When she went upstairs and pushed open the master bedroom door, Giselle found Donovan standing on the balcony, smoking in the dark. The lights in the room were off, and the faint glow of his cigarette flickered in the night. The heavy smell of smoke filled the air.
She switched on the lights, walked up behind him, and mischievously leapt onto his back. Wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, she leaned close and kissed his cheek.
"Darling, why did you come back so suddenly? Was this supposed to be a surprise for me?" she asked brightly.
To her surprise, Donovan barely reacted. He just kept smoking in silence, letting her cling to his back.
The sight of his cold profile and the heavy silence around him was like a bucket of cold water on Giselle's warmth. She froze.
"What's wrong?" she asked cautiously. "Was the business trip difficult? Did something go wrong at the company?"
Still, Donovan said nothing. Instead, he shifted impatiently, hinting for her to climb down.
Sensing his rejection, Giselle didn't want to push her luck. She quickly slid off his back and circled around to face him. "What's the matter with you? Are you not feeling well?"
She even reached out to check his forehead. "Let me see if you have a fever."
Donovan brushed her hand away with obvious irritation. Turning his back to her, he walked into the room and slowly stubbed out the half-burned cigarette in the ashtray.
Giselle stood frozen, staring at his tall, indifferent figure. She was baffled and a little exasperated.
Gathering her patience, she stepped forward again and asked, "What happened? Tell me. Maybe I can help."


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