Chapter 22: The First Glance
On the day of the NexGuard Product Launch Event,
When Aveline woke up, her stomach churned at the sight of Damien's handsome yet peaceful sleeping face. Resisting her urge to slap the peace off his face, she quietly got off the bed, wondering when he might have returned home.
After completing her morning yoga, Aveline drank a glass of juice without noticing the guilty eyes of the housekeeper beside her and Damien leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window in their bedroom, watching her.
In the dining hall, Damien was comfortably having breakfast, but the frowns were imprinted on Aveline's dainty face. Hiding his smirk, Damien asked, "What's wrong, Nina?"
Pressing her hand on her chest, Aveline responded, "My heart... is racing." She hadn't done anything strenuous, yet it beat oddly fast.
'Symptoms!?' The housekeeper subtly lowered his head in the corner of the dining hall.
Damien looked concerned in a blink, yet his composure was unbelievably unshakeable. His hand slipped into her hair and cupped her face, and Aveline had to restrain herself from flinching or pulling away from his touch.
Then his fingers grazed down to her slender neck, slow and deliberate. His fingers shifted, subtle yet enough to send a cold shiver down her spine. It felt like he could strangle her the very next second.
Aveline's heartbeat kicked up further, thudding against her chest. Negative thoughts rose. What if he knew? What if he had sensed her actions against him?
Before she could sink deeper in dread, his voice broke through.
"Shall I call for the doctor?" He asked. His tone was laced with a strange gentleness.