Favo Novel
Chapter 146
Chapter 146
Christiana’s POV
The evening ended in a quiet, bittersweet goodbye. After the chaos and tension of the night, seeing Sebastian off felt like a silent promise that he wasn’t alone. Alex shook his brother’s hand firmly, leaning in to pat his shoulder, a silent yet clear gesture of solidarity. Sebastian looked grateful, though his lingering hesitance remained.
As his car disappeared into the street, Alex turned to me. His expression was softer now, the sharp edges of earlier tension dulled by exhaustion. “Let’s get you back to your suite,” he said, bis voice steady, leaving no room for argument.
I didn’t protest. The weight of the evening hung heavily over me, and all I wanted was the familiar comfort of my space. Alex didn’t say much on the way up, but his presence was grounding, a quiet reassurance that everything was okay.
When we reached the suite, the bodyguards standing outside nodded at Alex before stepping aside. Inside, the lights were low, and the faint hum of the air conditioning filled the silence. The kids were fast asleep in their room, no doubt tucked in by their nanny. A wave of relief washed over me, knowing they were oblivious to the drama that had unfolded tonight.
I turned to Alex, offering him a small smile. “Thank you for walking me back. You didn’t have to.”
His brow arched slightly, a hint of mischief flashing in his tired eyes. “I didn’t walk you back. I’m staying.” Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.
I blinked, caught off guard. “Staying?”
He stepped further inside, casually shrugging off his jacket and putting it over a nearby chair. “Yes, staying. It’s late, and I’m not leaving you alone tonight.”
Warmth flooded my chest, but I tried to mask it with a playful scoff. “Oh, so you’re making decisions for me now?”
He smirked, unbuttoning his shirt cuffs as he leaned against the armrest of the couch. “I am, tonight.”
I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “Fine,” I said, my tone light but my heart racing. “Make yourself comfortable, then.”
He already had.
I busied myself for a moment, tidying up stray items on the coffee table, more to distract myself than anything else. I was glad he was staying…it felt right, like a piece of the puzzle sliding perfectly into place.
We didn’t talk about what had happened with his mother. I wasn’t sure if it was because we were both too drained or because some wounds didn’t need immediate prodding. Instead, we spoke about Sebastian.
Alex sat beside me on the couch, his arm spreading over the backrest as he leaned in close. His deep voice vibrated softly against my skin, the warmth of his breath brushing against my temple.
“I care about him,” he said, his tone heavy with emotion. “More than he probably realizes. He didn’t ask to be in this position. He didn’t ask for any of this.”
I turned to look at him, the lines of his face etched with something raw and vulnerable. It wasn’t often I saw him like this, and it tugged at something deep within me.
“You’re doing everything you can for him,” I said gently. “He knows that. Anyone with eyes can see how much you care.”
Alex’s lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes remained pensive. “It doesn’t feel like enough sometimes. I want him to feel like he belongs. Like he’s more than just…”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” I interrupted softly, placing my hand on his arm. “You’re giving him something priceless, Alex… a family. That’s more than enough.”
He turned his head toward–pe, his gaze holding mine for a long moment. Then he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “Thank you,” he murmured against my skin.
We sat like that for a while, tangled in each other’s warmth, the silence between us as soothing as it was profound.
Eventually, I pulled away, stretching with a yawn. “I think I need a shower before bed,” I said, standing up.
He smirked, his eyes following my movements. “Go ahead. I’ll take mine after.”
I disappeared into the bathroom, letting the hot water wash away the tension of the night. Then I brushed my teeth, tongue mostly, before making use of mouthwash. By the time I stepped out, dressed in a loose, comfortable nightgown, Alex was waiting his turn.
“My turn,” he said simply, brushing past me with a fleeting touch to my waist.
I settled onto the bed, letting my head sink into the plush pillows. My mind wandered as I waited, replaying the events of the night and the quiet strength Alex had shown.
When he emerged from the bathroom, I nearly forgot how to breathe.
His hair was damp, dark strands curling slightly at the edges. A white towel hung low around his hips, revealing the expanse of his broad chest and the defined lines of his abs. The soft light from the bedside lamp had shadows across his muscular frame, making him look like something out of a dream…or a very vivid fantasy.
He caught me staring, a slow smirk spreading across his lips. “See something you like?”
rolled my eyes, though my cheeks betrayed me by heating up. “You’re insufferable.”
“And yet, here I am,” he teased, climbing onto the bed beside me.
The mattress dipped under his weight, and before I knew it, he was leaning over me, his hand braced against the headboard “Comfortable?”
“Very,” I managed to say, my voice softer than I intended.
He chuckled, the sound deep and rich, before lowering himself onto his side and pulling me into his arms. His skin was warm against mine, and the scent of his soap was faintly in the air.
We lay there in silence for a while, his fingers tracing absent patterns along my arm.
“You make things easier,” he murmured suddenly, his voice low and intimate.
I tilted my head to look at him. “What do
you
mean?”
“You calm the chaos,” he said simply. “You make everything feel manageable. Even tonight…with my mother, with Sebastian…you grounded me.”
Emotion welled in my chest, and I reached up to cup his cheek. That’s what we do for the people we love, Alex. We hold them together when they need it.”
His eyes softened, and he pressed a gentle kiss to my temple. “Then you’re doing an amazing job.”
And just like that
the night seemed to settle around us, peaceful and perfect in its own quiet way.
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