Chapter 416

Alleen spotted Haley and excitedly rushed over. "Haley, you're here!"

"Hello, Mrs. Zamora and Alleen!" Haley greeted them.

Pamela's expression brightened. "Declan, you should have told me Haley was coming! We could have prepared more dishes."

Before Declan could explain that Haley wasn't staying for dinner, Haley spoke up. "Mrs. Zamora, I'm not staying for dinner."

"Well then, you'll definitely be well-fed," Pamela replied.

Everyone shared a lighthearted laugh.

"I'm going to take a shower," Declan said, heading toward his room. Inside, he turned on the shower, letting the cold water rush over him. The aphrodisiac Adeline had used on him was incredibly potent, and despite his experience, it was hard to shake off its effects. The cold water splashed against his muscles, droplets scattering in every direction. He slowly closed his eyes, trying to steady himself. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Haley's soft voice rang out. "Declan?"

He didn't look up. "Yes?"

Haley continued, "Mrs. Zamora asked me to bring you clean clothes."

"Just leave them in here," he responded.

Haley stepped inside, the frosted glass door keeping them apart. Without meeting Declan's gaze, she asked, "Where should I put them?"

"Hang them up," he said.

Haley carefully hung the clothes on the rack. Declan turned his head slightly, his gaze catching the outline of her figure through the frosted glass. She moved with grace, her body's gentle curves faintly visible. Her long, dark hair tumbled down. She stood on tiptoe to hang his clothes, her chest full and rounded, her back curving elegantly. Declan's breath hitched, his hand reaching out almost mechanically.

Outside, Haley's voice broke the silence. "Declan, are you done? Why are you taking so long!" She tried again. "Declan, why aren't you answering? Are you purposely ignoring me?"

Through the frosted glass, a quiet tension filled the air. The sound of her calling his name was melodic, each repetition echoing in his mind like a burst of fireworks, leaving Declan momentarily lost in the sensation. The feeling was brief but intense, like the pull of something both strange and addictive.

"Enough! Are you trying to drive me mad?" Declan snapped.

He turned off the water and hurriedly dressed, then left the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Pamela had already begun preparing the vegetables. Declan moved into the kitchen, ready to begin cooking. He noticed Haley intently observing Alleen's beauty.

"Declan went to Central High," Alleen responded, "and he was always at the top of his class."

Haley repeated the name. "I know. He was a top scorer in the state for his college entrance exams, from elementary school all the way through university. He's my role model, but I still feel like I have a long way to go before I can match his achievements." While she was an excellent student herself, she felt she could never match Declan's academic prowess.

She walked into the kitchen, wondering aloud, "Is it because my grades aren't as good as yours that you don't notice me? Do you think I'm not smart enough?"