CHAPTER 285: CHAPTER 285

At that moment, without wasting a second, Brown and Giovanni exchanged quick glances. They were still a bit thrown off by the sudden announcement, but they didn’t let it show on their faces. Brown immediately turned toward the guards standing around and gave a sharp nod. "You all, help him with those boxes," he ordered. The guards, well-trained and disciplined, didn’t ask questions. They moved fast, two of them rushing over to the car while another opened the door to the house.

Giovanni, though silent, kept his eyes fixed on Oliver, trying to figure him out. From the way Oliver carried himself calm, confident, and unfazed by their presence — it was clear he wasn’t just some random guy Cora picked off the street, or someone that just saved her. There was something controlled and deliberate in his actions. But Giovanni knew better than to jump to conclusions too fast.

Meanwhile, Cora, with a soft smile, walked up to Oliver. Her heels clicked lightly against the tiled floor as she approached him. She looked genuinely pleased, even though deep down, she was still trying to process her own feelings. "I didn’t think you’d arrive this quickly," she said, her voice low and warm, as she moved into his arms for a hug. "But here you are."

Oliver didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her just tight enough for it to feel real. He knew what was at stake. This wasn’t just about pretending anymore. Every step he made from now on had to be perfect. The people watching Brown, Giovanni, and whoever else might be around — they were going to judge his every move.

After a moment, he gently pulled her back, just enough to see her face. Then, without saying anything, he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

And right there, something strange happened.

Cora froze for a second. Her eyes blinked fast, and her breath caught in her throat. The kiss wasn’t dramatic or intense no. It was soft, gentle, and strangely comforting. Yet, it hit her unexpectedly hard. Her heart skipped a beat, then another. And before she knew it, her chest was rising and falling a little quicker than usual.

Immediately She tried to ignore it, but the feeling wouldn’t go away.

Inside her mind, she spoke to herself — "Calm down, calm down. It’s just a kiss on the forehead. Why is my heart beating so fast? What is wrong with me?"

But her eyes remained on Oliver, something was shifting. And she didn’t even know what to call it yet.

At that moment, after the kiss on the forehead, Oliver gently wrapped his hand around Cora’s waist and looked into her eyes with a warm smile. "Well," he said, his tone calm but playful, "don’t you think it’s time you show me where I’ll be staying?"

His words brought Cora back to her senses. She blinked a few times, realizing she had been standing there in a daze, still thinking about the unexpected kiss. "Oh! That’s true," she said quickly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, trying to hide the fact that her cheeks had slightly turned red. Then, without hesitation, she looked up at Oliver and added with a soft but serious voice, "We’ll be staying in the same room. That’s the decision I’ve made... I hope you’re okay with it."

Oliver gave a simple nod and smiled. "I’m okay with everything," he said. "As long as you’re beside me."

Without another word, they turned together and began walking into the house, side by side, with Oliver’s arm still resting lightly around Cora’s waist. The guards standing by instinctively stepped aside. Brown and Giovanni watched them closely, their eyes narrowing as the couple disappeared through the front door.

For a moment, there was only silence between the two men.

Then Brown muttered under his breath, "So... it’s not fake."

Giovanni nodded slowly, his arms folded. "Doesn’t look like it. They’re not pretending. It’s too real."

Brown looked confused. "But how? When did Miss Cora even have the time to get involved with someone like that?"

Giovanni turned slightly and shrugged. "You saw the footage, didn’t you? He saved her. Not just some random help he risked everything to protect her. If someone did that for you... wouldn’t you feel something? Wouldn’t you trust him with your life?"

Brown didn’t respond immediately. He just stared at the door.

Giovanni added, "He’s capable. Strong. Brave. What more does she need?"

Neither of them said another word, but deep down, they both knew... things had just changed in this house. And they weren’t sure what it meant for Cora or for them.

At that moment, inside Cora’s room, the air felt different filled with a strange mix of new beginnings and unspoken tension. Oliver moved around casually, opening one of the three suitcases he had brought and placing his neatly folded clothes into the wardrobe Cora had already emptied and arranged for him. Every now and then, he would glance around the room with a curious smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He noticed the subtle touches extra pillows on the couch, a spare blanket by the edge of the bed, even an empty drawer in the vanity. Cora had clearly prepared for his arrival.

But what caught his attention the most was the massive bed in the center of the living room. He paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow, then looked over at Cora, who was pretending to scroll through her phone but was clearly watching him from the corner of her eye.

"Wow," Oliver finally said, dragging the word out playfully. "This bed... it looks like it could fit five people and still have room for a parade."

Cora’s head snapped up. "So?" she asked defensively, trying to act casual, but her tone already gave her away.

Oliver chuckled, walking closer to the bed and giving it a bounce with his hand. "So... I guess I’ll be sleeping on the couch, huh?" he said, pointing to the plush single-seater by the window. "Don’t worry. I already made peace with it. I’m not trying to get attacked in the middle of the night by your dad for breathing too close to you."