Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3077

Xavier scoffed, clearly not buying a single word of it. He grabbed a fresh change of clothes from the closet and ordered coldly, "Wait outside."

Norah reluctantly pushed herself off the bed, muttering under her breath, "It's not like I was actually going to peek. I'm not some creep. If I wanted to look, I'd look openly!"

Grumbling, she pushed open the glass doors and stepped out onto the private patio.

Xavier watched her go, running a hand through his hair in absolute frustration.

He showered with military efficiency, wrapping things up in minutes. But when he stepped out and glanced through the glass doors, the patio was empty.

Frowning, he walked outside. "Norah!"

The patio was built around a large private pool, bordered by a few lounge chairs, patio umbrellas, and decorative shrubs. Aside from that, there was nothing but a black iron fence separating their patio from the neighboring unit.

A single ambient light illuminated the pool, leaving the water shimmering but casting the rest of the yard in deep shadows.

Not seeing her anywhere, Xavier's expression darkened. He raised his voice. "Norah Lamont!"

Absolute silence. The courtyard was dead quiet. Xavier's eyes narrowed. He crouched by the edge of the pool, peering into the dark water.

The moment he leaned over, the surface of the water shattered. Norah burst upward with a dramatic splash, her pale, delicate face dripping wet, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

The rippling water caught the light, scattering reflections around her like stars. She stood waist-deep in the center of the pool, looking as breathtaking as a siren emerging from the sea.

Xavier froze, utterly captivated.

Norah waded closer to the edge, stopping right in front of him. She waved a slender, pale hand in his face. "What's wrong? Did I scare you?"

Xavier snapped out of his trance. Without saying a single word, he stood up and turned back toward the room.

Norah quickly hoisted herself out of the pool to chase after him. Soaking wet and hit by the cool night air, she immediately sneezed.

Xavier stopped dead in his tracks. He strode inside, grabbed a large, fluffy towel, and threw it over her head. His brows were knit tightly together in a scowl. "Swimming fully clothed. Is your brain filled with water too, Norah?"

Norah clutched the towel around herself, thinking, *If I had taken my clothes off, would you even have the guts to stand here talking to me?*

The very thought made her cheeks burn. Feeling suddenly shy, she offered a goofy smile. "I haven't been diving in a while! I just wanted to see if I lost my touch!"

Norah immediately shot back, "I can ask for time off!"

Xavier's voice was perfectly neutral. "What reason do you have to stay?"

Norah stared at him, biting her lip. Considering all the trouble she had already caused him, she really didn't have a valid excuse to stick around.

She looked down, suddenly deeply dejected. "You just want me gone because I'm a burden."

"No," Xavier corrected. "I don't want to mess up your career."

"You think I'm clumsy and annoying!" Norah pouted, her eyes welling up with dramatic tears. "You literally said it yourself today!"

"I was joking!"

"I don't believe you!"

Xavier took a slow, deep breath. "Norah, before we left, you swore you'd be obedient and not throw a tantrum."