The CEO's Hidden Love: Midnight Temptations and Deep Desires novel Chapter 1146

The thoughts raced through his mind at lightning speed.

"It was that meal! You deliberately made it salty."

"Smart, aren't you? How else were you going to drink water obediently?" Dorothy said with a playful squint in her eyes. "Am I smart or what?"

"Smart my—"

Everett held back his curse with great effort.

"Calm down, hear me out!" Dorothy's gaze on him was earnest, her voice softened, "I don't want, and can't always have you shielding me from everything! Everett, you've done more than enough for me, truly. My life wouldn't be enough to repay you! So, please, don't make me owe you any more. Do you really want to suffocate me with debt?"

"…I didn't want you to know."

He had painstakingly kept it a secret for so long.

"I get it! Actually, if I had known about this from the start, maybe… I might have made some rash decisions, not wanting to see you threatened and led by the nose by Quincy, especially when I was already struggling mentally back then. My thoughts and actions were so narrow-minded. But now, I wouldn't."

She was truly past that phase.

Abigail and Langston were still so young; they needed their mom.

There were friends and Everett in this world who cared about her.

Until things were truly irreparable, she couldn't just give up on her life.

"But Dorothy, you're not as physically strong as I am. You can't bear this!"

Dorothy spread her hands, "The antidote has already been taken by you. Complaining about it now, what's the use?"

"…"

"Listen to me, calm down! The antidote would work the same on anyone. Aren't we a team? With my cooperation, things might even go smoother than you planned! And you won't have to keep me in the dark, worrying I might get upset and leave for real."

"Don't see me as so fragile. I grew up juggling jobs and school, what hardship haven't I faced? Back then, I felt like no one in this world loved me, and I couldn't appreciate my mom's love until I lost her and regretted our arguments! Now that I have you, I don't want to lose again. People willing to love me in this world are too few!"

Her sensitivity and aloofness stemmed from her troubled family background.

Many sought her out for her appearance, only to retreat quickly upon sensing her distance.

Only Karen stood by her through thick and thin, and in love, only Everett was willing to do anything for her without keeping score.

Dorothy couldn't stand to lose either.

"You really are…"

Everett opened his mouth, finding himself at a loss for words.

Dorothy simply covered his lips, "Things have come this far, and you've no choice! Let's hold hands and move forward together! Okay?"