StartNovelChater 9 Sierra spun around quickly, startled to see Theo standing behind her. She hadn't even noticed when
he'd arrived.
"Uncle Theo, what are you doing here?"
His sharp eyes took in her tear-streaked face and red-rimmed eyes. In a deep, steady voice, he asked, "Who
upset you?"
"No one. | just got something in my eye," Sierra stammered, her tone flustered as she hurried to explain.
She raised her hand to wipe her tears, but the motion tugged at her injury, and she gasped sharply in pain. The
wound on her arm reopened earlier when Sophie had deliberately squeezed it.
Before she could react, a hand holding a tissue appeared in front of her. Theo had already stepped closer, so
close that they stood toe-to-toe. Without a word, he wiped the tears from her face.
Sierra's heart tightened, and her body went rigid. The sudden closeness was overwhelming, and the faint, cool
scent of pine on him filled her senses.
Even this gesture—his hand brushing against her skin as he wiped her tears—felt far too intimate.
"Uncle Theo, | can do it myself," she protested softly, taking a small step back.
She reached out to take the tissue from him, but before she could, Theo caught her hand.
"Don't move," he said quietly. "Do you want to lose the use of your hand?"
Sierra froze. His fingertips lightly pressed against her wrist, their warmth seeping into her skin, and she could
feel the heat rising to her ears.
Theo gently wiped away the tears from her face, his gaze lingering on her swollen eyes and damp lashes. His lips
pressed into a thin, tight line before he spoke, his tone cold and direct.
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"Was it Benson who upset you?"
Sierra's expression shifted. She looked up at him, meeting his deep, penetrating gaze, and quickly shook her
head. "No. Really, | just got ssand in my eye."
"Sierra, if you're going to lie to me, at least cup with a better excuse. Where would sand even cfrom in
a restaurant?"
His words sliced through her clumsy attempt at deception.
Sierra bit her lip tightly. She didn't want to talk about what had happened between her and Benson, especially
not with Theo. After all, he was part of the Gray family, too.
If she told him, wouldn't he just end up taking Benson's side?
"Uncle Theo, this is a private matter. | don't want to talk about it," she said after a deep breath.
"What if | insist on knowing?"
Theo took a deliberate step forward, closing the distance between them in an instant.
His voice was still calm and measured, like the still surface of a deep lake untouched by wind. But there was an
unshakable pressure beneath it, quiet, yet impossible to ignore.
The sink behind Sierra left her no room to retreat. Her wrist was still held securely in Theo's grip, and his tall
frloomed over herm enveloping her completely. It was as though she had been pulled into his orbit, unable
to break free.
Sierra's heart began to race against her will. She had always been careful to maintain boundaries with others,
but Theo's deliberate step forward had crossed every unspoken line she had drawn.
Even though she called him "Uncle Theo", the truth was, he was only five years older than her.
Unsure of how to respond, Sierra hesitated for a moment before forcing herself to remain composed. "Uncle
Theo, | respect you as an elder, but don't you think standing this close tois inappropriate?"
"I'm just looking out for my junior. What's going on in that head of yours?"
Theo's faint smirk deepened as he spoke, the dark depths of his eyes glinting with a subtle hint of amusement.
Sierra's face flushed bright red in an instant. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed a couple
rounding the corner and heading straight in their direction.
Her expression shifted, and in a low, urgent voice, she said, "Let go of my hand."
"You still haven't answered my question," Theo replied calmly, his grip unwavering as if her request hadn't fazed
him at all.
The couple grew closer, their
footsteps echoing in the hallway.
Gritting her teeth, she @abbed Theo's
hand) obNed him into the nearby
restroom, and quickly shut the door
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A moment later, Benson's unmistakable voice rang out from just outside. "Sierra, | know you're in the restroom.
Cout."
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Sierra glanced at Theo just as he
reached for the door aie germ
lento sey Ty ing, she
IJhded orward, throwing her arms
around his waist to stop him. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
"Don't open it. | don't want to see him," she whispered urgently.
All of a sudden, Theo found himself
wrapped in a soft embrace. Strands
of her hair bruspeq Yoh dgdinst his
pe) expression darkened.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as
he swallowed. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
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