Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3256

Gonzalez's deep-set eyes held a calm expression as he nodded. "Just got back."

He pushed a freshly prepared milk tea across the table toward her. "Have a seat."

Bathed in the sunlight, Norah smiled radiantly, her luminous skin glowing. "Thank you!"

She took the cup, her soft pink lips wrapping around the straw as she took a generous sip, then glanced up at him with a sweet smile.

Gonzalez's gaze grew a shade darker. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice came out a bit huskier than usual. "Thank you for clearing Circe's name."

He was grateful she had defended him without a second thought.

Norah's eyes widened in surprise. "You knew about that?"

He nodded. "I did."

She flushed slightly. "No need to thank me. Circe is such a good cat and never ruins things. I knew right away she was being framed."

A cryptic smile touched his lips. "Everyone knew the truth, really. But only a kid would be stubborn enough to drag it out into the light."

She blinked, her mind catching up a beat later. "Are you calling me a kid?" she scoffed.

Gonzalez just smiled, saying nothing.

Letting the comment slide for now, she furrowed her brow. "Wait, do you mean Grandpa Hanson knew Circe was innocent the whole time?"

Gonzalez turned his head to look deeper into the garden. The foliage was lush and green, but the overgrown shrubbery swallowed the clean lines of the landscaping, leaving it looking chaotic and neglected.

"Whether Circe was framed or not doesn't matter to him," he said quietly.

The real issue was the animosity between his son and his wife. It was the simple fact that Hannah and her daughter couldn't stand his presence, and Simon Hanson was completely powerless to fix it.

He studied her feigned outrage, reaching over to playfully ruffle her hair. "I'm calling you smart!"

He simply couldn't resist.

The moment his large, warm hand rested on her head, her entire body stiffened. She peeked at him from the corner of her eye. "Is this... your way of giving me a compliment after an insult?"

He knew he should pull away immediately, but he couldn't bear to let go. His hand slid down. "Don't move."

Norah froze, her bright eyes locking onto his intense, dark gaze.

He gently cupped her chin, his thumb brushing away a stray drop of milk tea from the corner of her mouth.

Her skin was flawlessly smooth, her soft lips parted slightly. The rough texture of his finger grazing against her mouth sent a jolt of electricity straight to her core, causing her breath to hitch in her throat.

His own breathing grew heavy. Leaning over the narrow wooden table, his predatory gaze locked onto her trembling eyelashes. His fingers lingered against her cheek as he murmured in a low, husky voice, "Norah..."