Chapter 522

From a distance, Christian watched as that familiar figure emerged from the hospital building. A quiet sense of relief settled in his chest.

He stubbed out his cigarette, and the car window rolled up.

Luckily, he had been smoking with the window and door open, so the car was cold but not filled with smoke.

Noelle climbed into the back seat, immediately hugging her arms to herself—the car was even colder than outside.

Julian turned on the heat, and as the temperature gradually rose, Noelle slowly drifted off to sleep.

When the car reached Noelle's place, Christian didn't wake her.

Instead, he sat in the darkness, watching her peaceful but tired face, illuminated only by the moonlight streaming through the window.

After a moment, he asked Julian for the last cigarette and smoked it outside the car.

Then he returned, unbuttoning his coat and wrapping it around Noelle, covering her completely. Gently, he lifted her out of the car.

The late October night was biting cold, and Christ