Chapter 353


    The cigarette between his fingers had burnt down to a stub. The ash, glowing with itsst embers,


    fell onto the back of his hand, but he didn''t even flinch.


    ra finished discussing matters with Anders and emerged to Ian''s solitary figure. She sauntered


    over, her voice a gentle whisper. "Ian, what''s wrong?"


    At the sound of her voice, Ian''s heart skipped a beat. He crushed the cigarette butt underfoot. A


    forced smile stretched across his mncholic face. "Nothing, just felt like having a smoke, sorry. I''ll


    be more mindful next time."


    He pulled her close, nting a tender kiss atop her head, his voice rough with weariness, "I''m going


    to check on Grandma Rose at home. You rest up. I''ll be back soon."


    ra knew without guessing that visiting Grandma Rose was just a front. The real deal was settling


    scores with Leonora. No doubt, he had found out Leonora''s connection to his father''s critical illness.


    She watched him, her heart in agony. Her cool fingertips gently smoothed the furrow between Ian''s


    brows, her voice soft. "Ian, she and you are different. I won''t hold her sins against you. That


    wouldn''t be fair to you."


    Ian''s icy heart was instantly enveloped in warmth, his eyes growing hot. Emotion surged in his dark


    eyes, impossible to hide.


    He tilted her chin up, his breath hot as it spilled over ra''s flushed cheeks. "ra, are you trying


    to make me fall hopelessly in love with you?"


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    His head dipped, lips grazing hers, his voice a husky whisper, "If you weren''t pregnant, I''d make


    love to you right now."


    His eyes glowed with deep affection, his voiceced with an uncontroble desire. She always knew


    his heart and always stood on neutral ground when judging matters. Despite the multiple times


    Leonora had hurt her, she continued to trust him.


    Her understanding only deepened the ache in Ian''s heart. He held ra tightly in his arms, their lips


    meeting in a kiss. He forgot his physical pain, and just want to cherish the love of his life in his arms,


    to let her feel his love.


    ra had no idea how she ended up on the bed, nor when their clothes had fallen to the floor. Ian''s


    kisses were scattered over her body with tender passion. Every touch of his hot, moist lips sent


    shivers through her, making her tremble and moan softly, "Ian."


    His eyes were bloodshot, his voice a raspy whisper, "Baby, just kisses, nothing more."


    He said this, but his hands didn''t stop. ra waspletely disarmed by his teasing. Ian guided


    her hand to his burning arousal.


    Time passed, and eventually, theyy entwined, both breathing heavily, a sheen of sweat on their


    foreheads.


    Ian kissed her lips again, a satisfied smile curving his mouth. "We can only do this much for the first


    trimester. After the risky period, I''ll satisfy you, alright?"


    ra red at him, her cheeks burning. Who was satisfying whom, after all? Her hand still ached.


    Ian gently soothed ra''s back, lulling her to sleep before getting dressed and leaving the hospital


    room.


    Chase was waiting outside. From a distance, he noticed fresh blood seeping through Ian''s wound


    and clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Can''t you control yourself? ra''s pregnant, and you''re


    already this impatient."


    Ian raised an eyebrow at him. "Jealous? If you hadn''t called off your engagement, maybe you''d


    know this kind of happiness too."


    Chase chuckled dismissively, "I''d rather stay single than marry that woman." Then, he turned to


    enter Casey''s hospital room, only to meet Sasha''s furious re.