Chapter 754

The night was hazy, filled with the chirping of summer cicadas.

In the bathroom, a few drops of essential oil were added to the hot water filling the tub.

The oil was a special blend developed by Kendal Ellsworth, known for its soothing and sleep-inducing properties.

So much had happened in the last two days. Now that she could finally relax, a wave of exhaustion washed over her.

A long soak in the tub eased the tension from her body.

The bathroom door opened, and the woman emerged in a bathrobe, her hair wrapped in a towel.

She sat down at her vanity, about to apply her skincare, when there was a knock on the door.

Briony paused. "It's not locked."

The door opened, and Stewart walked in carrying a tray.

On the tray was a glass of milk.

"I warmed some milk for you."

Briony watched him in the mirror.

They were two adults who knew the score, a former couple just reunited. They both knew the real reason for the glass of milk.

Briony's gaze fell on Stewart's bandaged finger, and she couldn't help but smile. "Stewart, give it a rest."

Stewart showed no embarrassment at being caught. Instead, he grinned, seeing that she wasn't annoyed. This emboldened him.

He walked over, placed the tray on the vanity, and then turned back to close the door.

With a click, the lock engaged.

Briony raised a delicate eyebrow. "Stewart, I don't remember saying you could stay."

The man came to stand behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders.

Briony didn't flinch. Fresh from the bath, her skin glowed rosy pink from head to toe, and her beautiful eyes sparkled with moisture.

She was the very picture of a freshly bloomed rose.

The sight made a fire stir within him.

He slowly leaned down, his face close to hers, his long, narrow eyes meeting hers in the mirror.

His voice was low and raspy. "Bryn, don't overthink it. I just lock doors out of habit." Briony was silent.

Stubborn man.

She pursed her lips, deciding not to call him out on his little game.

In fact, a part of her was curious.

She wanted to see just how thick-skinned this man had become after five years.

Stewart straightened up and walked over to open a drawer. "You drink your milk. I'll blow-dry your hair."

Briony looked at his hand. "Won't that be inconvenient for you?"

"It won't affect blow-drying."

And it didn't.

In fact, when the nurse had changed his dressing today, she had used far fewer layers of gauze than the night before.

Stewart's finger was much more flexible today.

Besides, during the time Briony was seriously ill, Stewart had always been the one

to take care of her hair.

Not just drying it, but washing it too.

So, it was a familiar routine.

Briony picked up the milk and sipped it slowly.

Behind her, the man held a hairdryer in one hand and a comb in the other, expertly drying her hair.

Her long battle with illness had seen

her waist-length hair cut to a

hil.ne

collarbone-length style, which made washing and drying much quicker.

After about five minutes, the hairdryer stopped.

Stewart put it away in the drawer.

Briony had only managed half the glass of milk before feeling full.

"I can't drink anymore." Just as she was about to put the glass back the

tray the man's hand suddet

sideply

reached out.

Briony instinctively looked up at him—

He took the glass from her and drained it in one go.

His perfect jawline, his slightly tilted chin, and the way his prominent Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed...

Briony's eyelashes fluttered, and she found herself swallowing unconsciously.

The air conditioning was on, but she suddenly felt a strange, rising heat.

She quickly grabbed a drop of moisturizing spray and misted her face several times. The fine, cool spray on her skin helped to lower the temperature of her cheeks. Briony let out a quiet breath and began to apply a generous amount of serum to her face...

Stewart put the empty glass down and leaned against the vanity, watching her apply her various lotions and potions.

Briony didn't do cosmetic procedures; she had naturally good skin and didn't need specialized treatments.

Her skincare products were all quite basic. The was using

eye massage oil she

W was something Ce

had only recently recommended.

Usually, she would just spend a few minutes massaging it in and be done.

But tonight, she was massaging it in over and over again, with no intention of stopping even after nearly ten minutes.