The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1958

The scorching heat of his breath, heavy with the scent of fine liquor, crashed into Stella's wavering rationality.

Her fingers curled into tight fists, and her body instinctively pressed backward until her shoulders hit the car door. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Was he drunk?

He was way too close!

“I'm just wondering how a little girl's heart can be so hopelessly guarded.”

Roger let out a low, husky laugh. His thumb brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face, his gaze dropping to her bitten, pink lips. A rough dryness clawed at his throat. “What exactly is it going to take to melt it?”

“...”

As the man leaned in closer, Stella found it impossible to draw breath. The last shred of her sanity screamed at her to push him away.

In the next second.

His large palm cupped the back of her head, gently guiding her forward until the tip of his nose brushed against hers.

Stella's eyes went wide with shock. Roger was staring right back at her, a blazing, all-consuming fire burning in his dark irises, threatening to swallow her whole.

At this proximity, Stella could clearly see her own reflection in his eyes. She could practically feel the thunderous, erratic pounding of his heart.

They locked eyes, separated by less than an inch.

The suffocatingly thick, seductive tension in the air only magnified with every passing second.

Just as their rational minds were on the verge of snapping—just as their lips were a breath away from touching—an obnoxiously loud noise shattered the moment.

Tap. Tap.

“Mr. Gates, I got the pills.”

The driver's voice cut through the heavy atmosphere like a bucket of freezing water.

Stella snapped back to reality. She shoved Roger away with alarming force, scrambled for the door handle, and threw it open. “My house is just up the block. I'll walk from here!”

Before anyone could say another word, she practically tumbled out of the car and sprinted into the night.

“???”

The driver, who had been completely oblivious, finally noticed Roger sprawled awkwardly across the backseat. Realization hit him like a freight train.

He had just... completely ruined the moment.

“Mr. Gates, are you alright?” The driver's face drained of color as he scrambled to explain. “I had absolutely no idea you and Miss Stella were—”

If he had known, he wouldn't have knocked on that window even if someone paid him.

“...”

Roger slowly sat up, his pitch-black eyes locking onto the driver with murderous intent. His striking face was a mask of terrifying, icy fury.

The predatory glare looked ready to tear the poor man limb from limb.

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