Chapter 31

• Adeline's hands finally found the strength to push Zarek away, her voice firm as she whispered, "Stop, Zarek, I'm exhausted and desperately need sleep; your persistence is suffocating me." She quickly adjusted her nightgown, ensuring her modesty was restored, the straps slipping back onto her shoulders like a fragile barrier between her and Zarek's unwanted advances.
• Zarek's eyes narrowed, confusion and insult etched on his face, his pride wounded by her rejection. He wasn't accustomed to being refused, especially not by a woman; his charm and wealth had always guaranteed him a willing partner. The great Zarek Wolfe, the infamous bachelor, the richest man in the country—his every gesture, every smile, every whispered promise had made women weak in the knees, eager to surrender to his charms.
• But Adeline's rejection stung, leaving him bewildered. "How can you push me away like this, Adeline?" Zarek asked, his tone laced with incredulity. "I need space, Zarek; your touch is overwhelming me," Adeline replied, her voice firm but laced with fatigue.