Love's New Bloom by Simone Hastings

Chapter 62 The Final Compromise

Erin’s face changed as soon as she saw the box in Chandler’s hands. She asked, “Since you already

know, why do you still want me to look for it?” She was now certain that he had most definitely seen her

at that time.

Chandler watched her closely, recalling what Kyle had said to him before. He walked to her side and

took her hand, leading her back into the bedroom. When they had both returned to the bedroom, he

held her in his lap.

Erin didn’t resist. She knew that the more she resisted, the more interested he became in her.

Chandler told her calmly. “Erin Lane, don’t keep making those stupid mistakes on purpose. I’ll let you

go after three months.”

She looked at him. At that moment in time, his eyes didn’t seem as cold as it usually was, but there

was a certain darkness and

mysteriousness within them that she didn’t understand. Erin asked calmly. “Why me?”

His gaze lowered as he seemingly contemplated her words. After a while, he replied. “Maybe your

constant resistance to my pursuits aroused my interest.”

She didn’t say anything more.

Chandler murmured, “I will try to be good to you.”

Erin remained silent. Her calmness and obedience at that moment soothed his heart.

Erin was a bit nervous and dared not look at him directly.

He sighed. “Go to sleep.” After Chandler removed his clothes and adjusted his position in bed, he

hugged her from behind and said to her for the first time. “Good night.”

Erin’s tensed muscles relaxed slightly. She replied after a pause, “Good night.” It wasn’t until she heard

Chandler’s even

breathing from behind her that she finally calmed down.

Chandler’s unusual behavior that night made it hard for her to fall asleep. Before, she had deliberately

tried to dispose of those

boxes, but he wasn’t mad at her in the slightest when he knew, which surprised and unsettled her.

Remembering everything he had said, she thought about it calmly. Maybe she should try to accept him

for who he was. No

matter what, he wouldn’t let her go if he didn’t want to. Why not follow his wishes and endure those

three months?

Erin thought and thought, and eventually, she couldn’t resist the wave of drowsiness that finally drove

her to sleep.

The next day, when she woke up, she found herself trapped in Chandler’s arms as he slept beside her.

The soft dawn light

illuminated his perfectly–balanced features. Erin stared at him absent–mindedly. She had to admit that

his appearance was

truly astounding.

So astounding that she hardly dared to approach him.

A man with an appearance like him was enough to drive any woman to her knees. Even if Erin herself

wasn’t exactly obsessed with beauty and looks, who didn’t adore handsome men and pretty women?

“Erin, am I handsome?”

Erin jumped, startled. It turned out that Chandler was already awake, and he didn’t need to open his

eyes to know that she was

staring at him. She was so ashamed that all she wanted was to escape his embrace.

He opened his eyes suddenly, tightening his grip on her. “Am I handsome?” he repeated.

“Yeah…” She flushed as soon as the words left her lips. She struggled against his hold once again.

“Let me go. I want to get up

now.”

Chandler pointed to his cheeks as he spoke. “Kiss me.”

She fell his arms around her waist, holding her in place domineeringly. Erin leaned over and pecked his

cheek shyly. It was a cursory attempt at best.

Chandler angled his body, pressing her underneath him. He smirked at her as he spoke. “One kiss is

hardly enough.”

An hour later, Erin struggled to stand as her legs buckled under her weakly. Chandler watched her walk

into the bathroom, a rare expression of pleasure on his face. Thinking about the love marks on her

back, his eyes darkened, and he strode into the

bathroom swiftly.

Five minutes later, the sound of conversation between Erin and Chandler could be heard from within.

Chandler’s low voice.

insisted. “Let me help you wash.”

“Your intentions are truly ignoble!” Erin retorted immediately.

“Since you understand, I won’t have to waste my words.”

“Let me go!” Erin protested. “Since you have so much energy, why don’t you go work out instead.”

“I have you,” Chandler shot back simply, a smirk in his voice.

Another hour later, Erin and Chandler finally got dressed and left the hotel.

Erin didn’t want to even look at the pervert next to her, her hat and sunglasses shielding his frame from

her sight as she stood

at one side. Not that far away. Chandler stood alone as he answered a phone call.

Meanwhile, a Bugatti arrived at the hotel’s entrance, and shortly after, a man stepped out of the car.

Erin happened to see him just then. Despite her hat and sunglasses, the man recognized Erin the

moment he saw her. He walked toward her, one arm extended, his eyes filled with tenderness. “Miss

Lane, it’s been a while since we saw each other.”

Erin looked at Louis as he waited for her to shake his hand. After a moment’s hesitation, she was just

about to return the gesture when Chandler pulled her back.

“Louis, the world is so big, yet you had to show up here.” Of course, Chandler noticed the other man’s

presence as soon as Louis exited his car. He ended his call and rushed over immediately.

Louis smiled. He was handsome and biracial, his striking features perpetually carrying the hints of a

smile. He said, “Chandler, are you still mad about last time? I thought you believed that ignorance

shouldn’t be punished. I truly didn’t know of your relationship with Miss Lane at that time.”

Chandler snorted disdainfully. Without a word, he ignored Louis and walked away with Erin.

Erin glanced at Louis before leaving with Chandler. Louis wasn’t her friend, and she didn’t care that

much anyway. She had only really attempted to return his handshake out of politeness.

Without realizing it, Chandler and Erin arrived at a small alley. Halting in his forward stride, Chandler

reprimanded her sternly.” Erin, are you dumb? Why would you want to shake hands with that fucking

hypocrite? For God’s sake, he mistook someone

else for his own wife–what a fraud!”

Chandler’s words were extreme, but there were some elements of truth to them. To Erin, if she were

Louis‘ deceased wife, she would not be able to rest in peace knowing that her husband mistook a

stranger for herself.

Chandler’s anger subsided the longer Erin remained silent. He tugged at her hand again and asked,

“Hey, what do you want to

eat?”

Earlier, it was Erin herself who suggested that they dine at a small restaurant nearby. Now that she

thought about it, however, they had traveled all the way here. They couldn’t just stay in the hotel and do

nothing, could they?

“I want seafood!”

He gave her a pinched look and deadpanned, “Glutton.”

Erin took the initiative to pull at his hand, leading him along. “Come on, don’t be mad anymore. Let’s

go.” She had already made her decision. Since they were already in Grecia, they might as well have

fun.

Chandler’s expression when he looked at her was still somewhat arrogant, but he let her pull him

along.

Two hours later, they finished their meal and arrived at the seaside. Erin took off her shoes and

stepped on the beach while Chandler walked behind her in sandals. His heart stopped momentarily, as

though someone had catapulted him into the cerulean sea, as he beheld her innocent smile, the

tranquility of the moment wrapped around him like a warm blanket.

Erin turned around and told him, “Chandler Frost, thanks for bringing me to Grecia!”

He walked in front of her. His head lowered as he met her gaze and tapped her nose gently. “Don’t you

dare call me by my full

name.”

She tilted her head and asked, “What should I call you then?”

He teased, “Call me Chandy. I’m five years older than you anyway.”

Erin’s expression cooled instantly. She turned around, keeping her voice deliberately light. “I would

never call you that.”

Chandy was what Claire had called him. Erin would rather die than call him as Claire did.

Chandler watched her silhouette, sensing the shift in her emotions. He was just about to ask her about

it when his phone rang. The caller ID was “Ethan Kane,” Claire’s father. He answered immediately. “Mr.

Kane?”

“Oh, Chandler, where are you? If you’re not busy right now, could you please come and see Claire?

She’s in Liberty General Hospital. Last night, she tried taking her own life because of Matthew

Burgess…”