Donovan Xavier coughed. "A kiss... Let’s just forget it."
Chloe Preston grabbed his tie and looked straight at him. "You just said you wanted to start over."
Donovan Xavier frowned. "It’s too fast. What kind of woman demands a kiss right off the bat?"
Chloe Preston leaned in closer. "What’s so fast about it? You usually love kissing me."
"Either you kiss me, or I’ll assume you can’t stand me and are only taking responsibility for me out of obligation because of the baby."
As she spoke, she leaned in to bite his Adam’s apple.
Donovan Xavier leaned back slightly, avoiding her.
Chloe Preston froze, simply staring at him as tears welled in her eyes.
Donovan Xavier met her gaze. "I just lost my memory. Can’t you give me a few days to adjust?"
For him, it didn’t matter how much he might have loved or cared for this woman before. Right now, he couldn’t remember a single thing about her.
Chloe Preston leaned against his chest and hugged him. After a long time, she said softly, "Alright. I’ll adjust with you."
Donovan Xavier lowered his gaze to the soft, fragrant woman in his arms and his lips curved slightly. "You’re quite the obedient one."
After a long moment, Chloe Preston looked up again, blinking her damp eyes. "You’re really not going to kiss me?"
Donovan looked out the car window and coughed a few times. "It’s not appropriate. We can... talk about it when we get home."
Chloe Preston leaned over and asked, "Oh? So once we’re home, you’ll kiss me?"
Donovan Xavier was silent.
Donovan Xavier was silent.
「A short while later.」
The car arrived at The Xavier Residence. The heavy rain was still pouring outside.
Housekeeper Wallace was waiting with an umbrella and immediately came over to greet them.
Donovan Xavier lowered his gaze and said in a deep voice, "We’re here."
The woman didn’t react. She had cried herself to exhaustion earlier and had long since fallen asleep in his arms, her own arms wrapped around his strong waist.
Donovan Xavier reached out and tried to gently shake her awake. "We’re here. Get out of the car."
She was sound asleep.
Donovan Xavier furrowed his brows. "Wake up. Stop sleeping."
"Get up. Don’t expect me to carry you out." Fresh chapters posted on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
After a few dozen seconds, Donovan Xavier opened the car door, got out, then reached in and lifted her into his arms. His movements were gentle, afraid of harming the child in her belly.
Housekeeper Wallace held the umbrella over their heads.
Donovan Xavier glanced up at her. "Be careful. Don’t let the rain get on her."
"Understood," Housekeeper Wallace replied.
He deliberately walked slowly up the stairs, holding her securely.
Chloe Preston finally woke up.
"Where are we?" She rubbed her eyes, nuzzling groggily into his arms, her voice soft and raspy.
She was stunningly beautiful, bright and vibrant, with eyes as clear as water. She was charming yet gentle, and her current dazed state after waking up was rather adorable.
Donovan Xavier looked down at her, his voice devoid of emotion. "In my arms."
Chloe Preston paused for a second, then glanced around. "We’re back? Why didn’t you wake me?"
Donovan continued walking up the stairs. "I tried, but you wouldn’t stir. You were sleeping like a log."
Chloe Preston immediately tried to get down. "I... I can walk on my own."
Donovan Xavier gave her a sidelong glance, his tone as domineering as ever. "Don’t move."
After a pause, he asked, "Did I... often carry you before?"
Chloe Preston wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded. "Yes. Why do you ask all of a sudden?"
"No reason," Donovan replied. "It just feels very familiar to hold you."
It was a feeling as if, once he held her, he couldn’t let go.
He placed her on the bed. A small orange cat suddenly jumped up, meowing softly as it rubbed against her calf, then tried to leap onto him.
Donovan Xavier frowned. "Where did this thing come from?"
"You brought it back. You said we’d raise it together—you’d be the dad, and I’d be the mom."
Donovan Xavier didn’t answer. He looked around the room. The layout was the same as he remembered, but it seemed to be filled with new things now—all hers. Pink dolls, a dress tossed on the sofa, books on the table... everything was mixed in with his own belongings.
His face showed no emotion. He looked at the woman again and said flatly, "You should rest. I’m going out."
Chloe Preston wanted to call out to him, but he had already turned and walked out the door.
Dinner was quiet. For every three sentences Chloe Preston spoke, he would only offer a single, reluctant reply.
「Late at night, in the study.」
Donovan Xavier sat in his executive chair, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. His features were cold and aloof as he finished a video conference. He had been in a coma for two months and hadn’t touched any company business, so the documents had piled up into a mountain.
He leaned back and massaged his temples, feeling exhausted. He closed his eyes, and Chloe’s figure unexpectedly appeared in his mind.
His feelings for this woman were complicated. He clearly couldn’t remember her, yet she felt incredibly familiar. He tried desperately to recall something, but nothing came to mind. My head hurts.
A photo of her was still on his desk. Even a fool could see how much he used to care for her.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Donovan Xavier opened his eyes. "Come in."
The door opened and Chloe Preston stepped inside. She was wearing a black lace slip dress that was subtly alluring against her pale, pretty face.
Donovan Xavier took off his glasses and looked over. "It’s late. Why aren’t you asleep yet?"
Chloe Preston pursed her lips. "You weren’t there." She paused for a few seconds, then asked, "Why aren’t you coming back to the room? Is it because you don’t want to sleep with me? If that’s the case, we can sleep in separate rooms."
Donovan Xavier’s brow furrowed slightly. "I’m busy with work."
Chloe Preston just stared at him.
A moment later, Donovan sighed softly, then rose and walked over to her. "Fine. Let’s go to bed. I’ll sleep with you, alright?"
"Okay," Chloe Preston murmured.
They walked down the hallway in silence. Chloe Preston tilted her head, carefully watching him before extending a hand.
"I want you to hold my hand."
Donovan was about to refuse, but when he met her gaze, he gave in. His palm was warm as it enveloped her cold hand.
Chloe Preston nodded.
The neckline of her slip was cut deep, and the fabric was sheer. Since he was so much taller, his angle gave him an unobstructed view of everything.
Donovan merely glanced down before immediately looking away, a wave of heat surging through him.
His body seemed to be very... responsive to her.
Donovan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he took a quiet breath. "Starting tomorrow night, you are forbidden from wearing this kind of nightgown."
Chloe Preston looked at him. "Why? You used to love it when I dressed ."