Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2652

His height gave him a clear advantage, making it much easier for him to shelter them both.

Sylvia was pressed so close to him that she could feel the warmth of his arm. The umbrella blocked the light from the streetlamps, creating a dim, intimate space around them. In that small, enclosed world, the only sounds were the soft drumming of rain on the fabric and the quiet, overlapping rhythm of their breathing. The world outside had completely disappeared.

As Grace walked toward the student villas, she glanced back and saw their two silhouettes under a distant streetlamp. Gabriel was holding the umbrella, but it was tilted distinctly to one side, shielding Sylvia completely while his own shoulder was exposed to the rain.

Jenny saw it too. "I should bring them another umbrella," she said.

"Don't," Grace said with a soft laugh, stopping her. "Let's go check on the sick students."

Someone's shoulder may have been getting wet, but she was certain his heart was warm.

Sylvia opened the passenger door to get in, but Gabriel stopped her. "Sit in the back."

She paused, then smiled. "What are the odds of another landslide happening? It'll be fine." Without waiting for another protest, she sat down and buckled her seatbelt.

Gabriel didn't argue further. He started the car and pulled away from the estate.

The drive to town was over an hour, mostly on winding mountain roads. It was already dark, and with the pouring rain, their car was practically the only one on the road. The narrow pass, barely wide enough for two cars, was flanked by a steep cliff on one side and a sheer drop-off on the other, with streetlights few and far between.

Sylvia gazed out the window. The world outside was a pitch-black void, with raindrops streaking across the glass, reflecting the sharp, handsome lines of Gabriel’s profile. She kept her eyes fixed on the window, as if lost in the darkness.

When Gabriel glanced over, he caught her gaze in the reflection. Sylvia coolly turned her head, pretending she hadn't been looking.

After another fifteen minutes, they arrived in the ancient town. The entire town was awash in the misty rain, its red-walled buildings and green-tiled roofs softened by the night, giving it a serene, timeless beauty. The rain had eased to a drizzle, and tourists still strolled the streets, sheltered under colorful, traditional-looking umbrellas they had likely bought in town, creating a vibrant, picturesque scene.

Sylvia rolled down her window, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over her.

The car wasn't allowed on the pedestrian street, so they parked and walked the rest of the way, with Gabriel holding the umbrella over them. This time, however, the space under the umbrella wasn't silent. The bustling sounds and warm, glowing lights of the town’s shops and restaurants flooded in, breaking their quiet bubble.

Sylvia felt herself relax, her eyes darting from one lively storefront to another as she scanned for a pharmacy.

Suddenly, a woman stepped in front of them, a stack of oil-paper umbrellas in her arms. "Buy an umbrella, miss? Look, your gentleman friend's shoulder is getting soaked."