Chapter 311


    Chapter 311 Suddenly Close


    If my arms were not already overflowing with bags, I would have visited more booths.


    I nced at the mountain of trinkets that Charlie was disappearing under and finally tamed the wild


    shopping beast inside me.


    We got t


    got to the sidewalk, but a problem arose.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    “Getting a taxi with all this loot will be a nightmare,” I mumbled, thinking about how we would get back.


    Charlie’s muscle guy had left us here to fend for ourselves.


    Just as I said that, a shiny ck Bentley pulled up like it was on cue. Two dudes in matching ck suits


    got out and made a beeline for Charlie. “Mr. Yates,” they said, all serious.


    Charlie gave a quick nod and handed his shopping bags to the bodyguard. That was when I mmed


    up, realizing I had been fretting over nothing. The wealthy really were in a league of their own. They


    could live it up without a single worry. As the bodyguards helped Charlie into the car, he spotted me


    lingering on the curb and called, “Hey, aren’t youing?” I grinned at him and said, “I’ll catch a taxi


    soon. Head back to the hospital, okay?” We were going in opposite directions, and it just did not make


    sense for me to crisscross the city.


    His smile was warm, his voice a mix offort and resolve, “I’ll drop you off first. Catching a cab here


    is a nightmare.”


    He was spot on. The night market buzzed with folks scrambling for rides. Without a peep, hopped into


    the car.


    We rolled up to the Scotts‘ ce half an hourter. I stepped out and waved to Charlie.” Thanks for the


    ride. See youter!”


    Hen


    He nodded, handing me a neatly tied box. “I got something for you.”


    I blinked in surprise. “What’s in it?”


    He chuckled softly. “Just a little token. Go on, open it.”


    I


    Curiosity got the better of me, and I popped open the box. Inside, I found the cutest ne, which


    looked like it was spun from cotton candy. It was delicate, with tiny, intricate details that made it totally


    irresistible and one–of–a–kind.


    I just had to know. “Where did you find this?” It was not the kind of thing you n to buy; it seemed like


    a spur–of–the–moment find. A ne this fancy at a night market seemed improbable, so where did


    he get it?


    He gave me a signature mischievous smile and dodged the question with a simple, “Do you like it?”


    I gave him a nod, but then it hit me–this ne had to be worth a ton. Realizing the potential value of


    the ne, I squinted at him, “What’s with the out–of–the–blue present?” He just shrugged, waving


    the half–munched cotton candy and a Superman mask in the air, ” Hey, you got me some stuff too, so I


    had to return the favor, right?”


    I was speechless. How on earth did he think a stick of candy and a mask were on the same level” as a


    ne?


    Reluctantly, I pushed the box back toward him, “Back and forth? No way, this ne has got to be


    super pricey. I just can’t ept it.”


    He paused, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. “You… don’t like it?


    I shook my head, trying to find the right words. “No, it’s not that, I just…”


    He did not let me get the words out. “Then it’s a done deal.” He steamrolled right over my protests,


    saying, “Look, it’s not about how much it costs. It’s about the thought behind it. I love what you picked


    out for me. It means the world to me. So, just take it, will you? If not, it’s like saying we are not even


    pals.”


    Whoa, when did this be a friendship test?


    I was caught off guard, yet I managed to muster a smile. “Alright, I’ll keep it. Thanks… I appreciate the


    thought, really.”


    “If this is all about swapping gifts, I’ll make sure my next one is just as awesome.”


    He saw me agree and nodded, his eyes lighting up with a warm smile, “Awesome, now got home, kick


    back, and sleep tight. Goodnight.”


    I nodded back, quick and eager. However, before I could take a step, Charlie’s voice froze me. Yvette.”


    Whirling around, I caught him looking away, something new and unreadable dancing in his eyes. He


    squinted at me, a yful smirk on his lips, “Come here for a minute.”


    Puzzled, I bit my lip and asked, ‘What’s going on?”


    He motioned for me toe over. I hesitated for just a second before moving closer, thinking he would


    spill some secret or news. He surprised me by blowing a soft breath across my cheek, and I just stood


    there, stunned.


    “There was something on your face,” he said, his hand lightly touching my cheek as if to wipe it


    away. He was right there, so close I could barely handle it, and I caught a whiff of toboing off


    him.