He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 273

Catherine’s lips curved into a pleased little smile. But when she lifted her eyes to his face, the

satisfaction faltered.

Vance’s gaze was still locked somewhere far down the street, distant and unfocused. He clearly hadn’t been listening to her at all.

“Vance,” she tried again, “can we leave tomorrow?”

Silence stretched between them.

“Vance, did you hear me?” she called out.

Only then did he drag his attention back. “Yeah, I heard you.”

By that point, Rebecca had already disappeared with her companions. Desmond hadn’t spoken a single

word the entire walk back.

The Venetian streets were still thick with tourists, yet an odd heaviness had settled over the four of them.

When they reached the hotel, Desmond held the elevator door open until all three women had stepped inside. Then he flashed a grin. “You guys head up. I forgot to grab something.”

“What kind of something?” Helia asked curiously.

“Just guy stuff,” he replied.

The doors slid shut before anyone could press him further.

Helia’s roommate blinked. “Guy stuff? Like what? It’s not like they have periods.”

Helia chuckled, and the brittle tension in the small space finally cracked. She thought for a moment and spoke. “Actually, I need to pick up a couple of things, too. I’ll go down. You guys go on ahead.”

When the doors opened again, Rebecca stepped out with the other girl, while Helia went down back to the lobby.

Rebecca’s room was down the hallway that overlooked the hotel’s inner courtyard garden. Looking down, she spotted Desmond sitting down there alone in a chair, a glass in his hand.

He hadn’t gone shopping at all, and he was staring blankly at nothing. The event affected his mood after all, and he was supposed to perform tomorrow.

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