Chapter 1509

By now, the sky was completely dark. Tiny specks of light flickered across the grassy field. Evelyn was already bouncing with excitement. "Mommy, look! There are so many of them!"

Seeing her daughter so thrilled, Eleanor smiled. "Let's go, then!"

Under the guidance of the resort staff, they walked down a small path into the meadow. Evelyn tugged at lan's hand. "Daddy, help me catch them!"

lan obliged, helping his daughter chase after the glowing bugs. Eleanor and Serena also grabbed their jars and joined in. They planned to enjoy the magical glow for the night and release the little creatures back into nature come morning.

After about half an hour, everyone had caught a fair amount. On the ride back, Evelyn cradled her glass jar against her chest, a massive grin plastered on her face.

That night, mesmerized by the glowing jar hanging by her bed, the little girl happily drifted off to sleep. Eleanor, however, tossed and turned. Her long afternoon nap had completely chased away her exhaustion.

Perhaps it was the running around earlier, but she suddenly felt incredibly thirsty. Without bothering to turn on the main lights, she slipped downstairs.

The dim accent lights were on, but Eleanor didn't pay them much mind. Just as she approached the water dispenser, she realized someone was sitting on the sofa. She jumped in fright, squinting into the gloom. Clad in his pajamas, lan was sitting there swirling a glass of red wine.

Clearly, he hadn't been able to sleep either.

Their eyes met. Ian smiled softly. "You can't sleep either?"

"I just came down for some water."

Eleanor walked toward the dispenser. Ian stood up. Clad in a delicate, thin sleepwear set, her long hair cascading loosely down her back, Eleanor's luminous skin seemed to glow in the dim light, making her look exceptionally soft and vulnerable.

Just as Eleanor reached the water dispenser, an overwhelming sense of pressure closed in on her. She turned and looked up, instantly colliding with the man's dark, fathomless eyes. A storm of chaotic emotions was swirling within them.

The very air in the room crackled with a silent, heavy tension.

Eleanor's heart rate spiked uncontrollably. She instinctively took a step back, but lan suddenly reached out and hauled her by the waist. She crashed straight into his chest. "Step back any further, and you're going to knock over your glass," he warned, his voice incredibly hoarse.

Eleanor glanced behind her and saw the brimming glass of water teetering on the edge. She gently pushed against his arm. "Go back to sleep."

lan didn't let go. His arm remained loosely draped around her waist as he looked down at her. His gaze. traced her trembling eyelashes, the slope of her nose, and finally lingered on her slightly parted lips.

The air in the room seemed to freeze entirely, leaving only the sound of the man's ragged breathing.

How could Eleanor not know what he wanted to do? Just as she moved to shove him away, the man's Adam's apple bobbed sharply. A As if fighting with every last ounce of his self-control to suppress his urges, he slowly lowered his head. His scorching breath fanned across her forehead.

They were agonizingly close to crossing the line.

Suddenly, as if his strength had completely evaporated, lan tore his arm away and took a massive step back. "Goodnight," he choked out, his voice tight and strained.

Without another word, he spun around and practically fled up the stairs.

Eleanor stood frozen in place. The spot on her forehead where his breath had

landed still felt unnervingly hot. Shaking herself out of her daze, she grabbed her water and hurried back to her room.

Inside the second-floor guest room, the man stood rigidly by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring blindly out at the dark mountain

landscape. Deep in his eyes, a net

uncontrollable ravenous desire threatened to consume him.

He actually thought he could play the role of a well-behaved ex-husband.

But as it turned out, it was nowhere near that easy.

She didn't even have to do anything. Just standing there was enough to throw his entire being into complete chaos.

In the end, he still lost control and crossed the line.

The frigid night wind poured in through the window, but it did nothing to cool the raging fire in his chest.

Defeated, he turned and headed for the bathroom. A freezing cold shower was his only option now.