Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 269

When Elowen thought about it carefully, there were indeed quite a few people who disliked her.

Alaric was one of them, and Daphne was another.

Yet most of that resentment had always passed through her life like distant smoke, something she could see but never truly feel. None of it had ever caused real harm, and because of that she never saw any reason to hold onto it.

Elowen shifted slightly on the cushioned window seat until she found a comfortable position and then lifted her book again.

The estate was unusually quiet that day. Aside from the occasional birdsong drifting in through the window, the silence remained undisturbed.

Moments like this rarely happened.

For once she had the freedom to sit and read the books she had wanted to explore for so long.

Time passed without her noticing.

Eventually Mira entered quietly and lit the candle on the nearby table.

The warm light pushed away the dimness of evening and illuminated Elowen's profile as she continued reading with complete concentration.

Elowen adjusted her posture slightly but did not stand. She simply turned another page.

Not long afterward, a tall shadow fell across the book in her hands.

Cassian's voice sounded above her, deep and calm.

"You've been reading the entire day. If you don't rest your eyes for a while, they'll start to ache."

Elowen looked up.

Under the candlelight, Cassian's normally sharp features appeared softer than usual. The flicker of flame reflected in his dark eyes, and within that reflection she could clearly see her own figure.

"Cassian, you're finished already?" she asked, setting the book aside while rubbing at her tired eyes.

"Yes," Cassian replied simply.

Then, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, he reached out and pressed his fingertips lightly against her temples, massaging them with steady and practiced pressure.

"What time is it?" Elowen asked, her eyelids lowering slightly as the tension eased.

"It's past ten."

"That late already..."

Which meant it was time to sleep.

Elowen hesitated for a moment before speaking again in a careful tone that sounded almost like negotiation.

"Cassian... tonight could we..."

She searched for a word that would explain what she meant before finally settling on one.

"Sleep normally?"

Cassian blinked once and then laughed quietly, the sound vibrating faintly in his chest.

His wife always managed to phrase things in ways that made him both amused and restless at the same time.

"Normally?" Cassian repeated with one brow lifting. "So there are also... other ways of sleeping?"

Elowen nodded with complete seriousness.

Cassian's eyes creased with amusement as he agreed without hesitation.

"Alright."

Even so, Elowen clearly did not trust him. Too many times he had claimed his legs were hurting only to lure her closer. She raised one slender finger as if she were establishing a formal condition.

"Just once. Really."

Cassian looked at her with warm patience, his voice sincere enough to sound convincing.

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