Chapter 433
Charlotte had never seen Sean look so disheveled.
+25 BONUS
Something tightened in her chest, and her eyes burned unexpectedly. She didn’t even know what she was feeling–just that it was overwhelming.
Without thinking, she ran up and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
“You’re here.” The words came out soft and unsteady.
Sean froze.
It had been so long since they’d hugged.
Only God knew how many times he had imagined this moment.
The sky had turned a soft shade of orange, like a splash of color brushed lightly across the morning clouds,
In the early light, thin trails of smoke rose from the kitchens nearby, blending into the lingering mist–quiet and tender, like lovers finally reunited.
The outlines of the trees were slowly becoming clear.
Drops of dew fell without a sound, rippling across the stillness between them like a stone tossed into a quiet lake.
Everything about this moment felt dreamlike.
Charlotte’s arms stayed around him. Time seemed to stop.
Sean didn’t move. He was afraid that if he did, the dream might vanish.
Neither of them spoke.
It felt like forever.
Finally, Sean turned to face her.
Charlotte noticed the small twitch of his throat as he swallowed.
Then she looked into his eyes–deep and dark, filled with emotions she couldn’t quite face. She quickly looked away.
“I told you not to come,” she mumbled, glancing to the side.
Sean gently held her face in his hands and turned her back toward him.
“I wanted to see you. So I came.”
His features were sharp and beautiful, his voice low and warm–like a breeze in spring.
Her eyes were still hazy from sleep, filled with a soft shimmer as she stared at him without blinking.
“What is it?” he asked, gently tapping the tip of her nose. His eyes held a playful glint. “It’s only been a few days. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten what I look like.”
She blinked slowly. Her voice was soft and a little hoarse. “It just doesn’t feel real. It’s like I’m still dreaming.”
“It’s not a dream,” he said with a warm smile. “If you don’t believe me, go ahead and pinch me.”
She let out a small sound of protest. “Even if I did, I wouldn’t know if it hurt or not.”
Sean gave a low laugh. “Then what should we do? If you pinch yourself, I’ll feel bad.”
Charlotte couldn’t help but smile. She gave him a light nudge in the chest, her tone half teasing. “Alright, that’s enough.”
1/3
Chapter 433
He caught her hand and held it gently. “I mean it.”
Her clear, doe–like eyes reflected his face.
She pressed her lips together and asked softly, “Did you eat anything yet?”
+25 BONUS
“No,” he said. “The road conditions were worse than I expected. didn’t reach the city until around three thirty this morning. Things were better there since the floodwater had mostly drained, but the closer I got to this area, the harder it became. The road to the county was still flooded. Once I got about five kilometers from the village, I had to leave the car and walk.”
Her brows furrowed. “You walked five kilometers?”
Sean nodded.
A faint ache tightened in her chest.
Five kilometers on foot, through muddy, slippery roads. One wrong step and he could have fallen. The village was remote, the roads were rough, and the surrounding mountains made things even riskier. If the rain had started again, there could have been a landslide.
The thought alone was terrifying.
Another question suddenly came to mind.
“You didn’t sleep at all last night?” she asked quietly.
