?Chapter 718:

    Their bodies were pressed together in a way that left no space between them. Morse could still catch that distinct scent of hers, something sweet with a hint of vani.

    The way she was wrapped around him, warm and close in all the right ces… it stirred something in Morse. For a second, not-so-innocent thoughts crossed his mind.

    He fought to push the thoughts aside, telling himself again that he had no business feeling this way about Chloe. In her eyes, he was just a close friend, like Ralphy. A big brother. That was all he had ever been to her. No romance. No tension. Just that safe, familiar brother zone. And that was where he needed to stay. For good. No crossing lines. No slipping up. Just stay in that brotherlyne, forever.

    “Wah…” Chloe whimpered, tightening her grip around his neck. She had no clue how close they were, oblivious to the suggestive nature of their position. “Morse, I’m so scared! I saw this freaky face over there. It scared the hell outta me!”

    She really was terrified. Her eyes filled with tears, and she shoved her face into the crook of his neck like she was trying to disappear. It pulled them even closer. Way too close.

    Those inappropriate thoughts Morse had just buried were back, uninvited. He clenched his jaw, feeling powerless against them. Chloe hadn’t changed a bit. She was still innocent to a fault, just like when she was a child. She didn’t see the lines between men and women and didn’t even think to draw them. She saw him only as a brother, with no romantic feelings.

    What she didn’t know—and what he’d never tell her—was that his feelings had shifted a long time ago. They were no longer as pure as before, often mixed with romantic emotions and inappropriate desires. He knew damn well he wasn’t supposed to think like this. But knowing didn’t make it easier to stop. He’d tried—really tried—to choke those feelings down before they got too big.

    But they’d already grown roots, and now they were tangled up in everything.

    Every time Morse found himself drifting into thoughts he had no right to entertain toward Chloe, a wave of regret and self-loathing washed over him. It felt like a betrayal—not just of Chloe’s trust, but of her innocence. To her, he was like family, someone safe and dependable. But behind hisposed exterior, he wrestled with feelings that were far from innocent—desire, longing, and a possessiveness he couldn’t exin or justify.

    He knew he should have mirrored her sincerity with that same untainted love. But somewhere along the way, something inside him had shifted—thoughts he chastised himself for harboring, yet they stubbornly shadowed every interaction with her. Because of that, he had started to keep his distance. Maybe not consciously at first, but enough that it became a habit. He visited less often, kept their conversations short, and avoided lingering nces. It was safer that way—for both of them.

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    Morse feared that the more time he spent with her, the more his heart would demand. And he was terrified of what might happen if those feelings ever surfaced and he crossed a line. If Chloe ever looked at him with suspicion, even once, the delicate dynamics between them would be shattered. He dreaded that. He liked things as they were now—their bond light, effortless, filled withughter and trust. He wanted to protect that, even if it meant denying himself what he longed for.

    As long as Chloe remained cheerful and untouched by the truth of his emotions, he would endure quietly. Since Chloe had no romantic feelings for him, he would be the best pal he could be and settle in the friend zone. He was determined never to let Chloe discover his hidden feelings.

    Chloe’s soft voice broke through his thoughts. “Morse, why are you so quiet? What’s on your mind?” She sobbed a bit, still reeling from the earlier fear.

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