“Just a little longer,” Matthew responded, his voice smooth and unhurried, savoring the proximity.
A restless stir took hold within Stella, urging her to seek a diversion.
“How did Lindsay handle her rehab session today?” she asked, hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere.
Matthew’s reply came brief and emotionless. “No issues.”
His voice was monotone, making it clear he had no interest in discussing the matter further.
A hint of turmoil flickered in Stella’s expression as she struggled to find the right words to keep the discussion going. At last, after carefully placing the band-aid on her wound, Matthew watched as Stella hastily retracted her hand, leapt to her feet, and made a swift attempt to exit.
Her abrupt departure was halted when her foot entangled with Matthew’s accidentally extended leg.
With a quick reflexive motion, Matthew reached out, securing her waist with his arm and drawing her tightly against him.
Caught off guard by the abrupt intimacy, Stella gasped.
Matthew, sensing something amiss, detected a trace of alcohol in the air around her and raised an eyebrow. “Were you out drinking earlier?”
Stella, still reeling from the unexpected closeness, managed to muster a quick denial. “Absolutely not.”
She pushed firmly on Matthew’s chest, her fingers pressing into the fabric of his shirt as she tried to regain her footing.
Ignoring her resistance, Matthew leaned in closer, his nose just inches from hers, taking another delicate sniff. “Yet, there’s a distinct scent of alcohol about you,” he murmured, his breath mingling with hers.
He looked intently into her eyes, their faces so near that they shared the same breath.
They locked eyes, as though time itself had come to a standstill.
Tension mounted within Stella, her mind clouded with doubts about Matthew’s stance regarding the Wheeler family after their recent conflicts. Since her issues with Robin were resolved, she didn’t want to mention him again.
Each second felt heavier as Stella grappled with finding the right words.
At that moment, the door flew open abruptly, slicing through the tension.
Upon seeing what was happening inside, Neville and Miley quickly reacted, with Miley exclaiming, “We didn’t see a thing, promise!” They promptly shut the door behind them.
Stella hurriedly disentangled herself from Matthew’s embrace, stumbling back onto the sofa. Her heart pounded wildly, and her face burned with embarrassment .
Matthew, slightly displeased, remarked with a teasing tone, “We’re married, and we weren’t doing anything. Do you really need to panic Like this?”
Not as thick-skinned as him, Stella shot back, “If you’d let go sooner, we wouldn’t have been caught.”
Adjusting her clothes, she prepared to Leave the room.
Before she could walk away, Matthew reached out, gently holding her hand.