Chapter 110
Chapter 110:
“Thank you for coming,” Jocelyn whispered, stroking the boy’s hair.
“Always,” Gaston said. He glanced over at her. “You were brave today. Slapping him — that was a risk p>
“He reached for Aaden,” she said fiercely. “I didn’t think p>
“I know,” Gaston said softly. “You have a good heart, Mrs. Collins p>
Jocelyn looked out the window. “Kieran is persistent p>
“He’s desperate,” Gaston replied. “He knows he lost a diamond p>
She turned away to hide the warmth rising in her cheeks. “The tie looks good on you p>
Gaston reached up and touched the knot. “I’m growing fond of purple p>
𝘉𝘦 𝘁𝘩𝘦 f𝗶𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝖾𝘢𝘥 𝗼𝘯
They dropped Aaden off at the main estate. Elbert Collins met them at the door, his expression grave.
“I heard,” he said. “Is everyone all right p>
“We handled it,” Gaston said.
Elbert studied the two of them. They looked united — tired, but together.
“I had Mrs. Higgins send a pot of her restorative soup up to your apartment,” Elbert said, keeping his voice carefully casual. “You both look like you’ve been through a war. It’s an old family recipe — good for stress and shock p>
“Thanks, Dad,” Gaston said. He held his father’s gaze a beat longer than necessary, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face.
Elbert said nothing. He simply waited until the car had disappeared down the drive before turning to the butler with a satisfied look.
“The Collins line needs securing,” he murmured. “Nature sometimes needs a little push p>
Back at the penthouse, the hour was late. The adrenaline had left Jocelyn restless and hollow.
“I’m hungry,” she realized.
“Mrs. Higgins left that soup Dad was talking about,” Gaston said, already heading to the kitchen. “Let’s eat p>
The soup-like tonic smelled rich, earthy, and savory, filled with herbs Jocelyn didn’t recognize — ginseng, wolfberry, and something with a warm, spicy bite.
Gaston heated it up and they settled at the kitchen island.
Jocelyn ate hungrily. “It’s delicious p>
Gaston finished his bowl. “Dad’s special recipe. He swears by it for vitality p>
Ten minutes later, a strange heat began spreading through Jocelyn’s limbs. It started in her stomach and radiated outward, slow and insistent. Her skin felt sensitive, prickly, as though every nerve ending had been turned up a degree.
“Is it hot in here?” she asked, fanning herself. Her cheeks were flushed.
Gaston loosened his tie — the purple tie. “Yeah. The AC might be off p>
He stood to check the thermostat and stumbled slightly. His head felt light, unmoored.
Jocelyn watched him move. Her eyes drifted to his forearms as he rolled up his sleeves, to the way the muscles shifted beneath his skin. Why is he so attractive tonight? she wondered distantly. Her vision blurred at the edges. The logic that usually kept her in check — the quiet reminder she had built into a wall — was dissolving under something warm and chemical.
Gaston turned back. His eyes were dark, pupils dilated so wide they nearly swallowed the iris.
He looked at Jocelyn. Her lips were red from the heat. Her breathing was shallow.