?Chapter 952:


    “Here. Drink this. I’m going upstairs,” she said, handing him the bowl.


    But Norton grabbed her wrist and pulled her right back to him. “Stay. Keep mepany.”


    “I have work tomorrow. I can’t pull an all-nighter with you!” she protested, trying to wriggle free.


    Tomorrow marked her first day at the new job—there was no way she could show up exhausted.


    Later, after washing up and climbing into bed, Yvonne found herself staring at the ceiling, her mind a tangled mess of emotions.


    Norton always seemed to dangle a sliver of hope in front of her right when she was ready to give up, only to crush it the moment she dared to believe again. If he wantedpany so badly, he should have been with histest fling while drunk. Why would hee back here and mess with her? Yvonne brushed her fingers over her lips, still dazed and confused.


    Before she could sort through the mess in her head, she heard Norton’s footstepsing up the stairs.


    He headed straight for the bathroom without a word, the sound of running water filling the silence.


    She squeezed her eyes shut and forced herself to stay still, pretending to be fast asleep.


    No more overthinking—her job was what mattered now. Whatever he did tonight was just a drunk man’s nonsense, not anything close to real feelings.


    She kept repeating the lie in her mind, trying to believe it.


    Norton soon finished washing up, the bathroom door clicking shut behind him, and climbed into bed beside her. Without warning, he reached out and pulled Yvonne against him, tucking her into his arms like she belonged there. Her heart spun out of control,pletely refusing


    Startled by the sudden closeness, Yvonne instinctively tried to pull away.


    “Don’t move,” Norton murmured, his voice thick with sleep and lingering hoarseness. “Or you’ll regret it.”


    Though he had sobered up after drinking the hangover remedy and showering, he couldn’t resist the temptation to tease her, especially seeing the clear annoyance on her face.


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    Yvonne immediately sensed the shift in his demeanor. There was something different about the way he touched her. Her muscles stiffened, her body frozen in response, yet his arms around her remained steady and warm. Without even realizing it, his hand began to rhythmically stroke her back—slow and soothing. The gentle motion gradually lulled her into calmness. Her breathing steadied, and, slowly, the tightness in her frame melted away. Sleep quietly imed her.


    The following morning, the first sounds of her rm pierced the quiet of dawn. Yvonne sprang from the bed, moving cautiously to avoid disturbing Norton as she extricated herself from his embrace.


    However, the rustle of her movements stirred him awake. He reached for his phone, squinting at the time. “It’s only five o’clock. What’s the rush?”


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