Chapter 63 Slept with Him

Chapter 63 Slept with Him

Elara remembered how Seraphina had walked out of the office like nothing had happened.

It surprised her a bit; she hadn't expected Kieran to be so good at comforting people.

The mess Lila had caused was forcibly suppressed by Kieran, but everyone knew the project team would face another upheaval sooner or later.

Juniper called in sick, and Elara, with Seraphina's help, started organizing their work to get ready for the upcoming artifact appraisal competition.

Late Friday night.

Elara got a call from Jasper, his tone unusually troubled. "Ms. Voss, Mr. Blackwood's at the Deep Alley club. He's had too much to drink. He won't let anyone near him. If you have time, could you come over? He insists on drinking, and we can't stop him."

When Elara arrived at the most secluded suite on the top floor of Deep Alley, the strong scent of alcohol hit her immediately.

Kieran was sitting alone on the carpet in front of a floor-to-ceiling window, surrounded by several empty bottles of hard liquor. 

The dazzling lights of the city outside the massive glass window reflected his lonely and somber silhouette.

He seemed to sense someone entering, but didn't turn around. 

Instead, he let out a hoarse growl, "Get out!" 

His voice was filled with anger and deeply buried pain.

Elara didn't move or speak.

She quietly closed the door and walked silently to a spot a few steps away from him. 

Her gaze fell on a few crumpled and then smoothed-out old photos on the table. 

The photos showed a woman with gentle and captivating features, her smile as bright as the morning sun.

Her facial features bore a slight resemblance to Lila's, but her demeanor was more gentle and elegant.

This was the first time Elara had seen this face, but she instantly knew who she was Clara.

Another photo, with a slightly newer background, showed Clara leaning gently on the shoulder of a young woman with a similar elegant demeanor and facial features. 

The two of them smiled warmly, like close sisters.

Elara's heart sank—this young woman in the photo bore a faint resemblance to Seraphina.

Although she didn't know her name, she was likely Seraphina's biological mother.

Kieran suddenly let out a low, suppressed sob, as if an invisible hand was choking him.

This man, usually strong enough to control everything, now seemed drained of all his strength, left with only a fragile core soaked in bitter alcohol and endless regret.

"It's all my fault..." he mumbled, his voice broken and unclear, "...if I hadn't... if I could have... she wouldn't have left..."

Fault? Whose fault?

Could it be that they were related to Kieran?

At that moment, Kieran seemed to exhaust the last bit of his strength, his tall body swaying and then falling backward.

Elara didn't have time to think. 

Almost instinctively, she rushed forward and used her body to support his heavy, alcohol-soaked frame before he hit the ground.

"Mr. Blackwood!"

Elara stumbled and fell onto the carpet, Kieran's head falling limply into the crook of her neck. 

His hot breath, reeking of alcohol, brushed against her sensitive collarbone, sending a shiver through her.

The oppressive presence he had when strong and the vulnerability he now showed, filled with endless pain, created a dangerously compelling contrast.

Elara froze, her heart pounding like a drum.

She had never been this close to anyone, especially not a man like him. 

She didn't know whether to push him away or support him.

Kieran seemed to find some sort of anchor, unconsciously tightening his grip around her waist, burying his head deeper into her shoulder, his burning cheek pressed against her neck, like a drowning man clutching at a lifeline.

In the darkness, only his heavy breathing and the intermittent, stifled sobs could be heard:

"Freya..."

"Clara..."

"...I'm sorry..."

Hot tears soaked through her thin shirt, the scorching temperature almost burning her skin.

Elara felt her stiff body gradually soften under the weight of his heavy, searing presence. It was heartache.

She didn't know what had happened between Seraphina's mother, Freya Hart, and the other woman, Clara Hart.

But Kieran's pain, burdened with unspeakable secrets and self-imposed unforgivable guilt, was locked deep within his frozen heart, only to be licked in solitude on nights of drunken stupor.

Elara ultimately didn't push him away.

She stiffly supported his body, her hand hesitantly patting his broad, sweat-soaked back, as if comforting a child waking from a nightmare.

Outside, the city's neon lights cast cold reflections, while inside, only broken bottles, scattered photos, muffled sobs, and uncertain pats remained.

The night was endlessly long.

Fatigue and the heavy pressure eventually caused Elara's head to droop into a deep sleep, resting on Kieran's soft, disheveled hair.

The two of them, in an intimate yet fragile embrace, fell into a deep sleep on the floor.

The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, Kieran's hot breath, and the faint, soothing hint from Elara.

At dawn, Elara woke first.

She was startled to find herself in such an undignified position, embracing Kieran.

Wasn't she the one holding Kieran last night? How did her head end up resting in his neck now?

His hand was even draped over her back!

Elara quickly pulled away as if shocked, sitting up awkwardly.

Her mind went blank for a few seconds before she suddenly remembered everything that had happened the previous night. 

Her cheeks flushed red, and she almost clumsily sat up, glancing at the old photos on the table that had revealed such a shocking secret, before quickly looking away.

Kieran was still asleep, his breathing even and steady.

Elara let out a sigh of relief; otherwise, she would have been embarrassed.

It was just a normal comfort, just helping a friend. Why be so surprised and embarrassed?

Elara realized that even if Kieran woke up now, she could naturally and calmly say, "Mr. Blackwood, don't worry, nothing happened last night. I was just here to comfort you."

Wasn't that something a man would say? If she said that, would Kieran think Elara had slept with him last night?

That brief moment of calmness vanished instantly. 

She straightened her clothes.

She didn't dare face Kieran, not knowing why, and she didn't want to think about it.

Carefully, she walked out of the room.

As the door closed, Kieran opened his eyes.

He had been awake for a long time.