?Chapter 1048:


    “Really?” He didn’t buy it. “You’re not even going to lie better than that?”


    “It was nothing,” Freya said smoothly, keeping a straight face. “She just said she liked my gift the most. Yours and your dad’s didn’t evene close.”


    Ellis actually believed her. After all, Kendra had said something simr earlier.


    The rest of the drive, Freya sat quietly with the envelope still clutched in her hand. She didn’t dare open it in front of him—he’d definitely try to snatch it if he saw. That would be a disaster.


    By the time they got home, it was around five.


    Freya made a beeline for her room, nning to open the envelope in peace. But just as she was about to shut the door, Ellis casually wedged himself in, using his body to block it.


    “Captain?” Freya blinked, looking a little thrown off.


    She genuinely had no clue why Ellis had suddenly appeared.


    Ellis stepped inside, pulling the door shut behind him. His eyesnded on the envelope in her hand, and a sly, almost roguish smile tugged at his lips. “What’s in the envelope? Come on, let me have a look.”


    “Not a chance!” Freya yelped, swiftly hiding the envelope behind her back.


    He advanced, one step, then another.


    She instinctively backed away.


    In no time, her back met the wall.


    He halted just in front of her, leaning in ever so slightly to shrink the space between them. “What’s in there that you’re being so secretive about?”


    Lɑt?st chαpt?rs in g??l??ov?ls.????m


    “I’m not telling you.”


    “You sure about that?”


    “Absolutely.”


    “I don’t think you could stop me if I really wanted it.” His smile deepened as heid out the cold, undeniable truth. “So, are you still refusing to let me see it?”


    Freya went quiet. She had no solideback. She was no match for him—in height or in strength. Going against him would be a total and utter defeat.


    “No. If you try to take it, I’ll be mad,” Freya warned, though a sliver of doubt tugged at her words. “I won’t speak to you for three whole days.”


    “You sure?” Ellis’s grin stretched even wider.


    Freya gave a firm nod.


    Something about her, standing there so defiant, made him want to reach out and pinch those soft cheeks of hers. How could someone be this dangerously adorable?


    “Kiss me and I’ll leave,” Ellis said, practically offering himself an escape route.


    Freya wasn’t falling for it. He wouldn’t take the envelope anyway—kiss or no kiss. So why on earth should she kiss him?


    Ellis, captivated by her cool, unreadable gaze, felt something stir deep inside. He leaned down and brushed a kiss against her soft, pink lips, his arms slipping around her waist.


    Their breaths mingled, and the air between them thickened, heating up like summer.


    The moment lingered.


    Ellis ended the kiss with a soft, teasing bite to her lip, his voice rough and low. “Once you’re done,e downstairs. Your boyfriend’s waiting for his hug.”


    .


    .


    .