Chapter 297 The situation

After finishing their shopping, the young couple headed back to the hotel together.

Alana urged Stephan, “You go take a shower first. I’ll go next.”

Stephan simply pulled Alana into the bathroom with him.

“No need to make a fuss...let’s shower together.”

Once Alana was dragged inside, he began undressing her without a word, and soon she was completely naked.

Then he began undressing himself.

Alana’s cheeks flushed bright red, thinking the man intended to take advantage of the situation.

But to her surprise, he simply finished undressing, turned on the shower, and pulled her under the stream to rinse off.

Stephan squeezed out some body-wash, worked it into a lather, and then ran his hands over Alana’s body, massaging her inch by inch.

His large hands, slightly calloused, rested on Alana’s body. The stimulating sensation of friction generating heat caused her to unconsciously feel a strange sensation.

She bit her lip and said awkwardly, “I... I’ll do it myself...”

Stephan chuckled softly, leaned in close, and bit her rosy cheek. “With me here, why would you need to do it yourself?”

“Stand still, and let me take good care of you.”

Alana’s was too embarrassed to look him in the eye, but he cupped her chin and leaned down to kiss her deeply.

After the man patiently washed her clean, he gently coaxed her into washing him as well.

Alana couldn’t refuse, so she washed him again, using the same method he had used on her.

After washing his upper body, Alana dared not glance at the man’s lower body; biting her lip, she said, “That part... you, you can wash it yourself...”

It was too spectacular...one shouldn’t look where one shouldn’t.

Stephan’s curved his lips. “No way. I’ve already washed yours clean, so you have to wash mine clean too.”

The two of them fumbled around in the bathroom for quite a while.

What should have taken half an hour ended up dragging on for nearly an hour.

After they were clean, Alana was carried out of the bathroom by Stephan, and they lay down on the bed together.

Alana’s cheeks were flushed, and her breathing was still a bit ragged.

Stephan could tell she was exhausted, so he didn’t push her any further. He leaned down to kiss her beautiful eyes and brows, then said gently;

“Go to sleep.” He turned off the light.

The room was plunged into darkness.

But Alana wasn’t sleepy yet.

She raised her hand slightly and traced the vague, handsome outline of the man before her.

“Stephan...”

Stephan replied softly, “Hmm? Is there something else?”

Alana said earnestly, “Grandma might have to stay in the hospital for quite a while. I won’t be able to leave anytime soon.”

“If you have important matters of your own to attend to, you can go ahead and leave. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Stephan took her soft hand in his. “I’m not leaving.”

Alana shook her head. “But you have your own responsibilities. You’re the CEO of Hudson Group, you must have a lot on your plate. You can’t stay here with me all the time.”

Stephan gently cupped her face. “Alana, it’s true that as the CEO of a conglomerate, I have a lot on my plate every day. But even if I don’t go to the office for a while, the company won’t grind to a halt.”

“My other subordinates aren’t incompetent. Even if I’m not there, they can manage things just fine, so you don’t need to worry about my work. Besides, with what happened to your grandmother, these are the hardest days for you. How could I possibly leave you behind during your most difficult time? I’m worried about you, so I’m staying here with you. Wherever you are, I’ll be there.”

Every word of this struck deep into the softest part of Alana’s heart.

While her heart ached, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of sweetness.

She was grateful to him, grateful for all he had done for her and her grandmother.

And she was grateful that, even in her darkest hour, he had insisted on staying by her side.

He could have left...and even if he had, she would have understood.

But he chose to stay, for her sake.

How could her heart not be deeply moved by him?

But love was a two-way street; just as he considers her, she considers him too.

Actually, she didn’t want him to get too involved in her family matters. She didn’t want to burden him too much.

She sniffed. “Stephan, don’t worry about me too much. Even if you’re not by my side, I can take good care of myself.”

Stephan replied, “I know. I believe you, too. Even without me, you can take good care of yourself. But staying here with you is my own choice. I’m willing to stay and stand by you through thick and thin.”

“Even if you run into trouble, having me by your side means there’s one more person to help solve the problem.”

Alana couldn’t help but say, “But...”

Stephan gently interrupted her, “No ‘buts.’ I know what you’re worried about, and I know that pushing me away and asking me to leave right now is for my own good. But how can I possibly leave you in such a difficult time? The harder it gets, the more we need to stand together.”

“Lana, I just want you to know that no matter what you face, I’ll be by your side, through the good and the bad. And as I’ve said before, I’ll always be by your side. I mean what I say, and I’ll never go back on my word.”

Hearing this, Alana could no longer hold back. She clung tightly to him and began to sob bitterly.

Stephan awkwardly tried to comfort her, “Don’t cry. It’s only natural for me to react this way. If I were the one facing this, at the moment when I’m most vulnerable and tormented, would you really let me bear it alone?”

Alana shook her head, still crying. “No, I wouldn’t...”

Stephan smiled and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Exactly. If it were me, I’d do the same.”

Alana’s tears flowed even more freely. “Stephan, I love you...”

Stephan paused for a moment, his voice deep and firm. “I love you more.”

Alana couldn’t help but lean in and kiss his full lips.

He responded to her gently.

Late into the night, after opening their hearts to one another, the distance between them grew ever closer.

It seemed as though nothing could stop them from being together now.

*************

Late at night, since Miranda was on night duty tonight to care for the old lady, Agnes was able to take the opportunity to come by and check on her.

Agnes slipped silently into the ward and looked at the elderly woman, who was already fast asleep.

Her face was aged and wrinkled, her hair gray and sparse, and her body was as thin as a stick.

With every glance, Agnes’ heart ached a little more.

Hadn’t Miranda told her that she hadn’t neglected her mother in the slightest?

Why did the woman look so frail?

It was as if her body were nothing but skin stretched over a skeleton, fragile enough to shatter at the slightest touch.

And even though she hadn’t returned home all these years, she made sure the woman had never been short of money.

Every month, she would send Miranda 200,000 dollars.

One hundred thousand for the old woman’s living expenses, and one hundred thousand for Alana’s living expenses.

Most people couldn’t even earn 100,000 dollars in a year.

Yet the elderly woman and Alana each had 100,000 to spend every month, they should be living quite comfortably, enjoying a life of luxury.

But seeing the old woman looking so emaciated, it didn’t seem like she was doing very well.

Agnes quietly wiped away a tear and whispered, “I’m so sorry I took so long to come see you.”

But the elderly woman, already fast asleep, did not hear her call.

And that was exactly what she wanted.

She had come secretly, not wanting to disturb her, for fear of upsetting her.

Now, she didn’t even dare to touch her.

All she could do was watch, lost in thought and filled with pain.

How could she possibly face the woman now?

She felt so guilty...