The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 1026

However, the very second she stopped, Naylor reached up, grabbed her hands, and placed them firmly back on his head. His message was crystal clear: keep massaging, no breaks allowed.

Katrina was now one hundred percent certain he was doing this on purpose!

Even the headache was totally fake!

She was fuming, refusing to just accept defeat, but with an audience in the front seat, she didn't want to start an argument. Instead, she silently pressed her fingertips hard into his scalp.

Instantly, she watched his relaxed, handsome face contort in pain, his brows snapping together into a tight knot.

Katrina felt a surge of smug satisfaction, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

Naylor, clearly unable to handle the pain, reached up and grabbed her hand, enveloping it in his palm.

But because of the awkward angle they were in, he couldn't exactly pull her hand back to a comfortable massaging position. So, he just held onto her hand, letting it rest lazily across his forehead.

Neither of them said a word, but the physical intimacy of the gesture screamed volumes. It was undeniably ambiguous.

At ten-thirty, the car pulled up to Katrina's apartment complex.

Once the vehicle came to a complete stop, Katrina didn't bother being gentle. She unceremoniously bounced her legs and snapped, "Are you going to get up? My legs are asleep."

Naylor chuckled, lazily pushing himself up.

He had definitely had a lot to drink, but he was nowhere near blackout drunk.

As for why he had put on this entire performance, it was exactly what she suspected—he was playing the sympathy card to make her feel bad for him.

"Your legs are asleep? Let me massage them for you." Naylor smirked, reaching out toward her.

Katrina, intensely aware of the two men sitting in the front seats, fiercely swatted Naylor's hand away. "Don't touch me!"

She turned around, pushed the door open, and got out.

Naylor instantly followed suit. "I'll walk you to your door."

"Don't bother. You're drunk, you need someone to take care of you." Katrina shut him down immediately, terrified that he would use the alcohol as an excuse to pull some sort of stunt once they got upstairs.

But Naylor completely ignored her rejection. His tall, imposing frame swayed ever so slightly as he trailed right behind her into the building's lobby.

Inside the elevator, he leaned casually against the wall, staring at Katrina with hazy, heavily lidded eyes, a blatant smile plastered across his face.

Katrina felt her face heat up under his intense stare. She glared at him. "What are you smiling at!"

He just kept smiling, ignoring her question, and randomly asked, "Are you visiting Ivy tomorrow or the day after?"

Katrina retorted, "None of your business."

"Just asking. I was just about to go see Jamison Ludwig's babies."

"..." Katrina rolled her eyes.

Katrina lowered her eyes, turning the thought over in her mind for a moment. Finally, she summoned her courage, looked him dead in the eye, and spoke with absolute sincerity. "Naylor, you're a great guy, really. When you told me you were willing to marry me, I was shocked, and I was genuinely moved. But I honestly don't know what caused this sudden shift in you. I told you before, we're not from the same world. I'm terrified that once the novelty wears off, we're just going to crash and burn again. I've already been through that heartbreak once. I don't want to look back years from now and have to survive it a second time."

This was her unfiltered truth.

She loved him, but she was terrified.

Naylor nodded slowly. "Thank you for finally being honest with me. But isn't the whole point of being together just to enjoy the present? Who can guarantee that two people from the exact same world will stay in love and grow old together? Right now, I love you, and you love me. And the only reason I want to marry you is because I love you. Isn't that enough? As for the future, why are you worrying so far ahead? The world could literally end tomorrow."

*The only reason I want to marry you is because I love you...*

Those words crashed over Katrina like a tidal wave.

Seeing her stunned silence, Naylor knew his words had finally penetrated her walls.

"It's late, and you've been working yourself to the bone lately. I'm not going to force you to give me an answer tonight. But I hope you can figure this out soon," Naylor said softly, taking a step forward.

Katrina looked up, and before she could say a word, his arms wrapped around her, pulling her firmly against his chest.

"Don't panic. I'm not going to do anything, just let me hold you," he immediately murmured, feeling her body stiffen in shock. His low, raspy voice rumbled right against her ear, sending a searing jolt of electricity down her spine.

Katrina's arms hung rigidly at her sides, her fingers trembling slightly. She desperately wanted to lift her arms and hug him back, but she didn't dare.

They stood there in a quiet embrace for five full minutes before Naylor finally shifted, releasing his hold on her.

"Alright, I'm going. Make sure you lock the doors and windows," he instructed gently, his eyes lingering on her with deep reluctance.