Emily’s lips twitched, but she didn’t say anything.
Pam was right. She’d never noticed before, but Kenneth really could be clingy sometimes.
“Get some sleep.” Emily turned off the too-bright bedside lamp, got up, and glanced down at him. “I’m just next door. Call me if you need anything.”
“Alright.”
Filming all day then coming home to take care of him had left her exhausted. Kenneth didn’t have the heart to ask for anything else.
The night settled in, quiet and still, wrapping around the whole villa.
Kenneth lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, wide awake. No matter how hard he tried to drift off, his mind kept wandering next door to Emily.
After a few restless minutes, he finally tossed the covers aside. Moving carefully so he wouldn't hurt himself, Kenneth got up and made his way to Emily’s room.
The door wasn’t even locked. He pushed it open gently and couldn’t help but smile.
“She really trusts me, huh?”
He crept across the room, quiet as he could, and stood by her bed.
Emily’s sleeping posture looked almost too perfect, her hand resting on the blanket, her eyes shut tight. She looked peaceful, almost like a doll.
What had I been thinking back then? How did I ever just see her as a little sister?
Kenneth leaned over, tucking the blanket around her shoulders, his gaze softening as he watched her face. He didn’t want to look away, not even for a second.
It surprised him, just how much he liked her now. At first, he’d only wanted to date her, maybe call her his girlfriend. But now… now he wanted a future. He wanted it all.
Except…
He paused, his eyes clouding with worry. Brushing her hair off her forehead with his thumb, he lowered his voice, barely above a whisper. “Do you still care about that other guy?”
The thought nagged at him, something he kept trying to ignore. But he could never quite shake the fear. What if Emily suddenly changed her mind and went running back to that jerk?
Maybe he should ask Lottie for help, see what she could dig up about the other man. Know your enemy, right?
Sighing quietly, Kenneth bent down and kissed Emily gently between her brows. “I’ll bet on us…” he whispered, his voice warm, sweet with affection. “One day, you’ll be mine.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns