Facade of Love

Chapter 355 Tripping
I took a deep breath and forced a smile, shifting gears. “How about I take you out to dinner tonight? I dragged you around all day,
and you’ve even had to foot the bill. It’s only fair that I treat you now.”
Charlie let go of his frosty air and nodded, a rare touch of pride in his voice. “It’s about time you did.”
With a light laugh, I gave Inch the address, and we headed to the restaurant.
Charlie was like Idris–barely a word passed his lips. During dinner, he was practically mute, just sitting there in his quiet world.
I was not one to babble on either. By the time we finished eating, the night had crept up on us. Charlie and Inch dropped me off
at the Scotts‘, then they took off.
The weekend slipped away just like that.
After hopping out of the car, I meandered through the yard, taking in the sights. The snowfall had ceased, leaving behind slush
and patches of ice where the snow had once piled up. Stepping on the untouched paths was like asking to slip and fall. Perhaps
the day’s events had me feeling lighthearted because I found myself playfully seeking out the slipperiest spots to step on.
It was like there was this little rebel inside me. I knew it was slippery, but I still itched to walk over it and see if I would really fall.
“Yvette.” A voice cut through the air, crisp and cool. I was mid–step on an icy slope, totally focused, when it interrupted me. I
stopped short and instinctively turned toward the man.
I barely caught a glimpse of his tall silhouette when, as if on cue, my foot slid out from under me. My balance went haywire, and
down I went, plopping onto the ground.
“Ouch...” The jolt of pain from my tailbone had me sucking in a sharp breath.
Before I could even dwell on the ache, I was hoisted up by a strong arm around my waist, the familiar scent of his shower gel
hitting me. I did not need to look to know it was Idris.
“Yvette, are your eyes just for show? You knew it was slippery out here, and you still waltzed right into it. What’s going on in that
head of yours?” His voice came from above, a mix of irritation and concern.

I bit my lip, fighting back the tears from the sting, and looked up at him with a scowl. “It’s me who’s in pain, not you. Why the
attitude?”
Had my eyes and brain somehow ticked him off? He was really laying into me.
Once he steadied me on solid ground, he let out a cold huff and asked, “Can you walk?”
I did not answer and just braced myself against the pain and stood firm, giving him a tight- lipped look. “Did you need to see me
about something?”
His face tensed up as he seemed to snap back to the matter at hand, lips slightly twisted, his voice deep and contained. “Did
Charlie drop you off?”
I froze for a second, then remembered he had already come looking for me that morning. Back
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Chapter 355 Tripping
then, he did not say anything and just left. Was he waiting here for me now?
I hesitated a few seconds before nodding and admitting, “Yeah.”
Under the dim streetlight, Idris’s face was hard to read, but something about him seemed more intense. After a brief pause, he
did not go into details and just offered, “Let me walk you inside.”
Puzzlement furrowed my brows. What was he doing here if not to talk shop?
I stood my ground and eyed him. “You didn’t hang around just to watch me take a spill and then escort me home, did you?”
His hand, poised to assist me, froze, and with a tiny crease between his brows, he replied, ” That’s not it.”
Running out of patience, I pressed, “Then what’s up? Surely you’re not just bored?”
“I wanted to see you to check on you,” he said, his voice calm and low, his face composed yet. striking. If I hadn’t heard it myself,
I would have trouble believing those words came from him.
His bluntness honestly floored me and suddenly found myself speechless.

I decided to bail. “Okay, I’m heading back now. You should get some rest too.”
With that, I turned and hobbled back toward the yard, clueless about how to deal with his soft approach. If he had picked a fight
or lectured me, I could have fired back, but his gentle words left me searching for a reply. Even though he was not as
dramatically passionate as a lead in a television drama, his words still made me feel awkward.
“Yvette,” his voice followed me.
I stopped and turned back, striving to remain calm. “What’s up?”
He stood there, looking sharp in his black coat under the flickering streetlight, the play of light and shadow making his already
striking features even more mysterious. For a moment, I was lost in thought, marveling at how some people just seem to get all
the good looks.
“I’ll pick you up for work tomorrow.”
Huh?
I snapped out of my daze, instinctively shaking my head. “No need. I can drive myself.”