Chapter 258: ...how could I possibly misunderstand your feelings?
Though he had already told her earlier that he was simply being hospitable, Adelyn still couldn’t bring herself to accept that explanation.
She hadn’t examined the clothes closely. But even from a distance, she could tell that every single piece must have cost a fortune. If they weren’t custom-made, then they were at least from luxury brands that most people could only dream of owning.
"You didn’t like them?" Dylan asked, clasping his hands behind his back.
Adelyn shook her head, her brows knitting together.
"It’s not about whether I like them or not," she replied seriously. "It’s about them being unnecessary."
"Unnecessary?" he repeated, raising a brow.
She nodded.
"Yes. I’m only staying here for a few days. I could’ve managed perfectly well by bringing my own clothes. Spending so much on me is simply a waste."
Dylan looked at her quietly.
Then he took a slow step toward her, his gaze deepening ever so slightly.
"Is it really a waste?" he asked.
Something in his tone instinctively made Adelyn ... reconsider her answer.
However—
She still couldn’t understand what he truly meant.
His approaching presence stirred something strange deep within her chest. Yet as he stepped closer, she instinctively stepped back.
"Of course it is," she said matter-of-factly. "I—"
Before she could continue, he interrupted her.
"It isn’t."
His voice remained calm.
Gentle.
Yet surprisingly firm.
Adelyn paused.
She searched his eyes unconsciously, trying to understand the certainty hidden within them.
He didn’t look away.
Instead, he took another step closer.
"Spending money on my woman shouldn’t be considered wasteful ..." he said slowly. His eyes remained fixed on hers.
"... unless, of course, you haven’t truly meant what you said."
He paused deliberately.
"Your feelings."
"Your confession."
Adelyn froze.
Her heartbeat skipped.
Were her lies beginning to crumble already?
She swallowed.
"I... I..."
"Lying to me isn’t easy," Dylan continued, watching every subtle change in her expression with quiet confidence. "Could it be that Ms. Grace still managed to—"
"No!"
Adelyn denied it immediately.
"How could I possibly lie?" she asked, looking almost offended. "Especially to you, Mr. Warren."
She straightened herself as though trying to sound convincing.
"My feelings for you ..."
"... my confession ..."
"They were as natural as the moon in the night sky."
"There couldn’t possibly be the slightest trace of a lie."
"Really?"
He sounded almost curious.
Adelyn nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
"Then explain something to me."
She blinked.
"If your feelings are genuine ... how does spending money on you become wasteful?"
Adelyn’s expression instantly became complicated.
She regretted opening this topic.
Terribly.
"Uh ... that ..." She rubbed her lips awkwardly before hurriedly correcting herself. "It’s not wasteful. I was simply ... hesitant to accept your kindness."
"Hesitant?" He raised another brow.
She nodded quickly ...
"Yes"
Her tone only became unexpectedly serious as she continued, "I was worried that you might misunderstand my intentions towards you."
Dylan remained silent.
He simply watched her with interest, patiently waiting to see how far she would go to make her explanation believable.
"You’re already someone standing at the very top," Adelyn continued earnestly. "What if accepting everything you give me makes you think I’m only after your money ... your influence ... or the benefits that come with being close to you?"
She shook her head sincerely.
"I couldn’t bear for you to misunderstand what I truly feel."
"So..."
"I only wanted to tell you that none of these expensive gestures are necessary."
She smiled awkwardly.
"Even without all this ... my feelings for you wouldn’t change."
Silence settled between them.
Dylan simply looked at her. There was unmistakable amusement in his eyes.
Yet strangely ...
She couldn’t tell whether he believed her or not.
"You ... don’t believe me?" she asked carefully. "I really—"
"I do."
He answered before she could finish. "I trust you."
Adelyn blinked.
She had wanted to hear exactly those words.
Yet somehow ...
Hearing them only confused her even more.
Was the excuse she had just fabricated really convincing enough for him to believe it so easily?
Before she realized it, Dylan had already raised his hand. His palm rested lightly atop her head. His fingers gently brushed through her soft hair.
The unexpected gentleness caught her completely off guard.
"I already know exactly what your intentions toward me are," he said quietly. "There isn’t anything that could convince me otherwise."
"... Do you?" Adelyn asked awkwardly.
Once again, Dylan nodded with complete certainty.
"I do."
He smiled faintly.
"If nothing else ... your earlier inspection was more than enough. I won’t mistake your intentions toward me."
As he spoke, his gaze deliberately drifted downward.
Almost instinctively—
Adelyn followed it.
The moment her eyes landed on the broad chest partially exposed beneath his loosely tied bathrobe ...
She froze.
The open V of the robe revealed just enough to leave plenty to the imagination.
Without realizing it, her gaze lingered.
Far longer than it should have.
Almost ...
As though she wanted to see what lay beneath.
"See?" Dylan’s voice broke through her daze. "With you looking at me like that ..."
"... how could I possibly misunderstand your feelings?"
Adelyn snapped back to reality. Her eyes flew upward immediately.
Heat rushed across her cheeks.
And she instantly understood what he was implying.
"I—I ..."
She wanted to explain.
She really did.
But the moment she thought about it ...
She realized explaining herself would probably only make everything sound even worse.
So instead—
She chose the safest option available.
Escape.
"Mr. Warren ..." She forced an awkward smile. "I think I should return to freshen up first. And ..."
She cleared her throat.
"You should take your time getting ready as well."
Without waiting for another reply, she turned around and practically fled from the room.
She didn’t dare look back even once.
Only after stepping outside did she finally stop.
She leaned lightly against the wall and let out a slow breath.
Wait ...
Something wasn’t right.
She frowned.
She was medically incapable of falling in love.
She wasn’t supposed to develop romantic attraction toward anyone.
Then ...
What was that she just felt inside?
