Chapter 343


    Chloe had always been a bit of a germaphobe. Since arriving here, theck of a proper ce to


    bathe had been driving her nuts. Sure, she could dunk herself in the sea, but it just wasn''t the same.


    Out of nowhere, she remembered that little stream they stumbled upon on their first day while


    foraging for mushrooms with Juztin and Connor. It was fresh water. Flowing down from a mountain,


    the waterfall created a deep, crystal-clear pool at its base. Chloe had been mesmerized by it the


    moment sheid eyes on it.


    Determined to take a proper bath, she retraced her steps from memory. It didn''t take her too long—


    about half an hourter, she found herself standing by the serene pool. By day, you could practically


    see the bottom through the clear water, but now it was shrouded in darkness. The moonlight


    flickered on and off, but you could still catch glimpses of the deep blue, shimmering water under its


    soft glow. The waterfall flowed down gently, the sound of the tumbling water a soothing symphony in


    the quiet night.


    Chloe couldn''t wait any longer. She stashed her clothes in a hidden bush by the shore and stepped


    into the water, naked. It wasn''t as cold as she had feared. Instead, it was pleasantly warm. As she


    submerged her body, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. She began to swim, the nighttime breeze


    rustling the leaves in the forest, the clouds drifting across the sky. The moon yed hide and seek,


    sometimes disappearing behind the clouds, then reappearing above the treetops.


    Swimming in the pool, Chloe''s skin glistened like diamond under the moonlight, making her look like


    a mermaid bathed in its glow, wrapped in the embrace of the night. She felt an exhrating sense of


    freedom, thoroughly enjoying the moment. But the peace was short-lived.


    Out of the darkness, she faintly saw a figure and heard some noises. "Who''s there!" she called out,


    quickly turning around and submerging her body, leaving only her head above the surface. As the


    clouds parted, moonlight poured down, and there he was—Connor, bare-chested, with his torso


    half-submerged in the water. He leaned casually on a boulder, arms folded, watching Chloe intently.


    His gaze was deep, his expression unreadable. So quiet and brooding, he seemed to blend into the


    night.


    Chloe''s heart skipped a beat, quickly reced by a surge of anger. "Connor, what are you doing


    here?" she demanded, her voice sharp. Connor''s expression remained calm, his eyes as deep and


    unpredictable as the night sky. He didn''t move, still leaning against the rock. His voice was a bit


    hoarse, "I should be asking you that."


    Chloe''s anger red. "Connor, you were spying on me bathing," she used, her voice rising. "I


    wasn''t," Connor denied, but then a sly smile tugged at his lips. "I was watching openly."


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    That did it. Chloe''s suppressed anger exploded. She swam straight towards him, ready to teach this


    scoundrel a lesson. She intended to grab his arm, maybe even dislocate it. But Connor was ready.


    Before she could reach him, he acted first. He stood up, stretched out his long arm, and in one swift


    motion, pulled Chloe out of the water, wrapping his arm around her waist. Then, with a smooth turn


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