?<strong>Chapter 1284:</strong>


    Gerry, who had been absorbed in his video game, looked up, bewildered.


    “What? I didn’t agree to this. Where are we even going?”


    “You’ll see when we get there,” Madison replied firmly, marching back inside to grab his arm. She tugged him along before he could protest further.


    Within moments, the house that had been buzzing with activity was eerily quiet.


    Laney stood in the middle of the living room, feeling a strange unease creeping over her.


    From the top of the stairs, Cliff watched her.


    “You should get some rest. I’ll take you to the theater tomorrow.”


    Laney felt an unsettling chill. Something about his tone made her stomach twist. Alone with Cliff was thest thing she wanted.


    “I’ll head back to the theater now,” she said quickly, grabbing her bag and heading for the door.


    “No point in staying since no one else is here.”


    Cliff leaned casually against the staircase railing, his voice calm yet pointed.


    “If you leave now, how am I supposed to exin it to my parents?”


    Laney didn’t hesitate.


    “I’ll let them know I’m fine once I get to the theater.”


    He tilted his head, his expression unreadable.


    “They told me to take good care of you. If I let you leave, they’ll think I failed. Do you really want my rtionship with them to sour over this?”


    Laney blinked, confused.


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    “The consequences couldn’t be that serious…”


    Cliff gave her a measured look, his tone turning slightly yful.


    “Then what’s the harm in staying one night?”


    Laney hesitated, her resolve wavering. With a small sigh, she reluctantly headed upstairs. There was a time when being alone in the house with Cliff would have made her heart race with excitement. But now, things were different. Her feelings had shiftedpletely. She still harbored resentment toward him, and the thought of any closeness made her ufortable.


    Cliff noticed her slow, hesitant steps and smirked.


    “Are you really that scared? Do you think I’m going to bite?”


    Laney turned to face him, her tone cool but firm.


    “Weren’t you the one who used to be scared of me?”


    Cliff reassured her, “Don’t worry. Until you forgive me, I’ll adhere to the decorum expected within a family.”


    His words stirred a storm within Laney. As they echoed in her mind, her body betrayed her—a phantom ache spread across the ces where his touch had left its mark, itching and burning against the friction of her clothes.


    Laney retreated to her room, weary and unsettled. She rummaged for some ointment, applied it to her skin, and copsed onto the bed, her body craving rest.


    But as soon as her head hit the pillow, something felt wrong. She inhaled deeply. A faint scent reached her nose—subtle, but unmistakably his.


    This wasn’t the kind of scent that lingered after one or two casual visits. No, it felt deeper, more ingrained. Had Cliff been sleeping in her room ever since she moved out?


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