Her Hidden Crowns (Suzanne and Austin) novel Chapter 289

Austin sighed softly at Suzanne's startled expression.

"Really? You're scared already?"

Suzanne wanted to deny it, but the moment her eyes met his intense gaze, the words died in her throat.

Austin reached out and tapped her nose lightly.

"Sleep well, birthday girl," he whispered, his voice carrying a trace of indulgence.

Though his arms were still wrapped around her, his eyes slowly drifted shut.

Suzanne blinked, surprised that he was letting her go that easily. She glanced up at him, only to hear the steady rhythm of his breathing. He literally fell asleep within seconds.

Suzanne's gaze lingered on Austin's face—the sharp bridge of his nose, the defined lines of his jaw, and the way his lashes curled ever so slightly.

She had seen plenty of handsome men in her life, but none quite like Austin. His rugged yet refined features were unlike any she had ever encountered. Every detail of his face was exactly her type.

Unable to resist, she reached out, her fingertips tracing the contours of his face, gliding over his skin until they brushed against his lips.

Those lips…

The ghost of his earlier kiss lingered on her forehead, and as if burned by the memory, she quickly withdrew her hand.

Carefully, Suzanne slipped out of his embrace and pulled the blanket over him before heading to the bathroom.

Maybe it was the wine, but Suzanne drifted off to sleep beside Austin without another thought after getting back into bed.

Unbeknownst to her, social media was in chaos.

"Dr. Smith Spotted at Dinner."

This topic exploded onto the trending list. Upon clicking in, users would find a viral post from a gossip account featuring a photo from Suzanne's birthday dinner.

The caption declared, "Dr. Smith was seen dining with friends at a top-tier restaurant. The group looked cheerful, but could that man in the suit beside her be her boyfriend?"

The comments section was a battlefield.

DuskTillDawn: "The photo is blurry, but you can still tell everyone at that table is ridiculously good-looking. The guy next to Dr. Smith is stunning."