Chapter 167: Chapter 168

Chapter 0168 Chapter 0168 Ella POV Hazel led Alexander and me up the stairs to a large bedroom. It contained a four–poster bed, a sturdy dresser, and a plush recliner with a quilt thrown over the back. The furniture was heavy, hand–carved wood, radiating an air of craftsmanship.

The room itself, however, was sparsely decorated–just a few landscape paintings adorned the walls, and nothing more.

“Please let me know if you need anything,” Hazel said warmly. “I hope you have a good night.”

“We’ll be all set. Thank you, Hazel,” Alexander replied with a kind smile.

“It’s no bother. If you need me, you know I’m just at the end of the hall,” Hazel said, lingering briefly before nodding and leaving.

When she was gone, Alexander and I stood in silence for a moment. He walked further into the room, sitting casually on the edge of the bed. “Hasn’t changed much,” he commented, glancing around.

My eyes widened. “This isn’t your bedroom?”

“It is,” he confirmed. “After I moved out, they converted it into a guest room—not that they had to do much to make the change.”

“Surely your childhood bedroom wasn’t this plain,” I remarked, gesturing to the room. “If you rer ved the bed, this could pass as a waiting room. It’s so...

“Dull?” Alexander asked, smirking at me. “Seems it only takes a little wine for you to speak your mind.”

“I’m not trying to be insulting; I’m just surprised.”

“I never spent much time at home in my room, so it didn’t matter to me how it was decorated.”

“Your apartment is just the same,” I pointed out. “Very little decoration–it almost looks like a showroom.”

“I don’t spend much time there either,” he said. “I’m usually down in my office or working.”

“That’s all the more reason your room should be comfortable, filled with things that bring you joy and help you relax.”

“You really think that?” Alexander asked, his tone suddenly thoughtful. “And yet, you’ve removed all the things that bring you joy from your own bedroom, haven’t you?”

I hesitated, caught off guard. “I suppose that’s true,” I admitted softly. I walked over to a nearby chair and sat down. “Alexander, why did you agree to spend the night here? We hadn’t discussed it beforehand. Isn’t it a little awkward for you?”

“It would’ve been more awkward if we declined,” he said matter–of–factly. “It would’ve made her suspicious.” Then he smirked, his tone teasing. “Why? Are you nervous being so close to me when we’re alone?”

“I have no reason to be nervous around you, do I?” I asked, even as my heart fluttered slightly.

“Of course not,” he said, his expression softening. “If you’re uncomfortable sharing the bed, I can sleep somewhere else.”

“No, there’s no need for that,” I replied quickly. “It’s a big bed, and as I said, I have no reason to be nervous around you.”

+25 BONUS Chapter 0168 Alexander smiled, a hint of satisfaction in his expression.’m glad to hear that.“.

“Well, it is late. We should try to get some rest,” I said, standing awkwardly.

Alexander got up suddenly and walked over to the dresser. He rummaged through the drawers for a few moments before pulling out a large black T–shirt and a pair of pajama pants with a drawstring. Holding them out to me, he said, “They’ll be loose, but they should do for tonight. You don’t want to sleep in that dress, do you?”

“I certainly don’t,” I said, taking the clothes from him gratefully.

“There’s a bathroom through that door,” he said, pointing behind me. “You can shower if you’d like.”

“That sounds great. I’ll try not to use all the hot water.”

“Use all you like,” Alexander replied with a small smirk. “I don’t mind a cold shower.”

I glanced at him, tempted to respond to his odd comment, but the playful look on his face told me he was teasing. I decided to let it go; it was late, and I was too tired to banter.

Taking the clothes he’d handed me, I walked into the bathroom. Unlike the rest of the house, the plumbing here seemed to have been recently updated. The shower was surprisingly modern, with a sleek design and a rainfall showerhead. As soon as I turned the hot water knob, steam poured out, filling the room.

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