Chapter 172 A Pleasant Surprise

• Alvin lay on his side, his face partially obscured by the pillow, seemingly lost in deep slumber. Aileen approached, positioning her phone near his ear in an attempt to awaken him. His brows furrowed, and he swiftly seized her wrist, drawing her into his embrace with impatience. "Turn it off," he mumbled.
• She angled the phone's screen towards his face, revealing his features in the dim light. It was then, in such close proximity, that Aileen detected a subtle anomaly—a scorching warmth to his breath.
• Alvin's eyes fluttered open, meeting Aileen's gaze in a fleeting moment. With a subtle withdrawal, she relinquished her grasp, allowing the phone to slip smoothly into Alvin's hand. "I'm off to the bathroom," she announced, her voice hushed by the stillness of the room. Rising from the bed, she flicked the light switch, flooding the space with a gentle glow.