The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 1023

"..." Naylor couldn't wrap his head around it, but he didn't try to stop her.

As they walked past a row of food carts, Katrina glanced back at him. "Do you want anything? These savory crepes are actually pretty good."

Naylor stared at the vendor's greasy hands and shook his head. "I'm not hungry anymore."

Katrina knew he was just being a snob, but she smiled and didn't push it.

Just as they were reaching the end of the night market, Katrina suddenly spoke up, her voice calm. "Naylor, we're not from the same world. Haven't you noticed that?"

Her words were a direct response to his romantic serenade earlier.

They weren't from the same world, or more accurately, they weren't from the same social class.

Trying to force their lives to blend together was incredibly difficult.

Perhaps parting ways now and returning to their respective orbits was the smartest choice they could make.

Naylor knew exactly what she was insinuating. He raised an eyebrow. "Just because I'm not used to eating at street-side diners and food stalls?"

"That's just the surface."

Naylor completely rejected her logic. "With your talent, it's only a matter of time before your career takes off. Once you have the money and the influence, your social class will naturally elevate. Places like this will just be a nostalgic novelty you visit once in a while. And if I tag along for the ride occasionally, it's not a big deal."

Katrina offered a faint smile. "You're awfully persistent."

"It's rare for me to be this persistent, so are you really planning to send me home empty-handed?"

Katrina didn't answer, but her resolve wavered once again.

By the time they got back to the car, it was well past ten at night.

Katrina stifled a yawn, exhaustion finally catching up to her.

Naylor instructed the driver to head back. He turned to look at her, his voice low and tempting. "Do you want to lean on me and get some sleep? It's a good half-hour drive to your place."

"No, I can manage," she replied softly, turning her gaze out the window.

Naylor kept his eyes locked on her profile. "What are your plans for the weekend?"

"Working overtime, and spending time with my mom."

Naylor had wanted to find an excuse to ask her out, but hearing her answer, he knew it was a lost cause. He fell silent.

The drive was peaceful.

Katrina managed to stay awake at first, but slowly, her eyelids grew impossibly heavy, and her head began to nod.

She couldn't help it; she had been running on fumes lately.

Even though she had asked her boss for a reassignment so she could spend more time with her sick mother, he had ultimately denied the request due to the firm's demands.

So, her routine consisted of rushing to the hospital whenever she had a spare second, then sprinting back to the office to work late into the night.

She had no time to nap during the day and was constantly burning the midnight oil. She was severely sleep-deprived.

As the car swayed gently, she slowly slumped over and drifted off to sleep.

Naylor didn't say a word. When her head began to tilt toward him, he subtly shifted closer, positioning his shoulder so she could rest comfortably against him.

When the car finally pulled up to Katrina's apartment complex, the driver tactfully remained silent. He didn't cut the engine, simply sitting quietly in the front seat and scrolling through his phone.

She leaned heavily against the elevator wall, her mind inevitably replaying every moment she had spent with Naylor that night.

The mesmerizing way he looked while singing that love song.

The bold, dominant way he had declared his feelings.

The childish, hilarious way he had tried to act tough while eating spicy food.

The silent, heartwarming way he had offered his shoulder for her to sleep on.

Oh, Katrina... Katrina...

She groaned internally—you are a lost cause. You're falling completely under his spell all over again.

The elevator pinged as it reached her floor.

She stepped out, unlocked her door, and walked inside.

The moment she flipped the light switch, her phone buzzed.

She pulled it out of her bag. It was Naylor.

She answered. "Hello? What is it now..."

"Nothing. I just saw your lights turn on, so I can relax. I was worried you might fall asleep in the elevator." Naylor's voice was warm, laced with a faint smile.

Katrina gripped her phone, entirely speechless. Her heart was beating frantically against her ribs.

How was he even more gentle and considerate now than he was before?