CHAPTER 454: CHAPTER 454: STIRRED EMOTIONS

Quinn Lockwood pulled back her hand, which Elias Sinclair had grabbed. She felt that the handsome and exquisite face before her, under the light, seemed to emit a faint glow, pure and clean like an angel.

Wait, an angel?

How could she think of this word to describe Elias Sinclair? That should be a feeling for someone gentle and pure like her own brother!

Quinn could hardly believe her eyes. She turned her head away from Elias, but at that instant, she saw it.

She saw that mischievous glint hidden in Elias’s eyes.

"Hmm? What’s wrong, are you shy because I guessed your thoughts?" The man’s dark, deep eyes radiated an enchanting brilliance. When he saw Quinn turn away, his attractive smile slightly faded.

Quinn rolled her eyes in response, choosing not to engage with Elias.

This man was obviously teasing her. Seriously, when did Elias Sinclair become so... frivolous!

Besides, if he wanted to flirt, he should go find Melody Shepherd. After all, she was the best choice for a daughter-in-law, as acknowledged and appreciated by the elders.

Thinking of Mrs. Sinclair’s praises for Melody at the dinner table, Quinn felt extremely aggrieved.

She had tried her best, but it was still not as good as Melody Shepherd. Clearly, she could divorce Elias and gain her freedom, yet this man still wouldn’t let her go.

"What are you avoiding?" Elias noticed Quinn’s indifference and remained puzzled, furrowing his brows slightly.

He lowered his gaze, pondering for a moment, as if an idea had come to him. He wrapped his arms around Quinn’s slender waist and said, "Are you feeling jealous about what happened earlier?"

"I’ll talk to my mother and make sure she doesn’t bring Melody Shepherd over again. Is that better?"

The man’s voice was low and magnetic, seductive as if tiny particles floated in the air, falling gently and intricately around Quinn’s ear.

"No, that’s not it."

"I’m not upset about that matter; you’re overthinking it." Quinn crossed her arms over her chest, her eyelids fluttering slightly, and her soft lips pressed together.

He had guessed her thoughts.

She was indeed jealous, and it was indeed because of Melody Shepherd.

But she didn’t trust what Elias said.

"Hey, what are you...?" Quinn was lost in her thoughts when suddenly she was flipped over with a firm pull.

Right in front of her was Elias Sinclair’s exquisite and defined face.

And then, his slightly cool and sharp kiss brushed against her lips.

What was he doing?

The dark fire in Elias’s eyes flickered and quickly settled. Although Quinn couldn’t see Elias’s expression, the sudden halt in the surrounding air temperature was enough to tell the complexity of his feelings at the moment.

Quinn thought Elias might do something next, but he just looked at her, doing nothing. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed and faded, finally returning to a cold, deep black.

"Sleep." The man seemed to sigh, his deep voice tinged with a sense of helplessness and disappointment.

Moments later, Quinn felt her head being gently stroked, and then a large hand rested on her back.

"Goo... Goodnight." Quinn peeked out her head, with the man’s chin resting on her forehead, preventing her from looking up to see Elias’s current expression.

He must be enduring something difficult, not wanting her to see him like this...

"Hmm, good girl." The man’s chin lifted and lowered lightly, his large hand gently patting Quinn’s back like coaxing a child to sleep.

His sole task now was to make sure the woman in his arms quickly drifted off to sleep. Any movement from her could easily rekindle the heat he had managed to suppress.

Under Elias’s gentle patting, Quinn felt as though she were floating beneath a white cloud, slipping drowsily into a dream.

The next morning, Quinn was startled awake by the man turning over beside her. She had apparently forgotten she was sleeping in Elias’s room.

She turned her head, seeing Elias lying peacefully next to her. The white down pillow slightly sank under his weight, and in the morning light, his handsome face radiated a captivating glow.

"Awake?" Elias propped his head with his hand, a faint smile in his eyes and the gaze he cast on Quinn revealed a hint of joy.

"Uh, g-good morning." The moment Quinn saw Elias, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, but she quickly recalled everything that had happened.

"I... I’m going to wash up." Remembering what had occurred before bed the previous night, a light blush spread across Quinn’s face once again.

She haphazardly threw off the blanket to get out of bed, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a large patch of bloodstains left on the sheet.

"I’m sorry." Quinn hurriedly pulled the blanket back up, smiling nervously and apologetically at Elias.