Chapter 204

Chapter 204

Edward's hands locked around her waist, his fingertips tracing gentle circles through the thin fabric of her clothing, caressing the soft skin beneath.

A delicate shiver rippled through her body like waves spreading across water, radiating from her waist to every nerve ending.

Instinctively, she raised her hand to push against his chest, only to have him capture her wrist and hold it firmly in his palm.

They'd been apart too long. A single kiss was enough to ignite all the dormant desire between them.

Time seemed to blur. Only when the air in her lungs had nearly been drained did he finally pull back.

As their lips parted, a thin, glistening strand connected them briefly before breaking.

Molly's cheeks burned crimson, her eyes hazy and unfocused, the corners damp and flushed as her breathing came in ragged gasps.

"Edward, have you lost your mind?" She gave his chest a soft swat, the force no more substantial than a feather's touch.

He let out a muffled cough, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Concern flooded her immediately. She braced herself up to check on him. "Are you okay?"

Before she could finish, he caught her wrist again.

The world spun as he shifted his weight, pressing her down into the soft mattress.

A shower of gentle kisses descended, trailing across her delicate features—from her brow down to the corner of her lips.

They lingered at her mouth, teasing and exploring, until she turned her head away in embarrassed protest.

Only then did he reluctantly stop, resting his forehead against hers with a low laugh.

"Reward received," he murmured, his breath tickling her ear. "I'll help with your friend's situation."

"Mm..." Her response came out weak and breathless as she cursed him silently in her mind.

She could only hope this bout of seduction would bring Juniper some happiness.

"I'm tired. Let's sleep." Afraid he might have other ideas, she quickly closed her eyes and added a small, theatrical yawn for good measure.

"Alright." Edward chuckled softly, drawing her into his embrace.

 

The next morning, Molly opened her eyes to harsh morning light.

She was carefully attempting to slip out of bed, trying not to disturb him.

But the next second, Edward pulled her back into his arms.

Their eyes met. Molly found herself pressed against him, listening to the steady rhythm of their intertwined heartbeats.

"You're up early. Why not sleep a bit longer?"

"Didn't feel like it." Edward's voice carried the raspy quality of someone freshly awoken.

"I need to go to the office in a bit. Want to come with me?" He paused before adding, "The person you mentioned will be there too."

"Of course!" Molly's excitement was palpable. She was eager to meet this man who'd left such an impression on her best friend.

 

The business meeting was set in the conference room on the top floor of the Howard Group building. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows offered a sweeping view of the city's skyline.

Molly settled into the adjacent lounge area, able to glimpse through the glass partition the silhouettes of several suited figures inside.

Chris exceeded Molly's expectations.

At first glance, she noticed his tall, straight posture. His charcoal gray suit fit impeccably. Standing beside Edward, he held his own—striking features that commanded attention.

No wonder her notoriously fickle friend had fallen for him.

The two men were deep in discussion about business matters. Molly knew better than to interrupt, so she waited in the lounge area outside.

Every so often, she glanced inside, observing Chris's every move.

"What are you looking at?" Edward had finished the meeting without her noticing. He sat down beside her, naturally taking her hand in his.

Molly snapped back to attention, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Just checking to see if he's really as impressive as Juniper claimed."

Edward's expression darkened. "Seems I haven't been working hard enough if you've got time to ogle other men."

"You know perfectly well that's not what I meant." Molly shot him a playful glare but didn't pull her hand away. "Are you done?"

"Yes, we've reached a preliminary agreement." Edward glanced toward the conference room where Chris was organizing documents. "Want to talk to him now?"

Molly nodded, taking a deep breath as she stood.

 

When Chris saw her, he showed no particular surprise, only offering a polite nod. "Mrs. Howard."

He'd done his research before partnering with Edward. He knew about their relationship.

"Just call me Molly." She smiled warmly. "If you don't mind, could we talk for a moment? About Juniper."

At the mention of Juniper's name, Chris's expression froze almost imperceptibly.

"You know her?"

"Of course." Molly's smile brightened. "She's my best friend. She mentioned you when she came back to the country."

A crack appeared in Chris's composure—a moment of disconnection before he recovered his calm. "Of course. Perhaps we should find somewhere more private to talk."

"Sure."

 

In the coffee shop on the ground floor, they sat across from each other.

Chris ordered a black coffee and settled into his seat.

Molly watched as he raised the cup to his lips, his movements graceful yet distant.

In Molly's experience, Edward was already reserved and aloof, but this man radiated an almost palpable coldness.

No wonder she and Juniper had become friends—they had identical taste in men.

"How has Juniper been?" he asked first, his voice so neutral it betrayed no emotion.

"Not great." Molly held his gaze. "She claims she's moved on, but I know she never got over you."

Chris's fingers traced the rim of his cup. "We weren't right for each other."

"Why not?" Molly pressed. "Juniper never told me exactly why you broke up. She only said you ended things and then vanished."

"Some relationships are mistakes from the start." Chris set down his cup, his gaze drifting toward the window. "She deserves someone better."

"So you made that decision for her?" A note of disapproval colored Molly's voice.

She let out a cold laugh, heavy with disagreement.

"All a woman really wants is care and companionship."

"I couldn't give her a better life."

"She's not as shallow as you think."

Chris fell silent for so long that Molly assumed he wouldn't answer. Then, suddenly, he spoke: "I know."

His voice dropped so low it seemed like he was talking to himself. "That's exactly why—because I know how good she is—I couldn't let her take that risk with me."

"Risk?"

Chris shook his head, apparently unwilling to continue the topic. "Tell her I'm sorry. But some things... she's better off not knowing."