The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 645

Her emotions got the better of her, and her first instinct was to run.

Callahan understood. A fierce urge to protect her hit him, and he tightened his embrace. "I know," he said softly. "It won't happen again."

He paused, then added, "But I'm happy."

Leilani looked up at him. "Happy about what?"

A smile played in his eyes. "I'm happy you were jealous over me."

This whole ordeal might have been a misunderstanding, but at least it proved how important he was to her.

Leilani was speechless. The second he got a little encouragement, he pushed his luck. Her ears flushed red, and she shoved him away. "Who was jealous?" she retorted. "That's not the same thing at all!"

Callahan just chuckled, not arguing. He simply reached out to smooth down her messy hair. "Let's go home."

Leilani turned her head away, ignoring him, but the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

In the rainy night, they shared a single umbrella as they walked toward the apartment building. Suddenly, Leilani remembered something.

"So... about Ethan. Did you misunderstand that, too?"

Leilani snorted but still explained, "It's simple, really. About Ethan." She pulled her hand from his and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "An elder I respect asked me to assist with a case. Ethan and I were childhood friends from the countryside, before the Sloans found me. We hadn't seen each other in years and only recently reconnected. To me, he's just like an older brother."

Callahan listened quietly. An older brother? His male intuition told him that the way Ethan looked at Leilani was anything but brotherly. But he kept that observation to himself, simply nodding. "Okay. I believe you."

Since Leilani hadn't noticed Ethan's special attention, why should he pave the way for a rival? He wasn't a fool.

Seeing his compliant attitude, Leilani felt her heart lighten. She had to admit, this meek version of Callahan was strangely endearing. She couldn't help but laugh.

As Callahan watched her laugh, the last bit of frost in his eyes finally melted away.