Rebirth: Love me Again

Chapter 243 A Fragile Hope and Unwanted Compromise

[BONUS Chapter for reaching 1000PS! Thank you all!]

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[EVE]

"W-what . . . what happened?" I stammered, my voice unsteady with a mix of confusion and panic. My eyes darted around the unfamiliar space, my heart pounding in my chest. At least my clothes were still intact—that was a small relief.

Cole leaned back slightly, his lips curving into a faint smile. His amusement was subtle but unmistakable. Yet, his expression betrayed nothing else, remaining as poker face as ever.

"I've done nothing to you if that's what you're thinking," he said, his voice calm yet tinged with dry humor. "Except . . . stare at you."

I raised an eyebrow, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, that's not creepy at all."

Cole chuckled lightly, the sound both disarming and infuriating, before his expression turned serious. He shifted closer, sitting on the edge of the bed, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made me squirm.

"What?" I asked, my discomfort evident as I tried to avoid his piercing stare.

"You've been calling out for your parents in your sleep," he began softly, his words cutting through the fragile calm of the moment. "Is this . . . something that happens often?"

Caught off guard, I fidgeted, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear in a vain attempt to appear unbothered. "Well . . . if you were me—someone who doesn't know her parents—you'd probably dream about them too."

The hotel we'd booked stood as a beacon of luxury amid the sleepy village, its lights casting a warm glow against the cold winter night. Relief washed over me as we stepped inside, only to dissipate moments later when the receptionist delivered the news.

"We only have one master suite left," the clerk said with an apologetic smile. "It has a king-sized bed, so you two don't need to worry about comfort, and the room is the top of the line in our hotel."

I blinked, the words taking a moment to register. "What? There's no other room available?"

"Unfortunately, no. With the holidays, we're fully booked," the clerk replied, though her attention kept drifting to Cole, her polite smile lingering just a bit too long on him.

I ignored the odd exchange, my focus laser-sharp on the problem at hand. "Are there any other hotels nearby with vacancies?"

The clerk hesitated. "There are a few, but I'm afraid they're all full as well. The more affordable ones are usually the first to sell out, and not to brag, but we're one of the top ten hotels in Germany."

I bit my lip, frustration bubbling up. I didn't care if this hotel was ranked number one in the world—I just wanted my own space. The idea of sharing a room, let alone a bed, with Cole felt like a disaster waiting to happen.

"Could you please call around? Maybe someone had a cancellation?" I pressed, refusing to give up. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

"Of course. It will take me a few minutes to check. In the meantime, feel free to have a seat," the clerk offered.

I turned to wait, fidgeting anxiously. Cole, on the other hand, leaned casually against the reception desk, exuding an infuriating sense of calm. His relaxed demeanor was a stark contrast to my inner turmoil, and it only made my nerves worse.

"You should just take the room," he said after a moment, his voice smooth and unbothered.