Chapter 70

Lena hastily withdrew her hand, but her movements were too abrupt. As she stepped back, she tripped over the tent's support pole and fell backward. Just as she braced herself for a painful landing, Aaron's long arm reached out and caught her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Her cheek pressed against his chest, and the rhythmic thumping of his heartbeat filled her ears, blending with her own erratic pulse. This suffocating feeling… it was almost intoxicating. It reminded her of the time she had accidentally walked in on him while he was showering.

Awkward. So awkward that she didn't even know how to extricate herself, nor did she have the courage to pull away from his arms.

“You’re already an adult, yet you’re still so clumsy,” Aaron scolded lightly, his voice coming from above her. Then he released her and added, “No wonder your mom worries about you so much and insists on you staying at home.”

Lena’s suffocating embarrassment was instantly eased by his remark. She seized the opportunity to respond, “It’s all because this egg-shaped tent you picked is too small. Uncle, you’re so stingy! Why didn’t you get a bigger one?” She was deliberately teasing him to dissipate the awkwardness.

“Next time, I’ll prepare a bigger one for Lil’ Lena,” Aaron replied, glancing at his watch. “Get some rest. I’m in the tent next door.”

So, that was what he meant when he said he’d be nearby—it was another tent in the same area. Her thoughts had wandered in a more inappropriate direction, leaving her utterly mortified. After Aaron left the tent, Lena closed her eyes in frustration, feeling the urge to give herself a few slaps. Though there had been some awkward moments, as Lena lay down and gazed at the starry sky through the transparent tent ceiling, the embarrassment no longer seemed significant.

She picked up her phone, took a photo of the starlit sky, and posted it on her social media. There was no caption, but the image left room for endless speculation.

Chapter 870

“Where did Lena take this photo?” Keira asked Hayden, staring at Lena’s starlit sky post.

Hayden didn’t answer. Instead, he handed her his phone. She took it with suspicion and saw that his screen also displayed a photo of the starry sky—identical to Lena’s.

Keira laughed. “So, you saw her post too?”

“No,” Hayden replied, exiting the image. Keira’s eyes caught sight of the name on his screen: Aaron.

She froze for a moment, then widened her eyes as she compared the two photos. Although they were very similar, the placement of the stars revealed they weren’t the same picture. “This starry photo is from Aaron? Are he and Lena together?” Keira asked in surprise.

“Unless there’s another explanation, it seems so.” Hayden tapped her lightly on the forehead. “You’re acting like you’ve discovered aliens in a photo.”

“They’re together so late at night…” Keira murmured.

“He’s her uncle. Sharing a camping trip and taking starry photos isn’t strange.” Hayden’s straight-man logic made it clear why he’d been single for thirty years.

Keira didn’t bother arguing with him and instead called Lena on video. When she picked up, she immediately went on the offensive.

“A like would’ve sufficed! Why the video call? And didn’t I tell you, pregnant women shouldn’t stay up late?”

“Where are you right now? Be honest,” Keira demanded.

“Camping!” Lena didn’t lie.

“With your uncle?” Keira pressed.

Lena chuckled lightly. “How do you know? Are you psychic?”

“Is he next to you right now?” Keira’s imagination ran wild. “Get lost,” Lena scolded. “Keep your thoughts clean!”