Chapter 27

Hearing Layla's remark, Samuel couldn't help but pause.

'I just smiled?' Samuel wondered as he hadn't even noticed.

But her words gently struck his heart.

Yes, Samuel was capable of smiling.

How long had it been since he had genuinely laughed like he did just now? Ten years? Even longer? Samuel couldn't remember.

In his mind, a person like him shouldn't relax. Being cold-hearted and ruthless were the means to regain everything that belonged to him.

His features returned to their stoic state, and his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Layla realized he had closed himself off again, and the smile from earlier truly was fleeting.

Suddenly, she remembered what Dylan had just said. Samuel was a lonely person. She thought, 'Being closed off for so long, he must be very lonely. But why did he choose to be this way? Was it because of a secret he carried, or was it because his heart had been severely hurt?'

Curiosity about Samuel's past began to emerge within Layla.

She wondered what kind of person he was in the past.

"Focus." Samuel landed his palm on the top of her head, giving a gentle pat.

Layla instinctively shrunk her neck, holding her breath as her face blushed.

This affectionate gesture had stirred up her heart.

"Done with your work?" Samuel lightly patted the back of her head again, as a reminder.

"Of course not," Layla mumbled, trying her best to regain her composure. She warned herself inwardly, 'I've only come here to use his laptop for work. Stop thinking wildly, Layla!'

But staring at the screen, she couldn't help letting her mind wander. Her vision turned blurry, and her thoughts drifted away.

"If you can't get focused, let's do something 'interesting' instead."

Samuel's voice, filled with hints, came from behind in a low tone.

'How did he know?' Layla wondered as her heart suddenly skipped a beat. Sneaking a glance, she saw Samuel elegantly folding his long legs as he sat behind her.

Perched on the sofa, he read the newspaper without lifting his head, but his words were so suggestive.

Layla didn't want to do anything "interesting" with him.

The warmth on Layla's face gradually subsided. She patted her face with both hands, muttering to herself, "Work comes first. Work comes first."

Then, she continued to immerse herself wholeheartedly.

Behind her, Samuel looked up and slightly curved his lips as he watched her back.

It was quiet, with the two busy with their own tasks, not disturbing each other. For Samuel, who enjoyed solitude, this sense of comfort was rare.

Previously, even one more person's presence would make him feel suffocating and wanna distance himself. But now, he felt good.

Layla, who suddenly appeared in Samuel's world, seamlessly blended into his personal territory without even needing an adaptation period. Samuel himself found it miraculous.

He couldn't help wondering, 'What's magic about her?'

Raising his head again, he saw that Layla was asleep with her head on the table.

It was already twelve o'clock; time had passed so quickly that he didn't even notice.

Samuel stood up and walked over, glancing at the screen. The document was already finished.

Layla's right hand was on the mouse. His large hand lightly covered hers and clicked "save."

Layla whimpered, her drooling red lips pressed against her arm.

Seeing her sleeping and still drooling at this age, Samuel shook his head and picked her up.

Layla leaned into his chest, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, embracing a bear in her dreams.

Her body was small, fragrant, and soft. Samuel held her in his arms, feeling an impulse not to let go.

Was this merely a man's instinct, or had she touched his heart?

Heart? Samuel didn't even know if he still had that thing. He thought there was only ice or stone inside his body.

He thought he had lost the capacity to love long ago. Although he had some favorable opinions of Layla, he would never develop true feelings for her as he wouldn't allow her to become his weakness.

In Samuel's knowledge, love was fleeting, hypocritical, and unnecessary.

Instantly, the slight throbbing in his heart vanished, and his expression turned cold.

He placed Layla on the bed, but Layla clung to him, unwilling to let go. "No, don't. Hug me. Come here," she muttered.

"Do you know what will happen if we keep hugging like this?" Samuel threatened her softly in her ear. Layla obediently let go while still in her sleep, pouting with glossy lips.

Samuel pulled the blanket up and covered her.

Layla pushed at the blanket and whined, "No... Hot... Vincent...take it away..."

Samuel frowned, thinking, 'Vincent? Does she think the one she has just hugged was Vincent?'

"You bastard, Vincent, you bastard! Disgusting fly, stay away from me." Layla angrily waved her hand.

A woman still hating a man in her dreams indicated that she still cared. With a cold face, Samuel covered her face with the blanket.

The morning sunlight scattered upon Layla's eyelids, and she woke up. In a daze, she saw a handsome face in front of her. The sunlight traced a shadow on his Greek-like straight nose, with his long and sexy eyelashes, and thin lips.

'Am I still in my dream? Is this a prince? Oh, he's so handsome prince,' Layla thought, momentarily fascinated.

Until her consciousness slowly returned, she remembered the man in front of her was not a prince at all, but a demon.

Layla's gaze changed, and she was flustered, thinking, 'I slept in his arms the whole night? With my hand resting on his waist? He's the "big bear" in my dreams?'

Suppressing the urge to scream, Layla cautiously moved backward, blushing and trying to get off the bed. However, she suddenly felt empty under her hand and almost fell to the ground, but a long arm pulled her back. The next second, her head collided with a sturdy chest.

"Ouch." She frowned.

"Planning a secret escape?" A domineering voice sounded, infused with a hint of teasing.

"Let go of me." Layla pushed Samuel. But as she reached out, she accidentally touched his chest. 'Nice muscle!' she commented in her heart.

"You slept with me, and now you wanna run away?" Samuel teased.

"Nonsense" Layla, like a struggling kitten in his embrace, blushed but found herself helpless.

She didn't dare touch his body anymore, only glaring at him anxiously. "I told you to let go, Mr. Holland."

Layla suddenly realized that she only knew him as Mr. Holland. She thought to herself, 'I've slept in his place for two nights, yet I still don't know his full name. Unbelievable!'

"What?" Samuel raised an eyebrow.

"You're a troublemaker." Layla gritted her teeth.

Samuel almost couldn't suppress his laughter. "I'm a troublemaker, then what're you?"

Layla nearly said, "You jerk." But she didn't like using foul language and was a bit timid in front of him. Thus, she kept her anger to herself.

"You're a little bunny." Samuel pinched her chin.

Layla pushed his hand away. "Don't call me that. I don't like it."

"Don't you think it's accurate?" he asked.

"I don't!" Layla pouted discontentedly. "Little bunnies are weak. Do I look like one? Besides, little bunnies will get eaten by hungry wolves."

Samuel swallowed and interrupted, "And you will be eaten by me."

Then, he flipped over, overwhelming her with his dominance.