The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 209

Riley answered the call, and Quinn's worried voice came through the line. "I just saw the news online. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. It's just heatstroke from being out in the sun too long, and a few minor scrapes. I've already been treated."

"You don't sound like you have much energy."

"I haven't fully recovered yet. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep."

"I'm really worried. I wanted to fly out to Statenbury to see you, but people keep coming to view your apartment, and the renovations at the orphanage have already started. I can't leave."

"I'm really fine. You have to work and help me handle my affairs on top of that—you've got enough on your plate. Once I'm less busy, I'll come back and visit you."

They chatted for quite a while before finally hanging up.

Pierce came back with a washed plate of fruit: cherries, mulberries, longans, and small slices of apple.

He speared a piece of apple with a toothpick and brought it to Riley's lips. "Eat these, they're good for your blood. You need to eat more of this."

Riley leaned back slightly, instinctively raising her right hand to take the toothpick, but Pierce gently held her arm down. "Your hand is hurt; you shouldn't move it. You wouldn't let me feed you dinner, so you won't even let me feed you fruit?"

"It's inappropriate."

Pierce stared deeply into her eyes. "You're constantly trying to keep your distance from me. Is it because you haven't let me go yet?"

It was both a probe and a provocation.

Riley replied coolly, "You're overthinking it. Given our current relationship, doing things like this just isn't appropriate."

There was no panicked denial, no defensive outburst—just the calm statement of a simple fact. Had she truly let him go?

No, he didn't believe it.

It hadn't even been that long. How could someone who had loved him for years take their heart back completely in just a month or two?

She was just still angry. She just hadn't forgiven him yet. That had to be it.

Confused, Winona asked, "What are you laughing at?"

She was laughing at how silly she was being. She had only reflexively assumed that if Winona was there, Sebastian would be too. It was a perfectly normal reaction, so why did she feel guilty? Why did she feel the need to explain? It was completely unnecessary.

"I'm just really happy you came to see me." Seeing Winona preparing to feed her again, Riley added, "I can do it myself."

Winona wouldn't hear of it. "You're a patient right now, don't move. I'm staying tonight to take care of you."

"You don't have to."

"That won't work."

Two voices spoke at the exact same time. The first was Riley, the second was Pierce.

Winona looked right at Riley. "Rejections are denied. I don't have classes tomorrow morning, so I'm definitely staying to take care of you. Unless you don't like me?"

"No, I like you a lot," Riley answered almost instinctively. As soon as the words left her mouth, she paused. It was only the third time they had ever met.