Rebirth: Love me Again

Chapter 160 A Love Unspoken

[

WARNING

!

SMUT

content ahead!????]

Your journey continues on empire

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[EVE]

My classmates were probably kicking back this weekend, sipping hot cocoa and binge-watching shows, but not me. Nope. No rest for the hospital escapee.

Since getting discharged, my schedule had been jam-packed with three main activities: avoiding Cole like my life depended on it, cramming for exams like I was running for office, and then tackling the entire five-day exam syllabus in just one Saturday and Sunday. Because, of course, that's how my life works now.

And that wasn't even all of it. Oh no. I still had a laundry list of businesses to keep an eye on.

Fortunately, Michael, Clair, and the rest of my management team had stepped in like superhero accountants to handle the chaos.

Honestly, bless those people. I might have hired them for their competence, but they were earning sainthood at this point.

While I spent my time dodging Cole and panicking over history essays, they kept my businesses afloat. Most of my job boiled down to giving signatures anyway, so as long as my pen was working, the whole operation could function without me.

Efficiency, baby!

Finally—

finally

—I finished my exams. Walking out of that test room felt like surviving a week-long wilderness expedition.

My brain was mush, my eyes were glazed, and my hand was practically locked in a writing claw from scribbling answers nonstop.

Instead of celebrating, I went straight to my condo. The moment the door clicked shut behind me, I let out a long sigh. This was it. My sanctuary. My fortress of solitude. My sacred space where Cole, exams, and barking traitor dogs couldn't find me.

I flopped onto the bed like a sack of potatoes, marveling at the silence. No Sinclair smirking in the corner. No Victor's over the top concern. No Cole looming like a six-foot-something reminder of

the cave incident

Heat rushed to my face, spreading through my entire body.

Curse these stupid hormones!

"You've completely lost your mind!" I managed to choke out, snapping my gaze back to his face. "

That

. . . what

happened

was nothing. It was just the situation!"

"Nothing, huh?" His grin widened, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he leaned closer. My breath hitched as he placed his hands on either side of my head, trapping me. His face was so close I could feel his warm, breath against my skin.

"Then why," he murmured, his voice dropping to a low rumble, "does it feel like you're just as affected by this as I am?"

"I—I am not!" I shot back, pushing at his chest with trembling hands. But Cole barely budged, his strength effortless against my feeble attempts.

He caught my wrists, holding them gently but firmly, and lifted them to his lips. The light press of his mouth against my skin sent a jolt through me, my heart pounding harder than I thought possible.

"Eve," he said, his tone serious now, his gaze locking onto mine. "Are you really going to pretend that what happened between us meant nothing?"

I tore my eyes away, my throat tightening. "We both know it didn't mean anything," I muttered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "It was the situation! I thought you were dying, and I just . . ."

"And what?"

I pressed my lips together, unable to say it. That I had surrendered everything to him in that moment—not out of desperation, but because, deep down, I still loved him.

But admitting that would undo everything I had worked so hard to move on.

"I've already said it was a mistake," I finally whispered, forcing myself to meet his gaze.

His hand came up to cup my cheek, tilting my face toward him. The warmth of his touch made my resolve waver.

"Eve . . ."

The way he said my name—it was like he was laying his soul bare, his voice carrying an emotion so raw it made my chest ache.

And then he said it.

"I love you."