Chapter\u00a0727\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0should\u00a0wait\u00a0to\u00a0cut\u00a0the\u00a0cake,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said,\u00a0glancing\u00a0at\u00a0Chester.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0put\u00a0your\u00a0wedding\u00a0on\u00a0hold\u00a0for\u00a0her.\u00a0It\u00a0might\u00a0make\u00a0her\u00a0feel\u00a0worse,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0looking\u00a0between\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0them.\u00a0\u201cJust\u00a0resume\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0will\u00a0join\u00a0us\u00a0soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Judy\u00a0returned\u00a0just\u00a0as\u00a0they\u00a0finished cutting the\u00a0cake;\u00a0Nan\u00a0was\u00a0quick\u00a0to\u00a0apologize,\u00a0but\u00a0Judy\u00a0waved\u00a0off\u00a0her\u00a0concern.\u00a0Judy\u00a0looked\u00a0gorgeous,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0impressed\u00a0with\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0quick\u00a0handwork.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0a\u00a0while,\u00a0I\u00a0got\u00a0to\u00a0talking\u00a0to\u00a0Sampson\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0others\u00a0who\u00a0were\u00a0there.\u00a0Most\u00a0of the\u00a0mates\u00a0were\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0dance\u00a0floor\u00a0dancing,\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0noticed\u00a0Judy\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0amongst\u00a0them.\u00a0Frowning\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0around,\u00a0not\u00a0liking\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0dind\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0where\u00a0my\u00a0mate\u00a0was.\u00a0My\u00a0wolf\u00a0quickly\u00a0caught\u00a0her\u00a0scent,\u00a0and\u00a0we\u00a0followed\u00a0it\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0reception\u00a0until\u00a0we\u00a0reached\u00a0the\u00a0balcony.<\/p>\n
Judy\u00a0stood\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0terrace;\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0fixated\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0city\u00a0below\u00a0and\u00a0Her\u00a0hands\u00a0gently holding\u00a0the\u00a0railing.\u00a0She\u00a0looked\u00a0almost\u00a0peaceful,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0clear\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0lost\u00a0in\u00a0thought.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0thought\u00a0at\u00a0that\u00a0moment,\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0looked\u00a0more\u00a0beautiful;\u00a0even\u00a0if\u00a0her\u00a0hair\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0slightly\u00a0a\u00a0mess,\u00a0and\u00a0despite\u00a0the\u00a0makeup,\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks\u00a0were\u00a0flushed\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0earlier\u00a0vomiting\u00a0session.\u00a0Not\u00a0to\u00a0mention\u00a0the\u00a0stain\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0dress\u00a0that\u00a0Irene\u00a0was\u00a0to recover.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0noticed\u00a0me\u00a0coming\u2026\u00a0or\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0did,\u00a0she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0make\u00a0it\u00a0known.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0closed\u00a0the\u00a0balcony\u00a0door\u00a0behind\u00a0me,\u00a0the\u00a0music\u00a0and\u00a0chatter\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0reception\u00a0quieting\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0shut\u00a0door\u00a0blocked\u00a0out\u00a0the\u00a0sound.\u00a0stepped\u00a0behind\u00a0her,\u00a0my\u00a0fingers\u00a0grazing\u00a0her\u00a0hips,\u00a0making\u00a0her\u00a0jerk\u00a0slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey\u2026\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0coming\u00a0out\u00a0softer\u00a0than\u00a0usual.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0just\u00a0stepped\u00a0out\u00a0here\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0some\u00a0air.\u00a0I\u00a0hope\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0worry\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0always\u00a0worried\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0on\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0admitted.\u00a0She\u00a0leaned\u00a0back\u00a0into\u00a0me,\u00a0resting\u00a0her\u00a0body\u00a0weight\u00a0against\u00a0mine\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0manage\u00a0it\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0own.\u00a0I\u00a0was okay\u00a0with\u00a0that,\u00a0though;\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0hold\u00a0her\u00a0up\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0hold\u00a0herself.