A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 576

I didn’t even remember the exact moment I had stopped fighting sleep.

I suppose my body had decided it had enough.

Alexander didn’t comment further.

He simply stepped out of the car, and I followed.

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We stepped into the living room. I was still trying to fully brighten up from my brief sleep in

the car.

Irene was standing in front of the wall where my portrait hung.

For a moment, she didn’t notice us.

She was simply looking at it with a small smile on her face, her head tilted slightly as if she was studying it.

I stopped walking.

I hadn’t expected to see her here.

Neither, judging by Alexander’s expression, had he.

The moment Irene realized we were there, her face immediately brightened.

“You’re finally back.”

Before either of us could say anything, she walked toward Alexander and wrapped her arms around him.

He looked slightly surprised by the sudden hug but quickly relaxed, returning it.

A moment later, she turned to me and pulled me into one as well.

I couldn’t help smiling.

It was impossible not to.

When she finally let go, Alexander looked at her curiously.

“When did you arrive?”

Irene smiled innocently.

“About two hours ago.”

His eyebrows lifted slightly.

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“Two hours?”

She nodded.

“I wanted to surprise you both.”

I looked between them.

“You definitely succeeded,” Alexander said.

Irene laughed softly before turning her attention back to me.

“How was the trip?” I asked.

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< Chapter 564

Chapter 564

FAYE

“My trip was fine,” Irene replied with an easy smile. “Long, but fine.”

Alexander nodded once.

“I’m going to freshen up.”

Neither of us tried to stop him.

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I had a feeling he wanted a little time to himself… He was probably more tired than I was.

Without another word, he headed upstairs.

The moment he disappeared from sight, Irene slowly turned toward me.

Then, without saying anything at first, she reached over, hooked her arm around mine, and pulled me a little closer.

“So…”

She drew the word out dramatically before gesturing toward the portrait hanging proudly on the wall.

Her eyes widened as she looked from the painting to me.

I followed her gaze before shrugging as casually as I could.

“It was a gift from Alexander.”

Irene slowly turned her head to look at me.

The expression she gave me made me want to laugh.

“Oh, don’t play it cool,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Do you even know what you’re looking at?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Obviously… I can see that. Alex painted that himself,” she added.

I smiled. “Sure.”

“Alright.” She shook her head. “I don’t think you understand.”

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K Chapter 564

She pointed toward the portrait again.

“Alexander actually painted this.”

She let out a dramatic sigh.

“Do you know how many times I’ve begged my brother to paint me?”

I couldn’t help laughing.

“I’m serious!” she said.

She threw both hands into the air. “I’ve pleaded.”

I nodded thoughtfully.

“Mm–hmm.”

“I’ve negotiated,” she added.

I nodded again.

“I even tried bribing him.”

That made me laugh harder.

“And do you know what I got?” Irene asked.

She didn’t wait for an answer.

“Nothing.”

Her lips flattened into a thin line. “He wouldn’t even take me seriously.”

I walked over to the couch and sat down comfortably.

“I guess…” I started.

I leaned back.

“I just have my ways,” I finished.

Irene looked at me suspiciously before folding her arms across her chest.

“Oh, really?”

I smiled innocently.

“Then tell me.” She tilted her head. “What exactly did you give him to make him pick up his

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<Chapter 564

paintbrush again?”

I couldn’t resist teasing her a little.

“I didn’t give him anything.”

She wasn’t buying it.

I pointed toward the portrait. “Well… your brother lost a bet.”

Her eyebrows shot up.

“A bet?”

I nodded. “This is my prize.”

For a second, Irene simply stared at me.

Then she laughed.

“I can’t believe you.”

I smiled to myself before deciding to spare her any further curiosity.

Changing the subject, I looked at her and asked,

“Does Helen know you’re back in Blood Crescent?”

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Before Irene could answer, Martha appeared carrying a bottle of wine on a tray alongside a glass.

She walked over and neatly poured a drink for Irene.

Irene accepted it with a quiet thank you before looking at Martha again.

“Please get another glass for the Luna.”

I lifted a hand before Martha could move.

“No, don’t bother.”

Martha looked at me briefly.

“I’m fine.”

She nodded respectfully before excusing herself.

I watched Irene take a slow sip from her glass.

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Something about her seemed… different.

I couldn’t quite explain it.

Not in a bad way… Nothing about her looked wrong.

If anything, she looked happier.

There was just… something.

Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

Perhaps I had been staring a little longer than I realized.

Because Irene lowered her glass, caught me looking, and laughed.

“What?” she said.

I smiled.

“It’s just…”

I gestured toward the glass in her hand.

“I usually associate this time of the evening with you asking Martha for tea.”

I glanced at the deep red liquid swirling gently inside her glass.

“So seeing you with wine instead feels… new.”

Irene followed my gaze before looking back at me.

Then she shrugged casually.

“I just felt like having something different tonight.”

She lifted the glass slightly.

I nodded. “Fair enough.”

She took another small sip while I leaned back against the couch.

Only then did I realize just how exhausted I really was.

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I had been fighting sleep since the drive home, and whatever energy I had managed to gather after waking up was quickly disappearing again.

A yawn escaped me before I could stop it.