Chloe Preston’s cheeks turned slightly red. Flustered, she pressed down on his mischievous, cold hand. "Don’t do this." Donovan Xavier chuckled again. In the darkness, Chloe Preston could just make out his features by a faint glimmer of light. His jawline was smooth and sharply defined, and his dark eyes were deep and profound. Feeling the warmth of his body, Chloe Preston stopped struggling. "Why did you suddenly show up here?" Donovan Xavier, carrying the intoxicating scent of alcohol, spoke in a low, amused voice. "To keep you company. Can you sleep well when I’m not around?" Chloe Preston hummed softly. "I feel so relaxed when you’re not here. I sleep especially well!" "Really?" Donovan Xavier leaned even closer. "I think you’re just saying the opposite of what you feel." Chloe Preston ignored him and sat up, intending to turn on the light. Donovan Xavier didn’t answer. Instead, his lips descended upon hers. During a pause for breath, Chloe Preston pulled back slightly. "Donovan..." Hearing her call him so intimately, Donovan Xavier’s dark eyes shifted, and his long, slender knuckles curled into a fist. It felt as if something inside his chest had just caved in. He loved it when she called him that. He turned his head, his gaze dark, and leaned close to her ear. With a tempting, husky tone, he murmured, "It’s been so long since I’ve heard you call me Donovan. Come on, say it for me." Chloe Preston’s thick lashes trembled. Back when they were still together, she loved to cling to him deep in the night, her arms wrapped tightly around his firm waist, softly calling his name. But four years had passed. For a moment, Chloe Preston found herself unable to say it. "Be good," Donovan Xavier coaxed softly. For a moment, Chloe’s heart was a whirlwind of intoxicating passion. The next second, her watery eyes gazed at him, and the name escaped her lips as if by some strange compulsion. "Donovan." Donovan Xavier’s heart stirred. He smiled, satisfied. "Sounds good. Say it again." With that, he began to undress. Chloe Preston glanced over before quickly turning her head away and coughing lightly. "Can’t you be a little more restrained?" Donovan Xavier squinted and raised an eyebrow. "No," he stated plainly. "I’m no Byron Willow. I can’t remain virtuous with a beautiful woman in my arms." "We’re in someone else’s house," Chloe said. "This isn’t appropriate." Donovan Xavier leaned closer, his voice hoarse. "You’re not allowed to refuse." Chloe Preston was speechless. 「An hour and a half later.」 Donovan Xavier lowered his head and kissed the tears from her face. He was silent for a few seconds, his thin lips pursed. "Why didn’t you ever tell me?" he asked suddenly. "Hm?" Chloe murmured. Donovan Xavier opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing more. "It’s nothing." He wanted to ask about her depression, to know how long she had been ill. How was she now? Had she recovered? Was she still on medication? How had she endured all these years he wasn’t around? Did she miss him terribly? Did she often cry alone in secret? But he couldn’t bring himself to ask. He was afraid—afraid that he was the very person who had caused her depression. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Donovan Xavier’s heart, as if someone was gripping it tightly. The agony made it hard to even breathe. Chloe Preston noticed the shift in his mood. She propped herself up and kissed his warm neck, her voice already hoarsely out of tune. "What’s wrong?" Donovan Xavier didn’t respond. He simply cupped her jaw with one hand and began to kiss her listlessly. 「Another hour later.」 A sharp knock suddenly sounded at the door. The two people on the bed froze in shock. Donovan Xavier reacted instantly, yanking the blanket up to cover them completely. From outside the door, Claire’s voice drifted in. "Chloe, it’s me. Can I come in?" Chloe Preston panicked. "No!" She took a quick breath to compose herself, then spoke in a sleepy tone. "Claire, I’m a little dizzy, so I’ve already gone to bed. You don’t need to come in." Hearing this, Claire grew instantly worried. "Chloe, why are you dizzy? Are you sick? I have to come in and check on you!" Google seaʀᴄh novel⸺fire.net "N-No need!" Chloe stammered. "It’s just a bit of low blood sugar. I’ll be fine after I sleep!" Claire was still concerned and insisted on seeing her. The next second, with a click, the door opened a crack. The room was dark inside, so she couldn’t see very clearly from the doorway. Terrified she would come in, Chloe Preston shouted urgently, "C-Claire, I’m not wearing any clothes!" "Ah?" Claire was stunned. Chloe Preston bit her lip, scrambling for an excuse. "Claire," she began awkwardly, "y-you don’t know this about me, but I’ve always liked to sleep naked!" Hearing this from under the blanket, Donovan Xavier couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle. Afraid he would be discovered, Chloe reached out and pinched his forearm, signaling him to be quiet. A smile on his lips, Donovan Xavier let out a faint hiss. "Ow." Claire heard the faint noise. "Chloe, why do I hear a man’s voice?" Chloe Preston was already sweating profusely. She forced a laugh. "What man’s voice? Claire, you must be hearing things! If you don’t believe me, come on in and see for yourself!" Knowing she was naked and that a young woman would be easily embarrassed, Claire naturally decided against entering. She stood at the door, her smile gentle. "Well, if you’re already sleeping, I won’t disturb you. We can talk tomorrow." Then, the door was softly closed. Chloe Preston let out a huge sigh of relief. Donovan Xavier flopped onto his side beside her, propping his chin on his hand. He leaned in and pecked her on the forehead. "This feels like we’re having an affair." Chloe Preston shot him a soft glare. "This is what you get for coming in without locking the door." Donovan Xavier didn’t say anything. He threw back the covers, got out of bed, and swept her up into his arms, carrying her over to the floor-to-ceiling window. Chloe Preston lay in bed with her head buried in the blankets. Her eyelids fluttered, and she slowly woke up. She instinctively reached for the space beside her, only to find it empty and cold. I wonder when he left. Just then, her phone rang. Chloe Preston picked it up and answered, her voice listless. "Hello, Ivy. What’s up?" Ivy Lane’s voice came from the other end, filled with undisguised glee and admiration. "Chloe, your husband was incredible this time! I’m never calling him a scoundrel again. You two are a perfect match!" "You haven’t heard? Yesterday, Zoe Chadwick hit you, so to get revenge for you, your Donovan Xavier made the Chadwick Group collapse overnight! Morgan Chadwick even went to find Mr. Xavier and knelt before him. He kept kowtowing, crying and begging him for mercy!"