Chapter 376: You Are Sleeping on the Couch

“Get out!” Cecilia demanded, ignoring how he’d arrived.

“The receptionist said all rooms are fully booked. If I leave, I’ll have nowhere to stay,” Nathaniel replied, his voice tinged with despair.

“Fully booked? It’s not even peak season!” Cecilia exclaimed, immediately calling the front desk to confirm. As expected, the hotel was full. Bewildered, she turned to find Nathaniel standing before her. “Perhaps it’s because New Year’s is approaching,” he offered.

“Then stay at a different hotel,” Cecilia suggested, unconvinced that all hotels were booked.

“I won’t,” Nathaniel refused, leaning closer. “Finding this place took considerable effort. Are you sure you want to send a blind man out to find another hotel in the middle of the night?”

Cecilia might have been uneasy with someone else, but Nathaniel’s numerous bodyguards and subordinates allayed her concerns. She reached for his clothes, attempting to guide him away. “I’ll take you to another hotel.”

Nathaniel’s attempt at sympathy clearly failed. He remained still. “I don’t want to stay anywhere else, Ceci.”

Cecilia tried to pull him away, but he wouldn't budge. He took her hand, his voice softening. “Ceci, think. This is Tudela. What would people who know me think, seeing me here, blind?”

Cecilia stopped. “Why did you come here, then?”

“I couldn’t leave you alone.” He’d felt intensely lonely during previous stays in hotels while watching over her, and was determined to be with her this time, regardless.

Cecilia pulled free. “You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.”

“All right.”

Cecilia finally freshened up; she was exhausted. After bathing, she lay down, but was soon interrupted by Nathaniel’s deep voice. “Ceci, I’m unfamiliar with this place. Could you tell me where the bathroom is, and where the toiletries are?”

Cecilia, momentarily forgetting his blindness, got up and guided him, letting him touch objects as she described them. His memory was impeccable; he retained everything. She often wondered how someone like him could have lost his memory. His current gentle obedience made him seem a completely different person.

Lost in thought, Cecilia didn’t notice Nathaniel gently taking her hand. The room seemed to grow warmer. He leaned against her back, almost embracing her, his Adam’s apple subtly moving. His breath on her ear snapped her back to reality. “All right, you should shower now,” she said, hastily retreating to the bed. She shut her eyes, the sound of running water filling the silence. Soon, she drifted to sleep.

In her dream, she felt someone holding her tightly, too weary to open her eyes.

Dawn roused her. She opened her eyes to find herself alone. A neatly arranged breakfast sat on the table. Curious about Nathaniel’s work, Cecilia left it untouched. Peeking over his shoulder, she saw that the business proposal on his computer had been replaced with a charity donation proposal.