The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 66

CHAPTER 44 THE UNFORTUNATE PAIRING

EMBER’S POV

The breakfast terrace has been transformed into a holiday explosion that looks like Santa’s workshop threw up on a five-star resort.

Christmas decorations drip from every available surface-garlands wrapped around railings, oversized ornaments dangling from trees, some kind of artificial snow machine creating a gentle flurry that’s already collecting in people’s hair.

A cheerful activities coordinator bounces around with a clipboard, sorting guests into teams for what she keeps calling “fun holiday bonding exercises.”

I want to murde

Knox’

mall of my back as we navigate the crowd, but it feels different than this morning.

In affectionate. Strategic rather than wanting. Every part of him has shifted back into can feel the distance betwe ke a bitter taste in my mouth.

asn’t cut me off completely-

le still smiles when he looks

e’s something wary lurking

get too close to something

or our Christmas couples’ g

eams to encourage cross-

Knox’s hand tightens

Ember Aragon

feel rather th

“Knox Voll

The g

day when he walked away and left me standing in

hes me with familiar ease.

1. Something careful. Like he’s reminding himself

Im too much.

ator announces with aggressive pep, “we’ve randomized

en I call your name, please find your partner!”

ntly. Just enough.

umbles through Knox’s chest.

r

closer to a snarl.

her by chance or design, it doesn’t matter.

end the morning with the woman who is hellbent on having him back, and I’m nan who makes Knox’s territorial instincts go haywire.

afael’s voice materializes at my shoulder, smooth as expensive whiskey. His accent a hint of warmth on certain vowels, a slight roll on the R that makes his words feel n they should. “It seems fate has conspired to give us quality time together.”

coordinator’s quick glance at Rafael-the kind that says money changed hands-and fate

very… arranged.

CHAPTER 84 5494140

RATINGS

Fote” Knox says flatly, “has a terrible sense of hamor”

“So it seems.” Rafael’s smile doesn’t falter. If anything, it sharpens. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I’ll take

excellent care of your girlfriend.”

The emphasis on the word is subtle but mocking. A direct challenge coated in courtesy.

Knox’s jaw tightens. “No.”

Rafael raises an eyebrow. “No?”

“We’ll switch partners. Someone else can-

#1

“Knox.” I step in front of him, placing my hand on his chest. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine. I’m not leaving you with-”

“It’s one game.” I tilt my head, fighting a smile. “In broad daylight. Surrounded by hundreds of people. What’s he going to do, seduce me behind a poinsettia?”

Knox’s eyes narrow. “Don’t give him ideas.”

“I’m a big girl.” I slide my hand up to his jaw, turning his face toward me, forcing him to look at me instead of glaring daggers at Rafael. “I can handle one overly charming Spaniard for a few hours. I promise not to fall madly in love with him before lunch.”

“That’s not funny.”

“It’s a little funny.”

His expression stays stormy for another moment. Then something in it cracks, just slightly, and the ghost of a smile tugs at his mouth.

“If he touches you-”

“I’ll bite his hand off myself.” I grin. “Satisfied?”

“No.” But he’s almost smiling now, his thumb brushing my hip in that absent, possessive way that makes my wolf purr. “Not even close.”

He leans down and kisses me-deeply, slowly, and very much for Rafael’s benefit. When he pulls back, his eyes cut to Rafael with a look that could freeze hellfire.

Rafael, to his credit, looks more amused than intimidated.

Knox steps closer to him-close enough that a lesser man would flinch.

“If anything happens to her-”

“What could possibly happen?” Rafael spreads his hands innocently. “It’s a scavenger hunt. Unless the resort has hidden wolves in the decorative shrubbery, I think we’ll manage.”

They stare at each other for a long moment.

Sometising passes between them that i don’t fully understand, some ancient male territorial thing that probably involves a lot of testosterone and mental comparisons of teeth and claw length.

Then Rayana appears, gliding up to Knox with that wounded-bird delicacy she’s perfected

“Knox, darling. It seems we’re partners”

She places her hand on his arm, way too easily for my comfort. Sapphire growls inside.

Knox looks at her touch like it’s something diseased. He peels her fingers off his arm with barely

concealed irritation, letting her hand drop like he can’t stand the contact.

“I’ll see you after,” he says to me, ignoring Rayana entirely. His eyes hold mine with an intensity that feels like a warning. “Don’t let Montenegro be charming.”

“I make no guarantees.” I offer him a smile I don’t quite feel. “Don’t let Rayana be… well, Rayana.”

“That,” Knox says dryly, “is inevitable.”

He stalks away while Rayana chases after him, and I feel his attention on me until the crowd swallows

them both.

Then it’s just me and Rafael.

He offers his arm like a gentleman from a period drama.

“Shall we?”

I don’t take it. “Let’s just get this over with.”

The smooth grin never leaves his face. If anything, he looks amused by my resistance-like it’s a puzzle he’s looking forward to solving.

The scavenger hunt takes us through the resort’s decorated grounds, a sprawling winter wonderland of elaborate displays and frost-covered statuary.

We’re given a list of items to find, and the first team to collect them all wins some prize that nobody actually cares about.

What matters is that it gives Rafael time alone with me.

r

And he’s good at this. I realize it within the first ten minutes.

He’s good at making conversation easy, at filling silences without making them feel forced.

He guides me around icy patches with a steadying hand at my elbow, there when I need it, gone don’t. Knox would’ve had his arm locked around my waist by now, not once letting go.

when I

“You’re uncomfortable,” he observes as we search for some decorative icicle the resort has hidden somewhere in the artificial snowscape. “Is it me, or is it the situation?”

“Both,” I admit. “I promised Knox I’d keep my distance from you.”

Something passes between them that I don’t fully understand, some ancient male territorial thing that

bably involves a lot of testosterone and mental comparisons of teeth and claw length.

Rayana appears, gliding up to Knox with that wounded-bird delicacy she’s perfected.

x, darling. It seems we’re partners”

ne places her hand on his arm, way too easily for my comfort. Sapphire growls inside.

Knox looks at her touch like it’s something diseased. He peels her fingers off his arm with barely concealed irritation, letting her hand drop like he can’t stand the contact.

“I’ll see you after,” he says to me

like a warning. “Don’t let Mor

“I make no guarantees

“That,” Knox says

He stalks aw

them bo

ayana entirely. His eyes hold mine with an intensity that feels rming.”

don’t quite feel. “Don’flet Rayana be… well. Rayana.”

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