Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 93: How Did She End Up in Shane Donovan’s Photo?!
Stella’s neck turned crimson, and she glared at him in embarrassment and annoyance, "Shane Donovan!"
"I’m here."
He responded amiably, the smile in his eyes deepening as he reached out to push open the master bedroom door.
The master bedroom was larger than she had imagined; its design continued the overall minimalist style, with a stable palette of grays and whites. However, outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows was the dazzling cityscape at night. The soft wool carpet was so plush it felt like stepping onto clouds, the air filled with the same cool woody scent as his.
The most conspicuous was the enormous deep gray bed in the center, covered with a soft down comforter.
As soon as Stella’s gaze touched that bed, she quickly looked away as if burned, her cheeks heating rapidly.
Shane saw every bit of her reaction but didn’t comment, instead guiding her to the floor-to-ceiling window.
"Do you like it?" He stood behind her, his chin almost resting atop her head, his voice echoing in her ear.
The enormous glass window reflected the two of them embracing, outside the flowing stream of cars and neon lights, bustling yet distant.
And in this tranquil space, their breathing was the only sound clearly audible.
"It’s okay." Stella forced herself to remain calm, trying to find some topic to disperse this overwhelmingly ambiguous atmosphere, "Do you usually live here?"
"Mm." His arm encircled her waist from behind, pulling her tighter into his embrace with a possessive posture, "From now on, it’s us."
His breath completely enveloped her, the warmth penetrating through the thin fabric.
Stella could feel his chest rising and falling, steady and powerful, in stark contrast to her erratic heartbeat.
"Who wants to live with you..." she muttered softly, lacking confidence.
Shane chuckled lightly, turning his head, his lips nearly touching her neck, "We’re about to be engaged, are you thinking of backing out?"
Stella huffed, flustered by the thought of being unwittingly ’engaged,’ "You basically coerced me!"
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, his hand around her waist starting to misbehave, his fingertips tracing circles on her side through the sweater, stirring an enticing itch, "Then now... should we make this coercion official? Hmm?"
The "hmm" stretched out languidly, like a hook that scratched sharply at Stella’s heart.
She shuddered instinctively, trying to escape, only to be held even tighter against him.
"Shane, you..." Her protest was drowned in his sudden descending kiss.
This kiss was unlike the previous gentle explorations, carrying an undeniable force and heat.
One hand secured her waist, while the other gripped the back of her neck, forcing her to tilt her head back to withstand his thorough assault.
"Mmm..." Stella’s mind went blank instantly, all her thoughts disturbed by his domineering presence.
His tongue navigated in her mouth, extracting her sweetness with an almost greedy desperation.
Oxygen became scarce, forcing her to hang weakly onto his shoulder, passively yielding to the dizzying kiss.
Amidst the heated confusion, she felt his scorching palm slipping underneath the hem of her sweater, the slightly calloused fingertip directly contacting the skin of her waist.
The touch was unmistakably clear, sending shivers throughout her body.
"Stop..." she muttered, her voice too soft and feeble.
Shane slightly withdrew from her lips, forehead resting against hers, breathing heavily, his gaze dark as night, with terrifying waves surging within.
Stella’s heart pounded like a drum, rendered weak-kneed by his intense male aura and the unhidden desire in his eyes, her mind nearly ceasing function.
Just when she thought something was bound to happen tonight, holding her breath—
Shane slowly released his hold around her waist and withdrew the hand inside her clothes, even painstakingly smoothing the hem of her sweater.
He stepped back, creating distance and turning away, leaving only a taut broad back behind, his voice hoarse beyond recognition: "...I’m going to take a shower."
With that, he turned and strode toward the bathroom.
The bathroom door closed with a "bang," shortly followed by the gentle patter of water inside...
Stella remained stiffly rooted in her spot, her cheeks so hot that they could fry an egg, heart hammering wildly in her chest cavity—had she almost... gotten carried away with Shane Donovan?
If he hadn’t braked in time...
Then they...
Stella shook her head vigorously, trying to dispel all those messy thoughts.
And just as Stella attempted to distract herself, her gaze inadvertently fell upon the photo wall across the room...
She instinctively stepped forward.
The photo wall was covered with an assortment of images, at least a hundred at a rough glance.
And the person starring in these photos, without exception, was Shane Donovan. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
There were pictures of him in a blue and white school uniform, speaking under the national flag, looked youthful with a hint of sternness emerging in his eyes;
Photos captured him sweating on the basketball court, jumping to shoot, the sun outlining his smooth jawline;
Shots of him in academic regalia, standing before the Kenton University gates, holding flowers, expressionless yet still strikingly handsome;
As well as images from various business occasions, donning tailored suits, composed and aloof... it was the epitome of refined elegance.
This was practically a chronicle of Shane Donovan’s personal growth!
Stella marvelled, surprised that Shane Donovan could be so...
Narcissistic?
To have such an extensive photo wall in his bedroom?
With curiosity, her gaze passed each photo one by one, reluctantly admitting Shane was indeed handsome throughout the years, every snapshot seemed meticulously framed.
As she kept looking, her eyes suddenly halted on one particular photo.
The photo seemed candid; the background had the tree-lined pathway at Kenton University, Shane dressed simply in a white shirt and black trousers, walking upright on the path, his profile perfect, the cinnabar mole at the end of his eye visible.
He appeared to be talking to someone beside him, his expression unusually relaxed.
What caught Stella’s attention wasn’t the dazzling Shane Donovan at the photo’s center, but a faint silhouette behind him, partially obscured by the crowd—
A girl in a blue and white school uniform, her hair in a ponytail, hugging several books, slightly tilting her head looking at the roadside cherry blossom trees...
Her?!
Stella’s eyes widened abruptly, instinctively leaning closer, nearly pressing her face against the wall.
Yes!
Though just a blurry outline, she recognized it—her high school self!
That uniform, the silly ponytail, even the profile...
How did she end up in Shane Donovan’s photo?!
Stella’s mind stalled for a moment.
She endeavored to recall.
Indeed, that year when she first started her senior year of high school, the school organized a visit to Kenton University, claiming it was to experience the ambiance of a top institution.
She remembered that day Kenton University’s cherry blossoms bloomed beautifully, and she inadvertently got separated from the group, standing under a cherry tree and gazing for long...
But... Shane Donovan?
He should have been in his final year, about to graduate?
Could they have appeared at the same place, at the same time?
Captured in the same photograph?
How incredibly coincidental!
