Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 235

Seren had thought she wouldn't be able to sleep with Lennon on the phone, but she drifted off almost instantly. She placed the phone on the pillow beside her and was asleep without even turning over.

When she woke the next morning, she found herself clutching the pillow Lennon usually slept on, something she must have pulled into her arms in the middle of the night. She had always been a still sleeper, but she supposed she'd grown accustomed to having him beside her.

She fumbled for her phone and glanced at the call log. Lennon hadn't hung up until eleven o'clock—he had clearly waited until she was sound asleep. She opened her messaging app and sent him a text. [Good morning.]

A reply came back instantly. [Good morning, Mrs. Crestwell.]

It was accompanied by a picture. Through a floor-to-ceiling window, a lake was visible, its banks lined with weeping willows, a panorama of lush green. Southborough, being in the south, was a world away from the bleakness of the north.

Reflected in the window was Lennon himself, shirtless, wearing only a pair of black sweatpants. The view outside was beautiful, but Seren's eyes were inevitably drawn to him. She had seen him like this before but had always been too shy to look for long. Now, she could study the photo freely.

Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a perfectly defined eight-pack. He was in the middle of a workout, and a light sheen of sweat coated his tan skin, highlighting every powerful muscle. Seren's face grew hot. She had known he was in great shape, but seeing it like this was something else. It was almost impossible to look away. A thought popped into her head: he had sent this picture to deliberately captivate her.

And it was working.

Seren covered her burning face, taking a deep breath to calm the chaotic thoughts racing through her mind before she finally headed to the bathroom.

***

At the same time, Edwin arrived at the Montgomery Group headquarters bright and early. He had scheduled a meeting with several of the Rutledge Group's shareholders and didn't want to risk any of them having second thoughts. After all, these old foxes were as cunning as they come; the slightest shift in the wind could make them change their minds. If it hadn't been so late last night, he would have had them sign the transfer agreements on the spot. But it had only been one night. The Rutledge Group scandal was still a trending topic, and the fire was only growing hotter. He was confident they wouldn't back out now.

Dressed in a sharp suit and gold-rimmed glasses, Edwin lounged on the office sofa, a smile playing on his lips. He had been planning this takeover for nearly a decade, ten long years of enduring that empty-headed doll, Carla, all for this one moment. His hand, resting on the back of the sofa, trembled slightly with anticipation.

But as the minutes ticked by and no one showed up, a knot of unease tightened in his stomach.