Chapter 16: Hidden Feelings and Gentle Surprises<b>–</b><b>1 </b>


    Chapter 16: Hidden Feelings and Gentle Surprises


    (Olivia’s POV)


    Perhaps Connor noticed my uneasiness with him in the hotel suite. He gestured toward the


    stairs with a slight nod.


    “Check if you’re missing anything and let me know. I’ll go upstairs to take a shower,” he said.


    His voice carried the natural authority of an Alpha, yet remained gentle with me. I appreciated


    the space he was giving me, allowing me to settle in without pressure.


    “Wait a second.” Connor stopped, turned back, his ice–blue eyes questioning. “What’s wrong?”


    I hesitated, then reached into my backpack. The bottled water I’d been suspicious of was still


    there, untouched since I’d found it in my room at Moonlight Manor. I pulled it out and handed


    it to Connor.


    “Con, can you help me contact a testing facility? This water might have been tampered with.”


    His gaze instantly sharpened as he grasped the implication. The temperature in the room


    seemed to drop several degrees.


    “Is someone trying to hurt you?” His voice had hardened, all traces of gentleness gone.


    I nodded gravely. “I think so, but I can’t be sure. Better to be cautious.”


    Without hesitation, Connor took the bottle, his fingers brushing against mine. “Alright, leave


    this to me.”


    He immediately pulled out his phone and dialed. “Henry,e over. I need you to handle


    something.” His tone was curt, brooking no argument.


    As he strode away, disappearing around the staircase corner, I finally let out a breath I didn’t


    realize I was holding. My tense body rxed slightly, the weight of my suspicions now shared.


    Just moments before, when I handed him the bottled water, our eyes had unexpectedly


    crashed into each other’s. His were bottomless pools of ice–blue, intense and deep. For a


    fleeting instant, my heart seemed to stop.


    His eyes were beautiful. No, not only his eyes–his entire face was like a masterpiece, so perfect my heart couldn’t help but speed up. I’d forgotten how striking Connor was up close.


    After he left, I took time to observe the suite. It clearly bore traces of someone’s long–term


    < Chapter 16: Hidden Feelings.


    <b>+25 </b><b>Puntos </b><b>> </b>


    living: a jacket draped over a chair, several books on the coffee table, even a particr arrangement of items on the kitchen counter. These weren’t the marks of a transient stay at


    all.


    That puzzled me. Wasn’t Connor based in Riverdale? Why did this Harbor City hotel suite feel like a second home? Yet I quickly dismissed the thought; it was none of my concern.


    I unpacked my luggage in the bedroom, only to realize I hadn’t brought slippers <i>for </i>showering. As I hesitated whether to call Connor, the doorbell rang.


    I opened the door to a polite hotel attendant bearing a tray and a bag.


    “Hello, I’m here to deliver items for Mr. Rivers,” he said with a professional smile.


    I epted the hot herbal tea and the bag, thanking him softly. After closing the door, I was


    surprised to see the steaming cup of herbal tea. Did Connor also have the habit of drinking


    ing tea before bed? That was quite a coincidence.


    g the bag, I found a pair of brand–new women’s slippers, two unopened towels, and e toiletries–clearly prepared just for me. A gentle warmth rose in my chest. Connor truly


    was attentive.


    At this moment, Connor appeared at the stairway, his powerful presence filling the room


    without effort.


    “Did everything arrive?” he asked, his ice–blue eyes scanning my face.


    I looked up, feeling a strange flutter in my chest. “Yes, thank you, Con.”


    Our eyes met in the air, carrying an unspoken intimacy. He was no longer just my childhood


    friend but also my fiancé now. The realization made my cheeks warm.


    Connor approached, rifying, “I ordered the tea for you.”


    “Huh? I thought it was <i>for </i>you,” I replied, surprised.


    “I don’t have that habit,” he said simply. “Drink it, it’s good for you after the stress you’ve been


    through.”


    As he spoke, Connor turned to open the door again. Standing silently outside was his


    assistant, Henry Morris, whom he had summoned earlier. Connor handed over the suspicious


    bottled water.


    “Send this for testing immediately. I want to know if it contains any toxins,” he instructed, his tone leaving no room for questions.


    213


    < Chapter 16: Hidden Feelings.


    Henry’s expression remained professionally neutral. “Yes, Mr. Rivers.”


    +25 Puntos >


    When Connor turned back, he caught my curious, clear amber eyes. An indescribable softness brushed his expression. Unable to resist, he reached out and gently ruffled my honey–brown


    hair with a fondness that was almost habitual.


    “Go to bed early. What time do you want me to wake you tomorrow?” he asked.


    “Ten o’clock,” I replied, looking up at him from the sofa.


    Unbeknownst to me, a faint line of herbal tea had stained my lips, creating an unexpectedly


    intimate and alluring scene. Connor’s gaze deepened, his throat working slightly as he looked


    away.


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