man, who had claimed to be injured and unable to dess himself, still had the strength to be intimate with ben

He must be taking it. She thought, "He's a liar."

"Are you awake?

Whitney closed her eyes and stayed still. She was frustrated, both with herself and with him. But she couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze ""Not yet? Then I'll-

Noel leaned down cover

Whitney immediately opened her eyes and shifted away from him. "I just woke up."

Noel didn't expose her lie. Instead, he gave her a playful smile and leaned in to kiss her lips before pulling away. couple deeply in love.

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1. w. It was like the morning loss shared between a

His casual demeanor contrasted sharply with her awinward and flustered state.

"It's still rady. Get some more rest. You had a tough night," he said, smiling as he gently pulled the blanket over her.

Whitney's mind flashed with memories from the night before, making her cheeks flush with warmth. Noel retumed in his tablet, still reviewing the blueprin

"You're injured, don't you need to rest?" she asked softly.

I'm not tied anymore."

Whitney stared at his navy blue sleeve, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of the blanket.

"Hemant really like me, right?" she wondered to berelt.

A moment later, she hesitantly spoke again, "Could you. Help me call off my engagement with Damian?-

Her voice was quiet, lacking confidence, yet there was an underlying hope. Noel's gaze shifted from the screen to her face, his eyes locking with her. He studied thelonging in reyes but remained silent for a long moment. Whitney felt disappointed when be remained silent. She wanted to hear him say it, so she reached out and tugged at his sleeve. "Can you do it?

Noel smiled at her. "Don't ask anymore. Just go back to sleep, I'll be moming soon. I have work to do, so I'm going to study."

With that, he stood up, left the room, and disappeared through the door

Whitory stated at her emptylund, the cool Jabric of his sleeve still lingering in her fingertips. Her heart dropped, and a coldness spread through her

she thought torrself, "Why am I disappointed? This is what I expected."

But it still faut, especially since Noel had proven it right before her eyes.

She shouldn't have asked. Now, she felt like she was bargaining with her of

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly turned her head, burying her face in the pillow.

rown budy

Meanwhile, in the study, Noel sat still, staring at his computer screen. The tablet remained on, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He didn't light the cigarette be had picked up.

Instead, the image of Whitney's disappointed, shattered eyes kept appearing in his mind, right after he had spoken.

Chapter 106 I Shoukht Have Asked

Noel took out his phone and quickly typed a message: "Speed thair

Just as he hit send, he heard the sound of a door closingnoveldrama

He paused, stood up, and walked to the door of the bedroom. The room was empty bow, the air heavy with her faint jasmine scent.

The entire day, Whitney's focus at work was a mess. Amy called her into her office.

"What's going on with you? How did you get such important data wrong?"

Amy thow the file onto the desk "Whitney, work is no joke. Maybe you should go back to being Mrs. Howard. It would be better for all of us." Whitney looked over the file again and realized she had made a mistake with one number.

"Sony, Amy, I'll fix it right away."

Lof us?"

She turned to walk out, but then paused and looked back at Amy, asking, "What do you mean, better for all i