The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 171
But as soon as the words fell, she quickly withdrew her hand, pushed the door open, and got out, all in one smooth motion, not even daring to look back.
Watching her fleeing figure, Callahan couldn’t help but chuckle. The usually calm and composed Leilani actually had moments of such panic?
He lowered the window and called out to her back, “Leilani.”
Leilani paused but didn’t turn around, asking muffedly. “…Is there something else?”
The smile in Callahan’s eyes deepened, and he deliberately dragged out his tone. “Goodnight.”
Leilani’s heart missed a beat. She waved her hand without turning back and quickly ran into the building. Only when she entered the elevator did she cover her burning face and sigh in frustration. “Leilani, you are truly hopeless!”
Meanwhile, the Maybach remained parked downstairs.
Callahan didn’t plan to go up for the night. He had been abroad for nearly a week, and the company had a lot of matters waiting for him to handle. He looked at a certain lit window upstairs, his eyes darkening slightly.
The morning sun spilled through the cracks in the curtains. Leilani was still asleep when she was startled awake by the urgent ringing of the doorbell. She had suffered rare insomnia last night and hadn’t fallen asleep until the early hours.
She frowned and opened her eyes groggily. Her hair was messy, and she was still in a
semi-conscious state.
Who was knocking? She didn’t recall scheduling anything recently.
The knocking was incessant, ringing like a death warrant. Impatiently, Leilani got up. Dragging her feet, she went to open the door. Without even checking the peephole, she pulled the door open.
Then, she froze instantly.
Callahan stood at the door in a sharply tailored black suit, holding an exquisite breakfast bag. He looked cool and noble, a stark contrast to her disheveled state.
Their eyes met, and the air froze for a second.
Leilani’s brain exploded. Almost reflexively, she slammed the door shut with a “bang.”
She looked down at her messy pajamas, her bare feet. She could even feel the sleep creases that might be on her face…
Why was Callahan at her door?
She took a deep breath, rushed into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, washed her face, combed her
hair, and even applied some skincare products-something she rarely did in a rush. She changed into clean loungewear before managing to calm down.
12:09
“Calm down, Leilani. Just pretend nothing happened just now!” She took a deep breath, walked to the door again, and opened it with feigned composure.
Callahan was still standing there, eyebrows raised slightly, a teasing smile in his eyes. “Awake?”
His voice was deep, carrying a specific morning laziness.
Leilani’s ears burned. She forced herself to remain calm. “…Yeah.”
Callahan handed the breakfast bag to her, his tone natural. “I was afraid you hadn’t eaten breakfast, so I brought some on the way.”
Leilani took it. Her fingertips accidentally brushed his hand, and she pulled back as if electrified, her heart racing again.
“…Thank you.'”
She lowered her head, trying to ignore her frantically accelerating heartbeat.
Callahan looked at the red tips of her ears, the smile in his eyes deepening. He suddenly leaned in closer.
“Just now…” He deliberately dragged out the word. “I didn’t see anything.”
Leilani was left blushing, unable to utter a word. He was definitely doing it on purpose! She glared at Callahan and let him in.
Leilani opened the breakfast, and just as she took a bite of the sandwich, she heard Callahan mention Arnold. She paused slightly and looked up, the shyness in her eyes fading instantly, replaced by her usual coolness. “What about him?”
12:09
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.