Chapter 131:


    In the darkness, Allison rummaged through the drawers, muttering to herself as she felt around.


    “I could’ve sworn the candles were in here…”


    But without any light and the curtains still drawn, she was practically blind.


    Just as she finished speaking, her foot slipped on the hardwood floor, and she stumbled forward.


    “Damn.


    Talk about speaking things into existence.” Expecting a painful collision with the floor, she braced herself, but the impact never came.


    Instead, she found herself wrapped in a firm, warm embrace.


    “Careful, Ms.


    rke!”


    Ken had been watching her closely.


    The moment he saw her stumble, he reacted quickly, his arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her back into his chest to steady her.


    But neither of them pulled away immediately.


    In the darkness, their breathing intertwined, shallow and close.


    Ken caught a soft scent — something floral, clean, unmistakably Allison.


    He didn’t even notice the oppressive darkness anymore.


    Instead, his attention was drawn to how small her waist felt under his hand, his fingers brushing the fabric of her shirt as a strange thought crossed his mind.


    How could her waist be this small?


    Allison, her cheek nearly pressed against his chest, gritted her teeth.


    “Mr.


    Lloyd, have you hugged me long enough?”


    Ken snapped back to reality, releasing her instantly.


    “Ah, my apologies!” They separated with an awkward politeness.


    Allison ran a hand over her waist where he had held her and smirked.


    “I didn’t expect you to take advantage of the situation and still be so courteous, Mr.


    Lloyd.”


    Ken chuckled softly.


    “Now, now, Ms.


    rke, no need to tease.” Quickly shifting the focus, he knelt down beside her and helped her search for the candles.


    The soft flicker of light soon filled the room as they lit one, the warm glow illuminating their faces.


    The sight stirred something in Ken — a memory of that day in the cave.


    The way Allison’s face had been bathed in firelight — both dangerous and captivating.


    The same feeling washed over him now.


    “Finally, some light,” Allison murmured, breathing in the familiar scent of gardenias from the candle.


    It tugged at her own memories — the underground parking lot and the kiss that had followed.


    The thought, intoxicating, lingered.


    For a moment, neither spoke, the air thick with subtle, unspoken tension.


    The memory shared between them hung there, fragile and electrifying.


    Allison was the first to break the silence.


    She leaned down and ced the candle on the bedside table, her voice casual but with an edge of yfulness.


    “Mr.


    Lloyd, you can sleep here tonight.


    I’ll take the room next door.”


    Ken’s reply was immediate.


    “No.”


    Surprised by his own intensity, he paused, then continued more smoothly,


    “It’s storming outside.


    How could I let you sleep alone in the next room, Ms.


    rke? What if something happens?”


    His tone was nonchnt, but Allison could see through it.


    “So, how about this?” she suggested, her voice light.


    “You sleep on the bed, and I’ll take the floor in here.


    That way, I’ll be close by if anythinges up.”


    Allison was speechless for a beat, then her lips twitched into a smile.


    She was quite certain Ken was just making excuses.


    After all, it was only rain, not an earthquake.


    What could possibly happen?


    But as she nced at him, the candlelight casting flickering shadows across his face, she noticed something else — his barely concealed anxiety.


    She couldn’t help herself.


    “Mr.


    Lloyd, you said I’m just a woman, not strong enough to defend myself.


    If you decide to do something inappropriate in the middle of the night, what am I supposed to do? Scream for help? No one woulde…”


    Ken recognized the teasing lilt in her voice, but it didn’t make the situation any less embarrassing.


    He was a grown man, afraid of the dark, needing to sleep on the floor in her room — it sounded absurd even to him.


    But he tried to maintain hisposure, replying as calmly as possible,


    “That’s not going to happen, Ms.


    rke.


    Besides, don’t forget — you’ve already bested me twice.”


    Allison raised an eyebrow.


    “But didn’t you just say you wanted to protect me?”


    Before she could finish, Ken let out a slow breath and, in a rare moment of vulnerability, reached out, his fingers brushing the hem of her sleeve.


    “Ms.


    rke… I’m really afraid of the dark.”


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