Chapter 46\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
*Ms. Wright, I actually have a gift for you,\u201d Aiden said, a hint of shyness in his usually composed demeanor bringing out small dimples in his cheeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard. That\u2019s really not necessary\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
When you invited me for dinner that time, it was the happiest moment recently,\u201d Aiden admitted, his admission clearly difficult for someone usually so\u00a0<\/p>\n
reserved.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard you\u2019re attending the business gala tonight,\u201d he continued, pushing the box toward me. \u201cI got these for you\u2026 as a thank you. You can try them on if\u00a0<\/p>\n
you\u2019d like.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He opened the lid, and I stared in absolute disbelief at the contents\u2013a pair of crystal heels that seemed to match perfectly with the princess dress Oliver\u00a0<\/p>\n
had given me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Wright?\u201d Aiden looked increasingly uncertain at my prolonged silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He nervously fidgeted with his jacket sleeve. \u201cYou don\u2019t like them? I can find something else\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His anxious expression revealed a thoughtful, delicate nature hidden beneath his usual composed exterior. Gone was the cold young heir\u2013here was just a boy hoping to please someone he cared about, and it made my heart ache with tenderness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not that,\u201d I managed to say, trying to sound gentle. \u201cOliver gave me a dress this morning, and your shoes would actually match it perfectly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aiden\u2019s face showed surprise. \u201cOh. Oliver had already\u2026 So could you still accept mine?\u201d He looked at me with expectation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated for a moment, then, not wanting Aiden to feel the disappointment of rejection, I said, \u201cThey\u2019re beautiful. I\u2019d love to accept them if they aren\u2019t too expensive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey weren\u2019t expensive at all!\u201d Aiden quickly assured me. \u201cJust fifty\u2026 dollars.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
From his hesitation, I suspected he was hiding the true cost. He\u2019s the Sterling Group heir\u2013the idea of him buying anything cheap seemed pretty unlikely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI bought some inexpensive accessories too!\u201d He opened his desk drawer, revealing several beautiful boxes made of what appeared to be sandalwood, emanating a subtle, expensive fragrance,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Here\u2019s a pearl necklace, earrings, and a bracelet\u2026 Do you like them, Ms. Wright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at the collection of boxes, my pulse quickening. Even with my limited knowledge of jewelry, I could tell these were high\u2013quality pieces\u2013certainly not the bargain items he was claiming. His thoughtfulness warmed my heart, and I could tell he was downplaying the cost so I wouldn\u2019t feel uncomfortable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I liked them. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, sweetie.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had just finished my work at the office, and it was exactly quitting time. I gathered Oliver\u2019s dress and Aiden\u2019s shoes and accessories into a large bag, planning to change in the dressing room across the hallway. But as soon as I stepped out of my office, I collided with a solid chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Mr. Sterling, I gasped, stumbling backward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
4:01 pm D M\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 46\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley steadied himself, his expression shifting from mild surprise to cool assessment as his gaze dropped to the packages in my arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are those?\u2018 His voice carried that familiar authoritative tone that seemed to demand immediate answers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mind raced. Should I mention Oliver\u2019s thoughtful gift? Explaining that a six\u2013year\u2013old boy I had taken in had purchased a princess dress for me seemed unnecessarily complicated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a dress I bought,\u2018 I said, the half\u2013truth making my cheeks warm. \u201cAnd\u2026 a pair of shoes and some accessories Aiden gave me\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cShow me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The dress. Show me.\u201d He extended one hand expectantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment\u2019s hesitation, I surrendered the garment bag. Ridley unzipped it with practiced ease, revealing Oliver\u2019s purchase\u2013a voluminous tulle creation\u00a0<\/p>\n
in baby blue with an enormous bow and what appeared to be hundreds of sewn\u2013on pearls and rhinestones.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His expression remained impassive, but I detected a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis looks like something a little girl would wear to a birthday party,\u201d he finally said, zipping the bag closed. \u201cYou intended to wear this to a corporate\u00a0<\/p>\n
function with Chicago\u2019s design elite? That would be a spectacle.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The criticism stung, even though I\u2019d had similar doubts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley said flatly. \u201cCome with me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? No, I need to-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Wright. His voice dropped lower. \u201cI\u2019ve already arranged for appropriate attire. It\u2019s in my suite.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0645\u0627\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at him, conflicted between irritation at his high\u2013handedness and relief at potentially avoiding professional embarrassment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d I relented, following him into the elevator headed down to the underground parking garage. \u201cBut I\u2019m keeping these with me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He let me into his car and drove to a hotel owned by Sterling Group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Sterling suite was larger than my entire apartment, with views of Lake Michigan that made the water seem to stretch into infinity, I had little time to admire the decor before Ridley steered me toward a doorway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dress is in there. Along with shoes. He gestured vaguely. \u201cI\u2019ll wait out here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The walk\u2013in closet he\u2019d indicated was nearly the size of my bedroom. Hanging in the center was a sleek, floor\u2013length purple gown with a high neck and elegant draping at the back. Beside it sat a pair of strappy white heels that looked both beautiful and intimidating.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced at my reflection in the mirrored wall, suddenly aware of my plain work blouse and pencil skirt. With a deep breath, I carefully set down Oliver\u2019s gift and Aiden\u2019s shoebox, then reached for the purple dress.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The fabric felt like liquid silk against my skin as I slipped it over my head. However, getting the back zipper up proved impossible. As I contorted my arms trying to reach it, my hair became caught in the intricate beading near the zipper. Frustrated, I tugged harder, only to lose my balance on the plush carpeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 46\u00a0<\/p>\n
I fell with an undignified yelp, landing awkwardly on my side.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Footsteps approached rapidly, and the door swung open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened? Ridley demanded, his tall figure filling the doorway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I scrambled to sit up, acutely aware of the half\u2013zipped dress and my exposed back. \u201cNothing! I\u2019m fine-\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without waiting for me to finish, he strode forward and pulled me to my feet, his grip firm on my upper arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOw! My neck\u20131 winced as pain shot through my strained muscles. \u2018Be gentle, please,\u201d I added, my voice unintentionally softening on the last word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s hands loosened slightly, but he didn\u2019t let go. His eyes traveled down to where the zipper gaped open, revealing a strip of skin along my side.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air between us seemed to thicken. I became hyperconscious of his proximity, the warmth of his hands through the thin fabric, and the intensity of his\u00a0<\/p>\n
gaze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our Uninished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 46 Chapter 46\u00a0 Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0 *Ms. Wright, […]<\/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":[88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-zero-stars-for-daddy-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30445","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=30445"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30445\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}