Unexpected turn of events

I never expected my life to change in less than 24 hours.

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"Cinnya~bun, what do you say we sneak out of here to explore the city?" Ansel suggested as he seemed incapable of reining in his cuteness aggression towards me.

Puffing my cheeks as I crossed my arms over my chest, I begrudgingly replied, "I would say, do your worst. But also, keep your promise! You said you'd tell me the origin of my cute nickname!!"

His annoyingly sexy baritone chuckle seems to instantly put me at immediate ease.

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In the air mid-flight, I was still that hollowed people-pleasing marionette whose day-to-day routine is to rummage every nook and cranny for a reason to live to see the next sunrise.

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Pulling out his phone, Ansel read aloud Soren's text, mentioning Soren dropping Ansel's car near the main entrance.

Ansel picked up his cardigan as he suggested, "Go ahead and freshen up. I'll wait for you in the front while I warm up my car."

Nodding, I plugged my phone into my charger as I frolicked toward my luggage.

With my toiletries under my arm and clothes hanging on my forearm, my frolicking continued as I headed towards the bathroom, Ansel came back just before my left foot felt the icy bathroom tiles by the door.

"Do you need anything?" I asked as I laid out my toiletries on the bathroom's marble counter.

Leaning on the door frame with his well-defined arms crossing over his chest, Ansel cleared his throat as he shook his head back to reality and explained, "Remember, please wear something you're genuinely comfortable in. No need to doll up for me. You already have all of me."

Noticing my reflection's shocked expression in the pristine vanity mirror, words seemed to escape me as a smug Ansel continued, "The only thing left is for you need only to claim me as I'm already yours. Just not in every sense of the word, as you haven't had your way with my body just yet."

Heat spreading out my cheeks, I hurdle the nearest loofah at Ansel, hoping to wipe that sexy smug smirk off of his ridiculously handsome face.

Unfortunately evading my death blow, I'm now left alone with my thoughts as the last echoes of proud banter filled those hallowed well-decorated halls.

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Moving in with Gran-gran was a means of escape from the hell hole I was plucked out from.

At least with her, there won't be nightly interchangeable verbal warfare between a trophy wife that settled out of spite and an adulterous drunk husband that is consumed by human greed.

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Removing my clothes as I await for the steam escaping the open shower door, my thoughts led me back to back home, to Constanze...

"How do we maintain our friendship at a distance?"