Chapter 1296
Chapter 1296:
“Are you still upset?” Rupert finally asked.
“Yes, I am. I’m livid p>
Annabel had been calming down, but his question reignited all her frustration.
She reached for his arm, trying to pry it off her waist, but Rupert only held her tighter.
“I’m sorry p>
The words caught Annabel off guard.
“I promise I won’t give you another reason to worry about me,” he whispered, his eyes shining with determination.
On impulse, Annabel turned around and straddled him. “Rupert, I love you p>
After a brief pause, she continued, “Seeing you hurt makes me anxious, and it hurts me. The past few days have been exhausting. But understand this—I’m not some damsel in distress who needs your constant protection. I can defend myself. I want to stand beside you, not behind you p>
With that, she wrapped her arms around Rupert’s neck and nuzzled his cheek. Yes, she let her guard down with Rupert, but that didn’t mean she was helpless without him.
“I understand,” Rupert murmured, his hand stroking her neck with quiet tenderness. “You’ve always been extraordinary p>
And in that moment, Rupert realized he was destined to fall for Annabel—completely.
They were only inches apart, their noses brushing. Their eyes locked, each of them catching their own reflection in the other’s gaze.
Annabel lifted her chin and kissed him. Their warm breaths mingled, the heat slowly dissolving the space between them. Rupert’s hand grew restless, sliding beneath her clothes and tracing a path along her skin.
Annabel suddenly caught his hand and stilled it.
“No,” she whispered, pressing her forehead to his.
Rupert frowned, confused.
“You’re still hurt,” Annabel reminded him firmly.
Desire clouded Rupert’s eyes as he murmured, “I’ll be careful p>
She shook her head emphatically. “Absolutely not,” she said, springing to her feet. She pressed a finger to Rupert’s lips and warned, “Consider this your punishment p>
With that, she hummed a little tune and walked out, leaving Rupert behind.
“Damn…” Rupert raked a hand through his hair, his gaze fixed on Annabel’s departing figure.
“An influential backer?” Annabel raised an eyebrow as she listened to Dalores’s report, then accepted the documents being handed to her.
They contained detailed information about the men they had apprehended earlier. Annabel had expected nothing more than a small-time criminal group, but the situation was already turning out to be far more complicated than she’d anticipated.
“Why does he look so familiar?” Annabel pointed at a photo in the file, frowning as she searched her memory. She was certain she’d never met the man in person, yet his face seemed strangely familiar.