Chapter 854
Shaun had no intention of stopping. The urge had gotten so strong it was nearly driving him crazy.
+25 BONUS
But Halsey wasn’t responding at all. She had already seen Madeline and Martin crossing the street toward the car. She quickly pushed Shaun away and sat upright.
Just then, the door opened, and Madeline and Martin climbed back in.
Madeline handed Halsey a bottle of water. “Here, have some.”
Halsey reached out and took it. “Thanks.”
Madeline glanced at her. “Why’s your face so red?”
Halsey immediately covered her face with her hand. It felt like it was burning. She tried to brush it off. “Maybe it’s just the heat.”
Martin picked up on the weird tension. Through the rearview mirror, he glanced at his boss. Shaun had already put his mask back on.
Martin cleared his throat. “Mr. Lane, did I come back too early?”
Shaun rolled down the window and let the cool night breeze wash over him, trying to clear the heat from his body. He gave Martin a look. “What do you think?”
The answer was obvious.
Martin groaned internally. He knew he had come back too early.
Half an hour later, the luxury car pulled up in front of the Lincoln family’s villa. Halsey and Madeline got out.
Halsey said, “Thank you for the ride. I’m heading in.‘
Madeline waved to Shaun. “Bye, Shaun!”
Shaun looked at her. “Maddy, why don’t you move in and stay with me?”
Madeline shook her head. “No, I want to live with Halsey. We sleep together all the time.”
Shaun frowned. “You two share a bed?”
Madeline nodded. “Yep.”
Back when Tina was still alive, the two of them used to share a bed in that warm little house. Now those days had passed, and the memories had become something sweet and nostalgic.
“But you’re grown now,” Shaun said, “you shouldn’t be sharing a bed with Halsey anymore.”
“Why not?” Madeline asked, confused.
Shaun replied, “Because she’s going to get married someday. She’ll be sleeping with her husband.”
Madeline wasn’t sure what to make of that ridiculous answer.
The blush on Halsey’s cheeks still hadn’t faded. When she saw the conversation heading into awkward territory, sh grabbed Madeline’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”
Madeline waved again to Shaun. “Bye!”
Halsey led Madeline away.
Shaun stood there, watching until they were out of sight.
“Mr. Lane, are we heading back to the office now?” Martin asked.
kly
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Chapter 854
+25 BONUS
Back inside the villa, Halsey ran a warm rose petal bath for herself. After the long soak washed away her fatigue, she changed into a nightgown and stepped into her bedroom.
Her phone buzzed. A text had come in–who could it be?
Halsey opened the app–it was from Shaun.
He wrote, [Come downstairs!]
Just two words. Direct and commanding.
Halsey’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately walked over to the window and looked down. Sure enough, Shaun’s car was still parked outside.
It was already late at night, yet he hadn’t returned to the office. He had been waiting this whole time.
She bit her lip and sent a message back, trying to sound calm.
[What do you want?]
His reply came instantly.
[Stop pretending.]
