Chapter 760

"I'll wait for your update, Mr. Malone. You'd better not let us down."

Jonathan hung up first.

He had already looked into it and was handling it himself. There was no way he would just wait for Adrian to do it. He put down his phone and met Anneliese's upturned gaze. Only then did the dark look on his face ease.

"Are you okay?" His voice was low and gentle as it brushed past her ear with care.

Anneliese didn't know if he meant the fire or the rumors. Or maybe he means both, she wondered as she looked at him.

Jonathan stood one step away, watching her, but he didn't move.

Lately, they were in what felt like the honeymoon stage. He was always clingy. Whenever he was with her, he wanted to hold her hand, wrap an arm around her waist, or stay close.

But right now, something clearly held him back. He only dared to look at her but not touch her. It was like he was afraid that one wrong move would upset her and make her dislike him.

That version of him made Anneliese's heart ache. She lowered her head on purpose and avoided his eyes. "I'm not okay."

The moment she looked away, his heart sank.

When he heard her answer, fear, guilt, and panic rushed in and almost crushed his calm.

So she still feels hurt over what Elizabeth did and because of how the family hid the truth about the fire, she's disappointed in me, too.

"I'm not okay at all," Anneliese elaborated, her voice soft and a little spoiled with a twinge of unhappiness. "You didn't even hug me."

Jonathan froze.

Then, the tension that had locked him in place snapped all at once.

He suddenly reached out, lifted her by her thighs, and spun her up into the air.

"Hey! Jonathan, put me down!"

Being lifted and spun by a man over six feet tall made her feel like her head was about to hit the ceiling.

She gasped and grabbed his hair by instinct.

He didn't put her down.

With her still in his arms, he buried his face against her chest and took two deep breaths. After that, he looked up at her, I won't Honey thought you were going to leave me again."

His sudden closeness made her whole body go weak.

She held his head. Her face turned red, and her eyes softened. She glared at him and reached up to his ears before pinching them lightly. "So that's what you think of me? What about trust between us?"

"I was wrong, Honey."

No one had ever pinched his ears before. It hurt a little. After that, it felt strangely nice.

Anything she did to him felt good to him. He let out a low sound. His voice was rough, but he sounded happy.

She let go and saw that his ears were red.

She realized she might have used

too much force and was about to

rub them for him. Then the noticed

how relaxed he looked. Even that

he e looket. Even that

low sound from him felt pleased and

a little too charming.

Her eyes widened.

Wait. Is that what I think it is?

Anneliese's face turned even hotter as she pushed his shoulder twice. "Put me

down. We need to talk about something serious."

Jonathan didn't want to let go, so he looked up at her.

"Kiss me first."

He held her tighter.

She looked down at his sharp brows and dark eyes, after which her heart raced.

She held his face and leaned down.

Just as their breaths mixed, the door behind them opened to reveal a small head peeking in.