However, it was not a good sleep. Groggily, she returned to the waking world with Xavier’s voice. He sounded like he was on a call.
Her eyes were half-opened, but she noticed that the sky was still dark. Thus, she muttered, “What time is it?”
By the time she asked the question, Xavier had ended his call. He glanced at his phone and replied, “It’s thirty minutes past twelve. We’ll be meeting with Christopher and the others soon.”
Winnie continued mumbling, “We’re reaching Salinsburgh so soon?”
Xavier smiled. “No, we’re only resting here for a while. I’ve asked around and found out that the authorities at Salinsburgh have been strict recently. No cars are allowed in or out of the city after twelve midnight, so we’ll only be able to go there when the sun comes back up again.”
Winnie nodded. “It’s great to have you around. I don’t need to think about anything.”
Xavier lowered his head to plant two soft kisses on her forehead. “I’ve always been great. Did you only find out about that now?”
Winnie was still sleepy. She closed her eyes and quietly laughed. “It’s not too late to find out now.”
Xavier smiled and ruffled her hair. “Rest well. I’ll wake you when you’re there. Why don’t you lie down instead? Lay your head on my lap.”
“Okay.” Winnie moved toward the side before lying down on Xavier’s leg. “This is much more comfortable. By the way, who were you calling when I was sleeping?”
“Josiah,” Xavier replied. “We’re leaving this place soon, right? We can’t possibly ditch him here.”
“Haha!” A chuckle left Winnie’s lips. “I almost forgot about him. Where is he right now? How is he?”
“You don’t need to worry about him. He’s like a roach. Nothing will happen to someone like him.”
“Good to hear that.” Winnie lifted her arm to touch Xavier’s arm. “If anything happens to either of you, I’ll be overwhelmed with guilt. I was the reason the two of you came to this darn place.”
Xavier held her hand and played with her fingers. “Why are you saying these things when we’re about to go back?”
“I’ll stop, then. I don’t really want to remember this moment ever again.”
“Don’t think about it anymore. I’ll bring you around to do happier and more meaningful things in the future. I won’t let you have the time to recall these moments. I’ve already made a plan. Once we’re back, we’ll hold the wedding. Does that sound good, Winnie?”
When Xavier heard nothing from Winnie, he lowered his head, only to discover that she had fallen asleep again.
Xavier did not know whether to feel amused or resigned. She had fallen asleep in the blink of an eye, and she had missed out on the important part of his proposal.
Still, it mattered not. He could ask her again after she woke.
Approximately half an hour later, the car came to a stop.
The car with Christopher in it was right in front of them. This was the place they were going to rest at before they depart for Salinsburgh before the sun rose again.
Mason was in the car in front, so when the car fully stopped, Greta exited the car. She was planning to head to the front to talk to her significant other.
The sound of Greta opening the door woke Winnie.
As she had been tensed for long periods of time, Winnie bolted upright upon hearing the sound.
Xavier, who had been closing his eyes to rest, was startled by Winnie’s abrupt motion as he too, opened his eyes.
“What’s the matter, Winnie? Did you have a nightmare?” He held her hands.
Only after Winnie heard Xavier’s voice did she remember that she was already away from the wolf’s den.
Letting out a sigh, she replied, “I thought I was still at Leandro’s place. The hairs on the back of my neck raised the moment they brought me into the lab.”
“So there are things that you find hair-raising in this world.” Despite Xavier’s teasing words, his heart ached for her.
As he hugged Winnie, he whispered, “We’ll be able to go back soon. By then, we’ll sleep in our house, and I’ll keep you company every night whether you wake from a dream at night or you wake in the morning. The first person you’ll see will always be me. That way, you’ll never feel the chills running down your spine stand ever again.”
Winnie could not help but laugh at Xavier’s words. “Haha! Mr. Fairchild, you’re getting better and better with sweet nothings.”
Xavier drew his brows together. “I don’t do sweet nothings. Everything I say is straight from my heart.”
Winnie’s smile widened. “That’s about the same.”
“About the same with what?” Xavier asked in confusion.
Winnie held his chin and said, “Well, about the same with sweet nothings.”
“Is that so?” Xavier’s eyes darkened as his voice lowered. “Why don’t I find it sweet at all?”
“What’s your standard of sweet, then?” Winnie queried, amused by his answer.
Xavier lowered his head a little. “I’ll tell you when I have a taste of it.”
As he said that, he reached out to hold the back of Winnie’s head.
Winnie knew what he wanted to do next, but she wanted to keep teasing him.
Hence, just as he was about to kiss her, she turned her head and avoided him.
Naturally, Xavier would not be happy about her avoidance, so he tried to kiss her again.
However, Winnie abruptly froze in her tracks.
The car window had been half-opened for ventilation. When she avoided Xavier, she accidentally looked outside.
That glimpse she caught made her freeze.
In the next second, she shoved Xavier away.
A teasing push felt vastly different from a shove, and Xavier could differentiate them. He could sense that Winnie genuinely wanted him to move away from her.
But why is she pushing me away all of a sudden?
Xavier then raised his head and looked in the direction Winnie was staring at.
As it turned out, Christopher was standing outside. He had not rested since he left the hospital because he was worried sick about Winnie.
When he realized that the car stopped, and when he saw Greta going to Mason, he decided to come over to take a look at Winnie. He wanted to discern whether she was safe and sound.
Yet, the sight that greeted him was Winnie and Xavier flirting.
At that very moment, a pang of pain struck his heart. He wanted to turn and leave immediately, but unexpectedly, Winnie turned in his direction. That was how their eyes met.
Now, even Xavier had noticed him.
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