The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 217

Texts like that were the hardest to reply to. Agreeing with him made her seem ungrateful, but arguing the point made her seem overly sensitive and dramatic. And not replying at all just felt rude.

After some thought, Riley typed: [You must be busy, Sebastian, so I won't bother you. Feel free to come visit Alora whenever you have time.]

SSY: [Definitely.]

Riley stared at that single word, slightly stunned. She had expected him to reply with a simple "Mhm" or "Okay" like he usually did. She certainly hadn't expected such a firm, affirmative response.

In reality, the entire point of her message had been the first half—a polite way to end the conversation. The second half was just a casual pleasantry. But clearly, he had focused entirely on the second half.

It seemed he really did adore Alora.

After dinner, Riley and Mrs. Gable took Alora down to the courtyard for a walk.

Since Riley's arm was injured and she couldn't hold the baby, Mrs. Gable pushed the stroller. They were walking toward the playground when Riley noticed a familiar car slowly drive past them.

It looked like Sebastian's Rolls-Royce.

She stopped in her tracks and turned to get a better look, but it was too dark, and the car quickly disappeared behind a row of hedges.

"Is something wrong?" Mrs. Gable asked, noticing Riley freeze.

Riley shook her head. "Nothing."

She must have been seeing things.

They continued walking. A moment later, Riley's phone rang. It was Sebastian. "Sebastian?"

"I'm parked downstairs by your building."

So that really had been his car. Coming all the way here at night—did something urgent happen?

"I'm taking a walk in the courtyard. Give me a minute, I'll head back now."

"Can I not come over unless something happened?"

His voice was a low, resonant rumble, the end of the sentence tilting up slightly in a deliberate, teasing lilt.

Sebastian was always so mature, composed, and ruthlessly unapproachable. Hearing him speak so casually caught Riley completely off guard. "Of course you can."

Seeing Riley standing there looking slightly dazed, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk graced his lips. He handed her the object he had been toying with. "Alora left this in the car last time."

It was a silicone teether.

It must have fallen out when he drove them back after they spent the night at the St. John estate.

But hadn't he visited her apartment once after that? The night Pierce dragged him out drinking, why hadn't he brought it then?

And didn't Franklin just drop off a mountain of gifts today? Why hadn't he just told Franklin to bring it?