Chapter 494
494:
As night settled in, Katie wrapped up the final tweaks to her presentation slides, powered down her computer, and stepped out of her room. Visiting Yolanda at the hospital was next on her list. She planned to copy her slides later, once she got back.
Unknown to Katie, her computer hummed back to life the moment she left. An eerie blue light filled the room as the cursor began to dance across the screen, moving with uncanny purpose as if guided by an invisible hand.
Her carefully prepared slides flashed open and were swiftly altered, the content changing line by line. Before long, the device powered off once again, swallowing the room in darkness.
Across town, Christina withdrew her hands from her own laptop, a quiet satisfaction gleaming in her eyes as she closed it gently. She had carefully prepared a grand “surprise” for Katie, something she wouldn’t see coming, leaving it to be uncovered the following day.
Afterward, Christina headed for a shower, planning to visit the hospital later. Despite having hired a caregiver, leaving Bethel alone in the ward never sat right with her. The urge to be nearby, just in case, kept pulling her back.
Christina had just finished her shower, running a towel through her hair. Before she could reach for the hairdryer, someone knocked at the door. She didn’t think much of it—probably just Chloe stopping by. After all, Dylan hadn’t come here today, and at this hour, Chloe was the only one who ever knocked. With a cheerful grin, Christina twisted the doorknob. “Chloe—”
The greeting faded as soon as she recognized the person standing outside. It was Dylan! If there was a contest for bad timing, this was it. She stood there in nothing but a black silk robe, the fabric still clinging to her damp skin.
Dylan’s eyes darted over her for a second before he spun away, a flush creeping up his neck. “I’m so sorry!” he said in a rush, his ears going red. He hadn’t expected her to have just gotten out of the shower.
Trying to stay calm, Christina gently shut the door and let out a shaky breath. Her back pressed against the wood as she tried to slow her pounding heart.
Out in the hallway, Dylan looked like he’d been struck by lightning, standing stiff with his back to the door. Every inch of his face seemed to flush with embarrassment. No matter how hard he tried, the image of her curves wouldn’t leave his mind. His Adam’s apple bobbed, only making his fluster more obvious.
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Inside the room, Christina stood frozen for a beat before looking down at her robe with a frown. He probably didn’t see anything, right? Tugging the fabric a little tighter, she peeked down just to check. But even if he had caught a glimpse, it didn’t faze her. If anyone was embarrassed, it was going to be him.
A few calming thoughts helped steady Christina’s breathing. Without wasting a second, she yanked a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans from her closet and slipped into them.
Christina pulled open the door again, now fully dressed and feeling more composed.
Outside, Dylan remained rooted in the hallway, his posture straight, still keeping his back to her.
Her eyes took in his shape—those wide shoulders, trim waist, the kind of athletic build that seemed almost hidden under regular clothes but promised so much strength. Every detail about his frame tugged at something in her, making her stare a little too long. No matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept wandering—imagining the definition of his chest, the tautness of his abs, and the steady power behind his movements.
Even now, those images lingered, sparking a quiet thrill inside her that she wished she could ignore.
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