Chapter 1862
In the dimly lit foyer, Jonathan lingered for a moment before descending the staircase.
There, on the steps, Estelle and Xavier were deep in conversation. Upon hearing the footsteps from
above, Estelle looked up, her frosty brows softening under the chill of the night.
Jonathan shrugged off his overcoat and draped it over Estelle''s shoulders, his eyes shifting to Xavier.
"Why note in for a drink or two?"
Xavier stood, a light chuckle in his voice. "I''ve already had the pleasure of toasting with some of
Magdalen''s finest."
He nced at his watch, "Zach''s waiting for me outside. I should head back. Drop by the diner some
time, and we''ll catch up properly."
Jonathan nodded, "Drive safe!"
With a brief nod, Xavier addressed Estelle, "Magdalen’s tied up, I won''t bother saying goodbye. Pass
on my regards, will you?"
"Sure thing!" Estelle replied.
"Take care!" Xavier said with an easy smile before striding away.
Once Xavier had left, Jonathan sat down beside Estelle. The cool evening breeze was refreshing,
bringing a sense of tranquility.
"Hit the bottle hard tonight?" Estelle asked, noticing his gaze fixed on her.
"A bit tipsy," Jonathan admitted with a grin. "Mind if I lean on you?"
Estelle patted her shoulder, "Come on over!"
Jonathan''s lips curled into a small smile, and true to his word, he leaned his head onto her shoulder.
Wrapped in his coat, her small frame juxtaposed against his tall one, they sat in a strangely
harmonious and cozy tableau.
Fireworks burst around the castle, their brilliance lighting up the night sky. The ever-changing colors
illuminated everything – one moment fading, the next zing into life.
Estelle gazed upward, the fireworks reflecting in her eyes, breaking into shimmering ripples.
Jonathan held her hand, warming it in his embrace. In this loud yet quiet winter''s night, they watched
the fireworks together, snuggled close in the serene atmosphere.
Jonathan''s eyes sparkled as he spoke softly, "I haven''t been sleeping well these past nights. Without
you beside me, I keep waking up reaching into emptiness."
Estelle hugged him, her slender fingers tracing his face, cool to the touch butforting.
Much like her persona, cool and distant, yet always reassuring.
When her fingers brushed over his eyes, he closed them, hisshes grazing her fingertips, a tickle that
sent a gentle shiver through them both.
As they watched the brilliant disy above, a shadow flickered in Estelle''s eyes. "I''ll be away for a
while," she whispered. "You should stay at home. I''ll video call you every night."
Jonathan''s eyes remained closed as he murmured, "I want toe with you."
"Be good," Estelle coaxed softly. "I haven''t really spent time with Grandpa in a while. He''s lonely, even
if he never says so. Once we''re married, we''ll have even less time to visit. Wait for me in J City."
He kissed her hand and spoke against her lips, "Then I demand daily video calls, and you have to pick
up every time."
"Deal!" Estelle agreed without hesitation.
Relieved by her prompt agreement, Jonathan snuggled closer, inhaling her subtle fragrance, which
Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.
stirred his thoughts.
Estelle''s fingers yfully tugged at his hair. "Jonathan, while I''m away, please stop giving Manley a
hard time. He''s the only son of the Scott family. Let hime back. He''s here for Magdalen''s wedding
– we had a pact to attend each other''s weddings. He knows we won''t part. He was just joking around!"
Jonathan recalled Manley''s earlier words, feeling a twinge of irritation. "Still worried about him?"
"Jonathan!" Estelle chided lightly.
With his eyes still shut, Jonathan insisted, "Let''s not talk about him. Everything else is negotiable."
Estelle couldn''t help but smile, finding this side of Jonathan a touch childish, yet endearingly so.