She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 94

The night deepened into silence.

She leaned against the headboard, quietly staring at the bright moon outside.

The phone on her pillow hadn't rung once.

The only sound was Annie's occasional sleep-talking.

—She seemed to be calling for her daddy.

...

The night was perfectly still.

Alpha General Hospital.

In a VIP suite.

Luther stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, scrolling through Hilda's social media post on his phone—

Little Annie, holding sparklers in her hands.

Her small face shining with the sweetest smile.

The man's heart softened, and he couldn't help but brush his thumb across the photo on the screen.

A moment later, he turned to look at the bed. Jolie had made it through the critical window. She was lying there in a deep sleep, looking incredibly fragile.

Luther watched her in silence for a while.

He gave a brief nod to Mina Lovell, who was standing nearby, and prepared to leave.

But just as he reached the door, a weak, desperate voice called out from behind him, "Luther."

He froze.

Looking deathly pale, Jolie threw off the covers and got out of bed. Despite her mother's sharp reprimands, she marched determinedly to his side, wrapping her arms around him from behind. Her voice cracked with pleading. "Luther, I'm begging you. Just stay with me, please? I'm so heartbroken, so incredibly lonely. You've spent countless nights with her... just give me this one night. Please?"

His expression darkened into something unreadable.

Initially, he had reached up to pry her hands away.

—But slowly, his grip loosened.

...

Luther didn't return to the Sanford Estate until the next morning.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, everything blanketed in a hazy mist. Faint sounds of firecrackers echoed in the distance, keeping the festive atmosphere alive, but the estate itself was completely silent.

He walked into the foyer.

He told Luther to go upstairs, wash up, and get some sleep.

Luther ascended the stairs. A ray of morning light hit his sharp, handsome face, making him look as imposing and clean-cut as ever.

He reached the east bedroom.

The moment he pushed the door open, the soft scent of baby lotion drifted out.

It was the smell of little Annie.

Hilda and her daughter were asleep in the bed.

Annie was curled up into a tiny ball, impossibly cute. Hilda was sleeping on her side to keep a protective eye on the child. Even beneath the thin blanket, the curve of her figure was unmistakable.

Luther sat down beside her, resting his hand gently on her waist.

Hilda woke up.

Her nose caught the scent of a man's cologne, mixed with the faint, bitter smell of hospital antiseptic.

She didn't want to face him, so she simply pretended to be asleep.

But how could she fool him?

Luther slid his hand under the covers, moving with brazen intent. Forced into action, she clamped down on his wrist to stop him. Their breathing hitched. Luther pressed his cheek against hers, his voice completely hoarse. "You're awake?"