Bound By A Broken Night novel Chapter 118

Chapter 118

For a long moment, she could only gape at him, as if her mind had refused to process what he had just said.

“Eww! What are you even thinking, Zandrie Wallace?!” she finally blurted out, recoiling slightly in her seat, her face twisting in pure disgust.

Zandrie lifted a brow at her reaction, his expression calm, almost thoughtful.

“The ‘eww‘,” he asked evenly, “is it because I’ve slept with a lot of women and you find me… filthy?”

There was no offense in his tone–no defensiveness, no irritation. Just a straightforward attempt to clarify.

Cassie’s eyes widened, and she shot him an incredulous glare.

“I have never found you filthy!”

“Then…?” he pressed, tilting his head slightly, waiting.

She hesitated, struggling to put the discomfort into words. Her face scrunched as if the very thought made her uneasy.

“Because it doesn’t feel right,” she said at last. “It feels… weird.”

She paused, then grimaced.

“Like… incestuous.”

The word made her physically cringe. She shook her head quickly, as if trying to banish the disturbing images her mind had conjured.

“It’s just… wrong,” she added, exhaling heavily as she met his steady, inquisitive gaze.

Zandrie hummed under his breath, leaning back again, studying her reaction with quiet interest.

“No other man has ever been close to you except me,” he pointed out casually.

‘And in all these years, you’ve never shown the slightest interest in anyone.”

Cassie rolled her eyes, some of her earlier tension dissolving into familiar irritation.

“That’s because I don’t have the time for that kind of complication,” she shot back.

“I’m already drowning in responsibilities. The last thing I need is emotional drama added to my life.”

She narrowed her eyes at him.

“And besides,” she added pointedly, “you alone are already a handful.”

Her glare held equal parts accusation and weary familiarity–the kind reserved only for someone who had been a constant presence in her life for far too long.

“What if I tell you… I’ve fallen in love with you?”

The words made Cassie go still.

Her brows slowly drew together as she narrowed her eyes at him, studying his face, searching for the familiar hint of teasing or mischief he often wore when he was trying to provoke her.

“Nice joke, Drie,” she said at last, rolling her eyes as she shook her head in weary amusement.

“I’m not joking, Cassie.”

His voice was quiet. Serious.

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Chapter 118

+25 BONUS

The absence of his usual lightness made her look at him again—really look at him.

“I fell in love with you a long time ago,” Zandrie continued.

“And I stayed. Right here. Beside you.” A faint, bitter smile touched his lips.

“I stayed, knowing full well that I would never be anything more than your friend. Your confidant. Your colleague.‘ He paused

briefly.

“Maybe even the brother figure you never asked for.” The self–mockery in his tone was gentle, but it didn’t hide the truth behind it.

Cassie stared at him, her heart tightening. She searched his eyes for exaggeration, for drama–anything that would make this easier to dismiss.

But there was none. Only quiet sincerity.

Only years of something he had never spoken about.

“Drie…” she began softly.

But the words died in her throat. She didn’t know what to say.

Zandrie gave a small shake of his head, as if telling her she didn’t need to answer yet.

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