Chapter 109
LILITH
That day at the detention center was the last time I saw Claire. Even during her and Brandon’s trial. I didn’t go–and neither did Dean.
Not because we couldn’t, but because we didn’t see the point.
Besides, both of us have been too busy lately–like a spinning top.
Between updating my ongoing works, negotiating with both Raven Entertainment and Dean’s studio, and his efforts to recruit employees and set up the new branch, the days blurred together into one endless rush.
In short, it had been hectic as hell.
One moment I was discussing IP and licensing terms with Raven’s legal team on the seventh floor, and the next I was running down to the sixth to review contract details with Dean’s team.
At some point, I honestly thought it’d be easier to just be an ordinary, moderately popular webcomic artist.
How simple and relaxing that would be.
Fortunately, before I lost my mind, the exhausting back–and–forth finally ended after two grueling
months.
I let out a long, deep breath of relief and sprawled on the sofa in Dean’s office–on the sixth floor -without caring about my image.
“Tired?” he asked, rising from his seat to walk over.
I gave him a side–eye. “What do you think?”
He chuckled softly, knowing perfectly well how redundant his question was.
Sitting on the coffee table in front of me, he leaned forward slightly, his smile gentle.
“What do you want for lunch?”
I hadn’t felt hungry before, but the moment he mentioned food, my stomach betrayed me.
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“No idea. Anything’s fine.” I said after thinking for a second. I was always indecisive when it came to food
“How about the restaurant downstairs? I heard their food’s pretty good ”
I nodded, then sat up. but paused and looked at him
“You’re busy, aren’t you? How about we forget it? I can head home for lunch instead–and maybe get some much–needed sleep while I’m at it.”
Dean tilted his head, half–smiling. “So the second part’s the real plan. Let me guess–once you get home, you’ll fall asleep and forget all about eating.”
I rubbed my nose guiltily. Well… he wasn’t wrong.
“And if you really care about me, dear girlfriend,” he continued in a teasing tone, “shouldn’t you be worried I’ll skip lunch once you leave and bury myself in work?”
Okay, now I felt even guiltier.
So much for being a responsible girlfriend.
Without another word, I stood up and looked down at him seriously. “Let’s go, boyfriend. I’ll make sure you’re well–fed before I head home.”
He looked up at me, his eyes glinting, and before I knew it, his hand shot out–pulling me onto his lap, one arm wrapping around my waist.
Had this been a month ago, I would’ve yelped. But now?
I barely blinked. I simply placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, “What is it? Changed your mind about the restaurant?”
“Mm,” he murmured, his gaze dropping lower, his voice low and teasing. “I found something more delicious.”
Familiar with the hunger in his eyes, I instantly clamped a hand over my mouth. “What triggered
you now?”
My voice came out muffled. “I didn’t even say anything remotely sweet or romantic!”
“Nothing,” he replied, pressing a kiss against my palm. “I just realized I love you more than I did yesterday.”
Then, while I was distracted, he removed my hand and caught my lips with his.
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By the time we let the office and got into the elevator, thirty minutes had passed
As the doors slid shut, Dean intertwined his fingers with mine and said suddenly,
“Brandon and Claire have been sentenced.”
I turned to him immediately.
“Already?”
He nodded, calm and unhurried.
“The evidence was solid, and with no one from the Scotts interfering, the trial went smoothly.”
I studied his face. He spoke their names so easily now. It confirmed what he’d told me before–his unease had been because of worry. Worry that they’d hurt me again.
That was good. For a while, I’d been afraid there was something else he wasn’t telling me.
“So what’s their sentence?” I asked, my voice subconsciously relaxing.
“Eight years for Claire, since she cooperated with the prosecutors and testified against Brandon. As for him, twenty–five years. Neither of them will be getting out anytime soon.”
“Oh.”
“That’s all you have to say?” Dean arched a brow.
Confusion flickered across my face.
“What else am I supposed to say? Pray for them? Throw a party to celebrate?”
“Of course not.” He chuckled softly. “I just didn’t expect you to be this calm.”
“My emotions are too precious to waste on them,” I said simply. “Whether it’s anger, hatred, or happiness–they’re not worth any of it. I refuse to let them define how I feel. I’ve had enough of that all these years.”
“You’re right,” he said quietly, drawing me into his arms and pressing another kiss against my forehead. “No one–especially people like them–should have power over your emotions.”
Chapter 109
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I leaned into him, inhaling his clean, icy seen and feeling completely at ease.
Still, I didn’t forget we were in an elevator where anyone could walk in at any moment
“Okay, that’s enough. We’re in public.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he murmured, not letting go.
“It does to me.” I said, rolling my eyes and pushing at his chest. “I don’t want people staring like we’re performing some rare circus act.”
That did it.
With a quiet sigh, he released me–but not my hand. That, he kept firmly laced with his own.
I didn’t protest and let him have his way.
–
“By the way,” he said suddenly, “have you considered my proposal?”
Hearing that, my heart involuntarily skipped a beat, and before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “What proposal? You haven’t proposed to me yet!”
The stunned look that flashed across his face made me want to crawl into a hole and disappear.
What on earth did I just say?!
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