Chapter 291

Harrison and Rosalind huddled together under the same blanket, both wide awake. Their whispered conversation filled the small room.

"Harrison, have you ever encountered a man like this before?" Rosalind asked, her voice barely above a murmur.

Harrison turned to face her. "What kind of man?"

Rosalind's mind wandered to the memory of Everett with his striking buzz cut. "You know, the aloof, mysterious type. Skilled in combat, slightly intimidating..."

Harrison's gaze drifted to the black leather jacket hanging neatly on the coat rack. Rosalind had carefully placed it there after removing it earlier. Clearly, it belonged to the man who had rescued her.

A knowing smile played on Harrison's lips. "Are we talking about Everett Sinclair, the campus legend?"

Rosalind nodded. "Exactly."

Harrison wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Planning to express your gratitude... intimately?"

Rosalind's cheeks flushed crimson. "Stop it! I'm not talking to you anymore."

Harrison stifled a laugh.

"Harrison, I mean it!" Rosalind pressed a hand over her friend's mouth.

Outside, rain hammered against the windows, but inside, the two friends created their own cocoon of warmth and laughter.

Nathaniel lay motionless on the bed, the ghost of a smile touching his lips.

"Seriously, stop teasing me!" Rosalind protested. "You're the only one I can talk to about this. You are my cousin-in-law, after all."

To Rosalind, Harrison was both family and confidante.

Harrison's expression shifted. "What do you mean, cousin-in-law?"

Rosalind's breath caught. She'd forgotten Harrison still didn't know the truth.

Harrison recalled Rosalind mentioning her cousin before. "Rosalind, are you referring to that scoundrel cousin of yours?"

Scoundrel cousin?

Nathaniel's head turned sharply, his piercing gaze locking onto Rosalind. Had they been discussing him behind his back?

Rosalind froze. She nervously bit her lip. "Oh, my cousin's quite the catch. Many women would kill to be my cousin-in-law, but there's only one person I'd call that."

Her words were clearly meant for Nathaniel's ears.

Nathaniel's face remained impassive. Isabella had complained before - Rosalind refused to befriend her. That day at the Whitmore residence, Rosalind had summoned Isabella purely to avenge Harrison.

Through her actions, Rosalind had made it clear: Harrison was the only cousin-in-law she would acknowledge.

Nathaniel's choice of wife was irrelevant - Rosalind would decide who held that title.

What could Nathaniel possibly say to that?

Harrison, however, had no interest in Rosalind's cousin's affairs. Her thoughts turned to Everett. She'd met him once, and the impression lingered.

"Rosalind, do you want to know what I think about Everett?" Harrison asked.

Rosalind, still lost in thought, murmured, "What?"

Harrison's voice softened. "Everett's like a wild stallion. He doesn't belong in your world."

Rosalind considered this, then yawned, her eyelids growing heavy. She grabbed Harrison's arm. "Regardless, I'm taking his jacket to the cleaners. I need to return it and thank him properly. Harrison, I'm exhausted. Let's sleep."

Harrison nodded. "Alright."

Within minutes, both girls were asleep, their steady breathing filling the quiet room.

Nathaniel remained awake. The girls' earlier whispers had kept him from drifting off.

He turned to study Harrison. Her face was half-buried in the blanket, peaceful in slumber. Gently, Nathaniel pulled back the covers, revealing her left calf.

Earlier, she'd hit it against a rock, but when Rosalind checked, Harrison had shown her uninjured right leg. The left one, however, was swollen and bruised.

She'd hidden it from Rosalind.

Nathaniel had never understood the bond between Rosalind and Harrison. He'd even encouraged Rosalind to befriend Isabella.

Now, he understood perfectly.