Chapter 972
Without giving him any warning, she reached across the space between them and smoothly plucked the sunglasses right off his face.
Cole was completely caught off guard. He sat there frozen as she removed his only defense, a burning wave of mortification washing over him. He absolutely could not let her see him looking so wrecked. But it was far too late for that now.
Her hands had moved like lightning, and suddenly his exhausted, haggard appearance was completely exposed. Before he could even begin to form a response, she was already speaking.
“Oh my goodness,” she said, her voice dripping with mock concern and barely contained amusement. “Why do you have such terrible dark circles under your eyes? And look how bloodshot they are. Did you have trouble sleeping last night?”
Her questions landed like a one-two punch of annoyance and shame.
“Are you seriously trying to suggest I stayed awake all night obsessing over you?” he shot back defensively. “Don’t flatter yourself—I’m not that pathetic!”
A slow, triumphant smile spread across her face as she savored her small victory. What a delightfully short fuse he had.
“I wasn’t thinking that at all,” she replied with sugary sweetness. “I just assumed you must have been working late on something important.”
“Business deal. But you just completely gave yourself away—you practically confessed that you spent the whole night tossing and turning because you couldn’t stop thinking about me.”
Cole’s expression turned absolutely stormy, his face darkening with frustration and embarrassment.
Cole’s face flushed with embarrassment as he shifted uncomfortably, while Elliana’s delighted laughter echoed between them.
She offered playful consolation, her voice laced with mischief. “Don’t let it bother you. Men pining over women—it’s the most natural thing in the world. They say even titans crumble before beauty, and here you are, drowning in love.”
Her teasing only deepened Cole’s awkwardness. Without warning, his fingers captured her chin, his voice grinding through clenched teeth. “Keep pushing, and I’ll toss you out of the car!”
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Fear never touched Elliana’s expression. Instead, she let her lips curve into a knowing pout. “You treasure me far too much for such dramatics. Besides, you’re terrified our relationship might shatter if you act too harshly. You always rein in that temper when it matters most.”
Just now, at Ublento Medical University, she had witnessed him exercise restraint countless times.
This sent fresh waves of embarrassment through Cole’s chest. Around her, he felt transparent—every thought, every emotion laid bare under her penetrating gaze. The sensation both enraged and mortified him.
The deeper his frustration grew, the more desperately he wanted to teach her a lesson. Yet, he could never bring himself to strike or scold the woman who had captured his heart, so he chose a different form of punishment—one delivered through his lips.
He descended swiftly, claiming her mouth with fierce determination, as though he wanted to devour her completely.
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