Chapter 516
Chapter 516
“Shut up p>
Winter’s brows pulled tight, and the words came out almost the instant he finished speaking.
Her emotions surged too sharply, making her already–red eyes look even redder. She turned toward the dark stretch of ocean in the distance, and a tear rolled down her face.
“I did wonder once if Roy was you. But the thought only lasted a second before I dismissed it. Do you know why p>
She forced down the hurt in her voice, but the corner of her mouth still trembled. Those memories were too painful. She couldn’t keep herself under control.
Chris saw all of it.
It felt as if someone had carved a piece out of his heart. Her tears seemed to fall straight into that hollow place, burning so badly his vision went dark for a moment.
His hand shot out and gripped the edge of the table.
Regret sank into his bottomless dark
Why else could it be?
eyes.
“Because I hurt you too much,” Chris said hoarsely. “Too much for you to believe I could ever be the one protecting you p>
Roy had saved her from danger more than once.
He had protected her.
On New Year’s Eve, after she was thrown out of the Xander estate, Roy had taken her to the beach to release floating lanterns.
A soft laugh slipped from Winter’s throat.
Tears streamed down her face, and without hesitation, she picked up the bottle on the table.
“That counted as my fourth question p>
She tipped her head back and drank. Tears slid toward her temples, dampening her hair. The corners of her eyes were red, like a butterfly with broken wings, too exhausted even to struggle.
The bottle hit the floor with a dull thud.
She sat there quietly with her head lowered for a while before finally looking up and letting
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out a breath.
“Sorry about that ”
She rubbed her face hard. She didn’t know what kind of alcohol Chris had brought, but it had to be strong.
She had never been good with alcohol, and drinking like this had already left her a little drun
Chris silently picked up the bottle from the floor so she wouldn’t trip over it if she stood up later.
The table between them was narrow enough that he could reach her from where he sat. He took a tissue and gently wiped away the tears still clinging to her face.
Winter turned away and let out a small, hollow laugh.
“You’ve always been like this. Hurting me little by little, like cutting into me with a dull knife.
“You remember everything I like. Gavin knew exactly how I liked my food because you told him. The first time Mrs. Young took care of me, she even knew when my period was coming. You told her that too.
“ I figured out so many things, actually. But Chris, if you hated me, then just hate me. If you loved me, then just love me. Did you ever stop to think whether my heart could survive being pulled in both directions p>
As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer, until it was barely audible.
She lifted her right hand and pressed her fingertips against her chest.
“It really hurts p>
Then, as if thinking of something, she waved her hand.
“Forget it. Forget it.
“It’s your turn to ask me p>
The empty bottles on the table kept piling up. Winter could no longer remember how much she had drunk, or how inuch Chris had drunk.
After Chris answered her tenth question, she finished her drink and collapsed onto the couch.
Her soft hair spilled loose around her, sliding away from her cheek and revealing a face flushed from alcohol.
For a moment, she looked like the Winter from before.
The Winter who had been full of life.
The Winter who could walk into danger, smash someone with a bottle, and tear into anyone who crossed her.
Something brushed against her cheek, light enough to tickle.
Slowly, Winter opened her drunken eyes.
The first thing she saw was the face carved into the deepest part of her memory.
Alcohol had dulled her thoughts, but instinct still made her raise her hand, wanting to touch
him.
Her heart clenched hard.
The pain made her frown.
Then she met Chris’s quiet, dark eyes, and her hand fell.
But Chris caught her fingers and held them tightly in his palm.
None of it mattered anymore.
Winter’s voice was hoarse with drunkenness.
“You still have one last question p>
Chris was half–kneeling in front of the couch, her hand held tightly in his.
She didn’t struggle.
But somehow, it felt to him as if he wasn’t holding anything solid at all.
It felt as if he was holding a wisp of fog, something that might scatter with the slightest
breeze.
He tightened his grip and lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to it.
The moon had begun to sink toward the west.
Chris sat down on the couch and gently pulled her against him, letting her lean into his chest.
He lowered his eyes to her half–closed ones, his Adam’s apple shifting.
“If I let you go, where would you want to go most p>
Winter’s head rested in his palm, her face pressed against the left side of his chest.
Her left ear heard his question.
Her injure
The ear that hadn’t hurt in a long time began to ache faintly again.
Her choked voice came from his arms.
“Somewhere without you p>
Sara Lili
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.