\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0her\u00a0rock\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0her\u00a0everything.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0way\u00a0the\u00a0moonlight\u00a0cascaded\u00a0its\u00a0rays\u00a0down\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0fair\u00a0complexion\u00a0made\u00a0her\u00a0shine\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0way\u00a0that\u00a0took\u00a0my\u00a0breath\u00a0away.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0tucked\u00a0a\u00a0strand\u00a0of\u00a0hair\u00a0behind\u00a0her\u00a0ear\u00a0without\u00a0taking\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0off\u00a0hers.\u00a0A\u00a0small\u00a0smile\u00a0tugged\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0corner\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
And\u00a0yet,\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0still\u00a0see\u00a0the\u00a0vulnerability\u00a0and\u00a0insecurity\u00a0behind\u00a0her\u00a0gaze.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0have\u00a0no\u00a0idea\u00a0how\u00a0beautiful\u00a0you\u00a0look\u00a0right\u00a0now,\u00a0do\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0my\u00a0voice\u00a0a\u00a0low\u00a0whisper,<\/p>\n
She\u00a0raised\u00a0her\u00a0brows\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0something\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0stain\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0dress\u00a0or\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0her\u00a0hair\u00a0and\u00a0makeup\u00a0were\u00a0ruined\u00a0despite\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0efforts,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0stopped\u00a0her\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0could.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0too\u00a0sharply.\u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0do\u00a0that.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0like\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0crazy\u2026\u00a0like\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0anything\u00a0less\u00a0than\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0breathtaking\u00a0thing\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0ever\u00a0seen.\u00a0Tonight,\u00a0I\u00a0sat\u00a0there\u00a0helplessly\u00a0and\u00a0watched\u00a0you\u00a0crumble\u00a0in\u00a0that\u00a0bathroom.\u00a0I\u00a0held\u00a0your\u00a0hair\u00a0and\u00a0rubbed\u00a0your\u00a0back\u00a0while\u00a0you\u00a0got\u00a0sick\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0watched\u00a0you\u00a0sob\u00a0and\u00a0shake,\u00a0thinking\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0breaking\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0eyes.\u00a0But\u00a0you weren\u2019t\u00a0breaking\u2026\u00a0nothing\u00a0could\u00a0ever\u00a0break\u00a0you.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0the\u00a0strongest\u00a0woman\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0ever\u00a0known,\u00a0Judy.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0turned\u00a0around\u00a0my\u00a0arms,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0glistening\u00a0with\u00a0fresh\u00a0tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0feel\u00a0very\u00a0strong\u00a0tonight,\u201d\u00a0she admitted,\u00a0her\u00a0tone\u00a0coming\u00a0out\u00a0weak.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0pressed\u00a0my\u00a0forehead\u00a0against\u00a0hers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0okay,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0whispered.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0can\u00a0be\u00a0strong\u00a0for\u00a0both\u00a0of\u00a0us.\u00a0You\u00a0give\u00a0me\u00a0strength\u00a0every\u00a0day\u2026\u00a0even\u00a0when\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0near\u00a0you,\u00a0you\u00a0still\u00a0give\u00a0me\u00a0strength.\u00a0For\u00a0once,\u00a0let\u00a0me\u00a0give\u00a0you\u00a0strength.\u00a0Let\u00a0me\u00a0be\u00a0your\u00a0anchor\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 727 Chapter\u00a0727\u00a0 She\u00a0nodded. \u201cWe\u00a0should\u00a0wait\u00a0to\u00a0cut\u00a0the\u00a0cake,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said,\u00a0glancing\u00a0at\u00a0Chester. \u201cShe\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0put\u00a0your\u00a0wedding\u00a0on\u00a0hold\u00a0for\u00a0her.\u00a0It\u00a0might\u00a0make\u00a0her\u00a0feel\u00a0worse,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0looking\u00a0between\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0them.\u00a0\u201cJust\u00a0resume\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0will\u00a0join\u00a0us\u00a0soon.\u201d Judy\u00a0returned\u00a0just\u00a0as\u00a0they\u00a0finished cutting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21796"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21796\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}