Unfortunately, Drew was overthinking it.
The phone on the other end was off.
Drew's brief glimmer of hope quickly faded as he left the balcony.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAfter a few steps, he noticed a drunken Annabeth at the end of the hallway, clutching a wine bottle, and slumped against the wall.
The red wine stained her expensive dress, and her messy hair clung to her flushed cheeks, making her look like a small, disheveled, inebriated kitten.
Standing before her was a tall, broad-shouldered man-Declan.
With an unlit cigarette hanging from his lips, Drew tilted his head, observing them with a curious gaze.
Annabeth kicked her slender legs out wildly, her movements erratic. However, the man remained unfazed. He just stood there, watching over her with a gentle, indulgent smile.
Eventually, Annabeth's energy waned. As she started to collapse, Declan leaned down, catching her soft body and cradling her in his arms.
He then nudged open the door and carried her inside.
Stpassed before Declan reluctantly emerged from the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Dec." A voice, calm and measured, emerged from the shadows.
Declan looked up in surprise, meeting Drew's shimmering eyes.
"Drew, how long have you been here?" Declan's heart skipped a beat.
"Since you brought her in." Drew gazed at his brother unwaveringly, his expression unreadable. "Dec, you were in there for quite a while. Did you sleep with the princess?" Declan felt his breath hitched. His face flushed slightly, though the dim light concealed it well.
"I only wiped her mouth and helped her to rest. I didn't touch her." "Dec, you truly are a man of virtue, like a modern-day saint. If it were me, faced with such a sweet and tender morsel, I might not have been able to hold back." Smoke obscured Drew's handsfeatures as the glow of his cigarette flickered at his lips.
Declan clenched his fists in the shadows, his voice strained. "She's still just a young girl and a royal princess at that. I can't touch her." "But I wish you had taken her tonight." A burning sensation gripped Declan's chest as he rasped. "What do you mean by that, Drew?" "By not touching her, you've shown that you truly care for her." Drew flicked the ash from his et cigarette, his eyes sharp as arrows. "Dec, you can go with any other woman, but not this one. It's not just too." Dad who opposes this-I don? Content belongs to en.swDeclan's breath hitched, his gaze complex as he looked at Drew's cold, severe expression. "For years, I've been working abroad, often traveling between here and Sentania, collaborating with their government and the royal family on classified missions. I've never given up on investigating Mom's background. You all may be content living in ignorance, but I'm not. I want everything to be clear, which is why I've been searching for any clues about Mom for the past three years." Content belongs to en.swHearing this, Declan felt as if a dull knife was grinding away at his heart.
"Drew, you found something?!" "I can't say for sure yet. Besides, it's classified. As a professional agent, maintaining confidentiality is the least I can do." Drew slowly stood from the couch, his steps heavy as he approached his brother, his face dark. "But there's one thing I can tell you. The Sentania royal family is responsible for Mom's exile. The grudge between them and Mom rund You can't possibly think of marrying into our enemy's family, right?" Content belongs to en.sw.net