?<strong>Chapter 375:</strong>


    Once everyone had changed into their pajamas, they settled down under the dim glow of the nightlight. Joelle began telling soft, soothing fairy tales to the children.


    Adriany there, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling but listening to every word she said.


    Before long, Aurora and Rnd were fast asleep. Joelle, ready to turn off the light, nced at Adrian, who was still lying on the floor.


    Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, she considered asking if the floor was too cold or hard. But the words caught in her throat—it seemed like it could mean something more.


    In the end, Joelle simply said, “Bundle up. Don’t catch a cold.”


    With a soft click, the room was swallowed by darkness, and the silence felt thick and heavy.


    The only sound that broke through was the steady thumping of a heart.


    “Joelle?”


    Joelle’s heart skipped a beat. “What is it?”


    “Give me your hand.”


    Uncertain of his intent, Joelle hesitated for a moment, then rolled onto her side and extended her hand towards him.


    Adrian took it, running his fingers over the rough patches of her skin, then held on firmly.


    Joelle let out a quietugh. “Think you can sleep like this?”


    In the dim void, Adrian’s eyes sought hers.


    “As long as you’re here, I can sleep easy. You make the dark feel a little less lonely.”


    For years, sleep had been an elusive stranger to Adrian, as elusive as the stability he had longed for. Living alone, he’d grown used to loss, always fearing that happiness was a fleeting guest, destined to leave without notice. Joelle couldn’t help but feel a mix ofpassion for him and a deep, wordless mncholy for herself.


    Adrian shivered slightly as the nket shifted, but in the next heartbeat, Joelle was beside him, wrapping her arms around his waist.


    “Sleep now, I’m not going anywhere.”


    At that moment, Adrian felt no other desire, just a deep sense of gratitude.


    “Alright.”


    Katherine sat in the passenger seat of Shawn’s car, which had inconveniently sputtered to a halt halfway through their drive. She was fairly certain this wasn’t just a coincidence—it had all the hallmarks of one of Shawn’s ploys.


    Shawn climbed out to investigate, leaving her in the stillness of the car.


    She didn’t say a word, but the tension in the air was thick, her irritation simmering just beneath the surface. After a while, Shawn made a call and then tapped on her window.


    Katherine lowered it just enough to hear him say, “I called a tow truck. I’ll get a cab for you to go home.”


    Letting out a long, slow sigh, Katherine pulled out her phone and called her driver toe pick her up. The air outside was cold, so they both waited in the car, an awkward silence stretching between them.


    Shawn reached into the back seat and pulled out a bottle of water for her.


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