Henrik had kissed her with the intention of reprimanding her, but the sight of her left him with a sudden, overwhelming desire to claim her entirely. It was a feeling he had never experienced before.
Henrik struggled to steady his breath, fighting to suppress the raw urge within him. His eyes fixed on Khloe as his voice grew rough, a warning in his tone. “Khloe, don’t push me. I’m not someone you can play with.”
The air around them thickened with tension, as though the very atmosphere had frozen in place. Henrik shot her a cold look, then turned and walked away with deliberate steps, leaving her standing there alone.
She watched his figure fade into the distance, her once vivid expression now giving way to a calm composure. She was fully aware that her earlier challenge had put her on dangerous ground. If Henrik lost his temper, she knew it could put her life in danger.
Fortunately, things had turned out better than expected. Henrik’s patience with her was more than she had ever anticipated.
While her mind analyzed the consequences of her actions, her heart continued to race, betraying the calm exterior she tried to maintain.
The frantic pounding of her heart caused Khloe to crouch down slowly, wrapping her arms around her knees as her mind replayed that breathtaking kiss over and over again. Henrik was undeniably a dangerous figure.
Khloe took a deep breath to steady herself, practiced a bit more at the range, then headed back to her room to shower and unwind.
After a day spent clashing with Sloane on set and rigorous shooting drills in the afternoon, exhaustion had fully settled in.
Khloe stretched out on the sofa, scrolling idly through her phone for a while before slipping into sleep.
Not long after her eyes closed, a knock echoed at the door. After receiving no answer for a moment, Henrik furrowed his brow and stepped into the room, only to see her fast asleep on the sofa.
She lay curled in an uncomfortable position, her cheek resting against the cushions, her features puffed slightly, radiating a sweetness and charm seldom seen.
Anyone who looked at her would feel their heart melt, and Henrik was no exception.
Gently setting the ointment aside, he moved without a sound, crouching beside Khloe and fixing his gaze on her. His eyes were dark and unreadable, like the depths of a hidden lake, but beneath the surface lingered a quiet warmth, as if he were trying to peer into her very soul.
Henrik’s presence seemed to stir something in Khloe, her brow knitting together in discomfort and her lips pulling into a tight line, almost as though she were about to wake up.
Henrik exhaled quietly, his fingers tenderly brushing through Khloe’s hair. “Rest well,” he whispered.
The warmth in his voice was almost enchanting, deep and tender, as it seemed to melt the frown from Khloe’s face. With great care, he lifted her wounded hand and noticed the faint redness and the small cuts marking her skin.
He frowned just a bit, his usual indifference to his own pain giving way to concern. The small cuts on Khloe’s hand seemed to trouble him more than they should.
“What a stubborn woman,” he murmured under his breath. He unscrewed the lid of the ointment and smeared it over her hand gently.
Every movement Henrik made was deliberate. If any of his employees saw their usually cold and imposing boss acting with such tenderness and care, they’d probably think they’d lost their minds.
Even in her sleep, Khloe seemed to feel the gentleness in his actions, her body instinctively moving closer to him as she murmured something.
Henrik hesitated for a moment, straining to catch her words, but all he could make out were a few vague sounds. A rueful smile tugged at his lips, but he returned to his task, moving with practiced precision.
Once the ointment was applied, Henrik carefully set her hand back where it had been, then covered her with a light blanket. With a gentle touch, he arranged her hair neatly on the sofa before slipping out of the room without a sound.
The following morning, Khloe awoke to a cool sensation on her hand. The small wounds from yesterday’s practice had noticeably healed. She assumed Fiona had taken care of them and made a mental note to thank her later. As Khloe got to her feet, Fiona appeared at the door with breakfast.
“Thanks, Fiona,” Khloe said, her smile lighting up her face.
Fiona paused, momentarily taken aback, before nodding in response. “You’re welcome, Miss Evans. Feel at home, and consider me like family.”
A wave of warmth spread through Khloe’s chest. Her three years in prison had shown her both the harshness and kindness people were capable of.
Yet, after her release, she had found unexpected kindness in places she never would have imagined.
Unable to stop herself, she asked, “Where’s Henrik?”
“He had to step out for some work. Do you need something? Should I give him a call?”
A small twinge of disappointment flickered through Khloe, and she shook her head. “It’s fine. I’d like to visit my mother. Can you make that happen?”
“Of course.”
Once breakfast was finished, Khloe got into the car that Fiona had arranged for her.
These days, Henrik’s men shadowed her whenever she left, though they kept their distance, careful not to intrude. At the hospital, just as Khloe was about to step into the ward, someone stepped in front of her.
She looked up to find Eric standing in her way.
His face was set in a stern expression, his voice hard as he said, “Khloe, we need to have a private conversation.”
Khloe’s brow furrowed slightly, her disinterest clear as she had no desire to deal with Eric. However, since they were in a hospital and her mother was still there, she didn’t want to make a scene. Reluctantly, she followed him to a quieter spot.
“Khloe, for your own good, stay away from Karl,” Eric said coldly, his expression full of arrogance.
“If you break things off with Karl, I’ll make sure you have enough money to study abroad. No need to worry about expenses-I’ll take care of everything. I can even set you up with a job at the Watson family’s overseas branch.”
As Eric said this, he tilted his chin upward, his gaze radiating an air of superiority.
But Khloe was repulsed. So, this was what Eric wanted to say, throwing these offers in her face. It seemed he thought she had somehow bruised his ego.
A cold laugh escaped Khloe, her eyes full of disdain and mockery, as if she were looking at the biggest fool. “Eric, what makes you think you can tell me what to do? You’re Sloane’s fiance; don’t forget that! What gives you the right to speak to me like this?”
Eric hadn’t anticipated this reaction. He believed that offering her such generous terms would make her reconsider, maybe even thank him for his “help.” But Khloe’s expression had turned frosty, her face as cold as ice, as though Eric’s words were nothing more than the buzzing of an annoying mosquito.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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