Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband-Chapter 1322: Don’t Go, Stay with Me

The men surrounding Willow Crawford met Miles Linden’s casual gaze and immediately felt a chill run down their spines, scattering to the side.

Willow Crawford hadn’t yet realized the subtle atmosphere around her, she only knew that her soft waist was held tight, pulling her into his arms with quite a bit of roughness, "Miles Linden, let go, you’re hurting me."

She cried out in pain.

Miles Linden knew she was delicate, pampered since childhood as she was, he pursed his thin lips, "If you know it hurts, why squeeze into a bus? Do you not recognize your own status?"

She wasn’t suited for these places, last time he brought her to a small hotel, he regretted it — she was simply lowering herself by being here.

Willow Crawford protested, "If you hadn’t followed me, I wouldn’t have squeezed into a bus, and now you think you’re justified?"

Miles Linden’s gaze darkened; she was right, it was all because of him.

If it weren’t for him, she would always be the carefree little princess, Willow Crawford.

"Then don’t move, and I won’t hurt you," Miles Linden loosened his grip slightly.

But their bodies still clung to each other, she was trapped in his arms, Willow Crawford kept wriggling, "Hey, let go of me already~"

Her youthful, sweet voice carried a hint of light anger and coquettishness.

Miles Linden looked down, seeing that her little upturned hips pressed closely against his waist and abdomen, the cream-colored dress twined around his black trousers, the mere sight of it creating a strong visual impact.

Miles Linden swallowed, releasing her soft waist, "Stand a bit forward, don’t touch me!"

"..." What was he talking about?

Just now, he insisted on pulling her into his arms, and now he was telling her to stand farther away and not touch him — Willow Crawford felt like he was a lunatic.

Forget it, she wouldn’t argue with him.

Willow Crawford tried to stand forward, avoiding contact with him.

Quickly, the last bus arrived at the next stop, the door opened, Willow Crawford planned to check the sign but Miles Linden reached out and directly pulled her off the bus.

...

Willow Crawford recognized the alley—it was the road to his home, she had been here once before. He actually wanted to take her home.

"Miles Linden, let go, I don’t want to go to your house, I want to go back to my own!" Willow Crawford turned to leave.

But Miles Linden suddenly braced himself against the wall, showing a painful expression.

Willow Crawford stopped, quickly turning around, "Hey, Miles Linden, what’s wrong, are you pretending again? Don’t lie to me!"

Miles Linden didn’t speak, though he appeared very pale, his frowning and silent demeanor seemed genuine.

Willow Crawford softened, Zachary said he immersed himself in bars drinking lately, even a body of steel couldn’t handle it — now that Sister Lin wasn’t here, leaving him alone, she truly couldn’t bear it.

Willow Crawford walked beside him, slender white fingers grasping his shirt sleeve, shaking it twice, "Miles Linden, what’s wrong, are you unwell?"

Miles Linden turned to her, meeting those distinctive black and white eyes, her eyes lively and clean, now filled with worry and concern for him.

Miles Linden nodded, "My stomach feels uneasy."

"Then I’ll support you, just try to take a couple steps, we’re almost home." Willow Crawford positioned his arm over her shoulder to help him home.

Underneath his arm was her smooth shoulder, she herself was as fragile as water, and with a touch she’d dissolve; how could she support him? Miles Linden dared not press his weight onto her, fearing he might burden her.

Her muttering continued by his ear, "Miles Linden, you faced this because you drank too much, don’t you gauge your own body’s limits?"

"Sister Lin... even though Sister Lin left, Miles Linden, don’t you trust her? I always felt Sister Lin’s departure was her phoenix-like rebirth, she’d live exceptionally well. However, it’s you — Sister Lin loved you dearly, she’d never wish to see you wasting away like this, you need to rebound quickly."

On such a night, with her beside him, the tangible softness and warmth, she murmured all the way, Miles Linden curved his lips, smiling all throughout.

He wished this path had no end, that she and he would forever be just as they were.

She wasn’t the Princess of Alani, nor was he the Merfolk Kingdom’s young master, there was no deep-seated hatred nor scheming between them.

Then, footsteps were heard ahead — it was that aunt from last time, returning with her grandson, and upon seeing Miles Linden and Willow Crawford she quickly smiled, "Linden family boy, you’ve brought your little girlfriend home again?"

Willow Crawford hadn’t expected to encounter acquaintances; still so young, and being teased like that, she was frightened into hiding her small, flushed face within Miles Linden’s arms.

Miles Linden naturally embraced her shoulder, concealing her reddened little face in his chest, responding, "Yes."

The aunt took her grandson and walked away, but their conversation was still audible. The grandson was filled with envy, "Grandma, big brother’s girlfriend is so pretty, when I grow up I want to find a girlfriend that pretty too."

Aunt, "I’m afraid your wish may fall through; where else in this world is there anyone prettier than your big brother’s little girlfriend?"

After the two walked farther away, Miles Linden reached to caress the little head hidden in his arms, "They’re gone, it’s alright."

Only then did Willow Crawford raise her face, which was as red as a boiled shrimp, almost dripping blood.

She had never acknowledged being Miles Linden’s girlfriend, but it seemed like everybody already knew.

Gradually she found herself starting to accept this identity, without arguing anymore.

"Let’s go home." Willow Crawford took Miles Linden home.

...

Back home, Willow Crawford helped Miles Linden to the bed, "Miles Linden, rest well, I’m heading home."

Willow Crawford intended to leave.

But Miles Linden held onto her small hand, "Willow Crawford, don’t leave."

Don’t leave?

It was already late — was he implying she should stay over at his place?

Though she had slept with him in a cave before, and stayed at a hotel, since that night he had kissed her forcefully, she felt uneasy.

"Willow Crawford, stay with me, will you? Sister left, now it’s only me in this house, it’s truly lonely. These days I’ve been drinking at bars because I’m afraid to return home; it’s really just me here."

Seeing her hesitation, Miles Linden released her little hand, "Forget it, go home, Sister left — you must leave me too."

Willow Crawford’s heart ached sharply, now how could she cruelly leave? She compromised, "Miles Linden, don’t be like this, Sister left but you still have... me. I’ll stay to keep you company..."

"Really?" Miles Linden looked at her.

Willow Crawford bit her red lips lightly, hesitating, "Then let’s agree on this — I’ll stay, but you mustn’t... you mustn’t touch me, otherwise I’ll leave immediately!"

Miles Linden looked at her bitten lips, pink and moist, plump like jelly, losing color after her bite — tender beyond words.

Why hadn’t he thought of biting her that night at the alley?