CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: THEN DO YOU LOVE ME?

Nervous.

Even though she couldn’t see, Shannon Quinn’s heart was still restless, her ear pressed against the pillow, she could hear her own rapid "thump thump thump" of her heartbeat clearly.

The entire mask was lifted from his face, she carefully placed it beside the pillow, then reached her hand towards his face.

Just as she was about to touch his face, her hand stiffened, she took a deep breath, her fingers trembling slightly.

Her fingertips first touched his face, tracing along his brow and eyes, exploring carefully.

She thought she would feel a face full of scars, uneven and incomplete skin, but surprisingly, it was very smooth, there was nothing unusual to the touch.

Sliding down from his brow and eyes, she felt his prominent nose, sketching his image in her mind...

Vincent Rhodes could sense the subtle trembling in her hands, her movements were cautious, more curious yet filled with a fear of the unknown.

He wasn’t worried that she would figure out who he was, because she was not familiar with him.

Feeling the warmth from her delicate hands, eventually her hand landed on his lips, gently touching them with her fingertips, then moved to the other cheek.

Shannon Quinn was sketching his features in the darkness, but still found it perplexing.

Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, a large hand caught the back of her head, before she could pull her hand back, the force prevented her retreat, and then, a warm, soft sensation touched her lips...

Her hand, which she hadn’t had time to retract, was pressed against his chest, considering his injuries, she didn’t dare to resist too forcefully.

He kissed deeply, prying open her lips and teeth, not giving her a chance to breathe...

The hurried breaths uncertain of whose they were, her once stiff body gradually softened.

Feeling her struggle to breathe, only then did Vincent Rhodes release her.

His sudden action probably made her feel uneasy, she immediately raised a hand to remove her blindfold, Vincent caught her hand, calming her down.

"Sleep." He said.

Seeing he didn’t make any further moves, Shannon Quinn lowered her hand, only to ask him, "Why don’t you want me to see your face?"

"It’s not the time."

"When will it be the time?"

"Perhaps... when you fall in love with me."

Shannon Quinn was stunned, couldn’t help but ask him, "Do you love me then?"

He replied ambiguously, "Maybe."

Shannon Quinn was silent for a moment, then turned around, facing away from him.

She wanted to understand him, to know his story, but he never wished to be open with her.

A husband in name, nothing but a stranger, what talk of love or lack thereof.

Maybe she was just a pawn in his hand.

She rubbed her lips with her hand, feeling the dampness in her eyes beneath the blindfold, Shannon Quinn sniffed, wrapped herself in the blanket.

Suddenly, a gentle force came as he embraced her through the blanket, feeling his body press closer.

She didn’t struggle, nor did she react, still maintaining her position, completely still.

The room fell calm, no sounds remained.

His breathing was steady, unsure if he had fallen asleep, Shannon Quinn shifted slightly, swallowed, and slowly reached out to remove her blindfold, yet the next moment, her hand was held down by him, captured in his palm.

Realizing her plan was discovered, Shannon Quinn felt guilty and somewhat defeated, then annoyed.

Forcefully withdrew her hand from his grasp, retreated into the blanket, dismissing those errant thoughts.

Who fell asleep first, no longer mattered as neither spoke again.

Upon waking, Shannon Quinn found darkness before her eyes again, thinking it was still midnight, she turned over to continue sleeping, suddenly recalling something, she reached out to search both sides of her body.

Finding nothing, she then reached out to remove the blindfold from her face.

The curtains drawn, the light was not glaring, yet indicated it was already quite late.

Looking around, she was alone in the room now.

Shannon Quinn quickly got up, put on her slippers and ran outside the room.

Just reaching the living room, she saw Vincent Rhodes sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper, as she ran out, his gaze shifted from the newspaper to her.

For some reason, seeing him made Shannon Quinn sigh with relief, she thought he would disappear without a word again.

Knowing he couldn’t stay here forever, thinking of him leaving without saying goodbye always made Shannon Quinn feel uncomfortable.

"What are you rushing around for?"

Shannon Quinn awkwardly stood for two seconds before pointing to the bathroom saying, "...the bathroom."

Couldn’t possibly say she was looking for him?

"I’ve told you, the child is decided to stay, remember you’re a mother now, don’t be reckless."

Shannon Quinn replied "Oh" and went into the bathroom, standing in front of the mirror, looking at her messy hair, she didn’t comb it but stared at her lips in the reflection.

Recalling last night’s kiss, her face flushed, quickly grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste to divert her attention.

The day passed similar to yesterday, each ate their own meal, did their own thing.

That night, some ingredients ran out, Shannon Quinn tidied up and went out shopping at the supermarket.

While shopping, she pondered what dishes to make for him at dinner that wouldn’t bore him, but would be good for his health.

Earnestly searching for recipes online, unknowingly added two more large bags of items.

Struggling to carry them into the elevator, during the elevator ride she took out her phone again to check recipes, planning what to cook later.

"Ding-dong"

Glancing at the floor number, confirming she reached her own floor, she put away her phone and carrying the items walked out.

Originally thinking everything was normal, opening the door perhaps Vincent Rhodes would still be the same as when she had left, sitting in the living room watching TV.

Unexpectedly after opening the door, the room was eerily quiet, even the living room lights were off.

Shannon Quinn took the bought items to the kitchen, hurriedly walked towards his room.

The door wasn’t closed, the light was also off, her heart seemed to sink instantly.

Slowly reached to turn on the room light, the bed neatly made same as she made it in the morning, unchanged now.

Except for his absence, everything in the room was just as it was when she left.

Realizing he probably already left, Shannon Quinn’s eyes welled up, her nose felt sore.

Even if leaving, couldn’t he bid farewell properly before going?

She hadn’t forced him to do anything, if only when she was going out earlier he had told her not to worry about dinner because he was leaving, she wouldn’t feel as sad as she did now.

Looking at those two large bags of groceries in the kitchen, all she felt was laughter at herself.

Perhaps all her efforts to care for him over the last days, he never considered them at all.

Indeed selfish people always only think about their own feelings.