Chapter 55
Chapter 55:
She blinked slowly, her gaze hazy and unfocused.
Ethan’s eyes darkened, his voice steady but heavy with meaning. “Tell me something. Who grew up with you p>
Noelle blinked again, struggling to piece it together.
He continued, his tone soft but firm. “Who used to tell you bedtime stories every single night when you were little p>
She squinted slightly, as if trying to dig through thick fog to remember.
“And who helped you with your homework? Who skipped school with you just because you didn’t want to go p>
Her lashes fluttered, her eyes glimmering with confusion and faint emotion. Then, as her gaze steadied, a small smile appeared on her lips. A flicker of recognition brightened her face. She lifted her hand excitedly. “It was you p>
Ethan caught her hand midair, holding it gently. His thumb brushed against her wrist—warm, steady, grounding. “And back then,” he asked quietly, “what did you always call me p>
Noelle straightened slightly, puffing out her chest like a proud child. “Best Ethan p>
Ch𝘪𝗻𝘦𝘴e ո𝗼𝗏𝘦𝗅𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝗮𝘯𝗌𝗅atе𝖽 𝘰ո
Ethan chuckled—a low, magnetic sound that rumbled in his chest. His Adam’s apple shifted as he laughed, and he reached for her phone on the bed. It was locked.
He raised a brow and entered her birthday. The screen unlocked instantly.
With a faint smirk, he opened the camera, angled it to fit both their faces, and said, “Then how about a photo with your Best Ethan p>
Noelle leaned in immediately, her head tipping lightly against his. Her lips curved into a lazy smile that was both soft and teasing. Ethan rested his head beside hers and snapped the picture.
Afterward, his slender fingers tapped the screen a few times, replacing her old wallpaper with the photo they had just taken together.
He didn’t snoop or scroll through anything else—he just quietly made the change. Satisfied, he set the phone down on the bedside table. Then he helped her lie back down.
“Do you want to sleep now p>
Noelle rubbed her temples with her fingertips and nodded. “Yeah… I do p>
“Then sleep. You’ll feel better when you wake up p>
She mumbled something incoherent and puffed up her cheeks. Grabbing the blanket, she curled into it and closed her eyes.
Ethan stayed beside her, watching quietly. When he was sure she was sound asleep, he leaned in and gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. His voice was soft, almost a whisper, filled with warmth he didn’t bother to hide.
“Goodnight, Noey p>
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains, filling the room with a soft golden glow. Tiny dust motes floated in the light like glitter suspended in air.
The warm light fell across Noelle’s face, making her skin look smooth and luminous. She stirred, her eyelids twitching as she slowly woke up. Lifting a hand to shield her eyes, she lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, still half-asleep as she tried to piece together what had happened the night before.