Everest's Guardian Hubby Watched Me Freeze My Ghost Knows Where He'll Burn novel Chapter 38

Chapter 25

Valentina descended the stairs, lugging a large suitcase behind her. The moment she spotted Nicholas waiting patiently by the car, her face brightened with relief and joy. Without hesitation, she hurried over and threw her arms tightly around him.

“Nicholas! I was afraid you were still upset with me,” she said breathlessly. “I’m really sorry about what I said the other day—I shouldn’t have spoken like that. Thank you for forgiving me.”

The rich, heavy fragrance of her floral perfume enveloped him, stirring a sudden queasiness in his stomach that caught him off guard.

Still, he remained silent.

Swallowing down the discomfort rising from deep within, he grabbed the suitcase handle with one hand and gently wrapped his other arm around her waist. Together, they moved slowly toward the car.

Valentina’s eyes dropped to his hand resting lightly on her hip. A sudden thrill surged through her chest, and a warm blush spread across her cheeks.

In the five months since they’d met, this was the very first time Nicholas had initiated any touch at all.

She took it as a hopeful sign—that he was finally beginning to let go of his grief and had chosen her. Her voice bubbled with excitement as she spoke.

“Have you been eating? You look so thin—it honestly breaks my heart.”

Nicholas responded with a low hum as he popped open the trunk.

Valentina was about to say more when she noticed the empty space inside. Surprise flickered across her features.

“Wait—aren’t we going on a trip? Nicholas, why didn’t you pack anything?”

He held her gaze for a long moment before answering quietly.

“Don’t I have you?”

Valentina understood this as him entrusting the entire trip to her care. Her smile grew even wider, radiant with happiness.

She helped him lift the suitcase into the trunk, then grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the front of the car.

“Okay, but we need some ground rules. You have to listen to me this time, alright? If I say you need to eat properly, then you eat properly. And you have to take pictures of me…”

Once Valentina got started, there was no stopping her.

Nicholas listened quietly for most of the drive, offering only a word or two when she glanced at him, as if worried she might be ignored.

After a while, she sensed something was off.

“Nicholas… are you okay? You’re so quiet,” she asked gently.

By the time it hit zero, darkness had fallen completely.

Nicholas pulled the car over and switched off the headlights.

Valentina looked around, puzzled. She was about to ask what he was doing when he rubbed his temples and spoke, his voice heavy with fatigue.

“My eyes are killing me. Can you grab the eye drops from the backseat?”

Concern immediately filled her face. She unbuckled her seatbelt and reached behind for the briefcase.

She unzipped it and began searching inside, but instead of the bottle she expected, her fingers brushed against a thick stack of papers.

The moment she realized what was printed on them, her body stiffened. Her hands started trembling uncontrollably.

Slowly, she turned toward Nicholas.

The man who had just claimed his eyes hurt now faced her directly.

His bloodshot eyes glinted with something chilling.

Something that sent a cold shiver racing through her veins.