Chapter 305

nah drifted into a heavy, almost dreamless sleep and did not stir until noon.

n she finally woke, the lingering haze left her wandering through the mansion in a daze.

eyes soon landed on a dark gray door at the end of the hallway, its stark appearance making it stand out s place.

osity got the best of her, and she moved closer, drawn to the door for reasons she couldn't explain.

ia."

ing her name, she turned sharply toward the sound of Claude's voice, which came from behind and ed a hint of warmth.

found Claude waiting several steps away at the corridor's corner, his smile relaxed and casual as if he'd just arrived. "You are up? I was just about to find you. Lunch will be ready soon."

lingering doubts in Hannah's mind vanished instantly, and she gave him an embarrassed smile. "1elled something delicious and got lost looking for the dining room. This door here just looks so different."

ude let out a soft chuckle. "Ah, inside there is just my personal collection. There are all sorts of things de-odd old antiques my grandfather used to collect and some oddball things I picked up at auctions.estly, it's nothing but a pile of useless junk."

ih that, he strolled over and stopped beside her, resting to describe what he'd prepared for lunch.

Hannah listened intently,realizing she was indeed a bit hungry.

Unbeknownst to her, cold sweat beaded on Claude's neck. He had come dangerously close to being caught.

Soon enough, they reached the dining room.

"Go ahead and taste this," Claude said as he served her a bowl of soup with gentle hands.

Hannah glanced at the meal he had arranged and caught the tenderness in his gaze, a wave of warmth washing over her. "Thank you, Claude. This looks wonderful," she replied, settling herself at the table.

Claude gave her a pleased nod. "I'm glad you like it," he answered, taking a seat across from her.

He gestured for her to eat while he barely touched his own food, his gaze fixed on Hannah's face with a nearly greedy tenderness. The dining room felt hushed, the only sound coming from the clatter of cutlery and dishes.

Hannah ate in silence, while Claude watched her silently.

Not until Hannah put her spoon aside and dabbed her mouth with a napkin did she make a move to stand and head for the door.

Before she could say anything, Claude spoke up.′′Areyou leaving already?"

She nodded. "Yes, and thank you again for preparing all this. Everything was delicious," she said as she rose from her chair.

Claude stood up, moving to her side, his voice soft."Anna..."

He lifted his hand, reaching as though to touch her arm, but hesitated, stopping just short and fixing her with 'a sincere, searching look. "I wish we could stay here forever. Just the two of us. Quiet and peaceful...Wouldn't that be perfect?"

Hannah froze for a moment. When she met Claude's eyes, overflowing with a soft, yearning hope,she instinctively interpreted his words to mean that he was tired of the icy grandeur of the Hobbes family estate.What he longed for was a true sense of belonging. He had mentioned how lonely he felt during his hospital stay, and now that loneliness was clear in every word.

Her heart melted a little. She gave him a warm smile and offered comfort. "You can always come to Sterling Heights if you need a break. My parents and I are there. Whenever you feel down, just visit us."

A fleeting, imperceptible tension passed through the depths of Claude's eyes. She still had no idea! What he truly longed for was nothing like the family warmth at Sterling Heights. His desire centered on her-no one else. Having her entirely for himself was all he wanted.

Claude didn't explain, concealing that momentary stiffness behind a gentle, agreeable smile as he nodded."Alright, I get it. Drive safe." He smoothly avoided her invitation and switched topics. "By the way, try to stay off the freeway during rush hour. There was a serious crash there just last week."

Reaching for her purse, Hannah offered a final reminder. "Got it. Make sure you get enough rest. If your stomach starts acting up, take your medicine and don't skip a dose."

"Alright," Claude replied softly, his gaze practically glued to her back as he watched her leave the foyer and disappear outside. He stood there listening until the sound of her car faded away.

The warmth in his smile dropped away in a heartbeat. A cold darkness settled over his expression, cold as the deepest sea.

Without another word, he made his way to the room Hannah had almost entered, pressing his fingers to the keypad.

A soft ding signaled as the gray door slid open.

Inside, there were no shelves of odd auction finds.

Every wall was blanketed in photographs, hundreds-maybe thousands. Every single picture was of Hannah.