Sharing the bed with Silas?

Esme looked back at Silas, hoping he would help her. Hadn't he assured her that he would always be there for her? But his smirk, which she didn't like, wasn't going to make things easy for her.

Esme beamed, but the irritation bubbled inside her. "Well, that was a funny incident," she started.

Silas grew even more curious and waited impatiently to hear what she was going to say.

"We met on a flight," she said casually.

Silas's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He was pleased that she had not made up a story.

Esme narrated everything that had happened on that flight and how she had mistakenly taken his bag with him.

Ewan burst out laughing. "That was hilarious!" he exclaimed. "Oh, my goodness, I can't believe your first meeting was so dramatic."

"Silas was really angry with me," Esme recounted. "I have to run to him to return his bag."

Victoria, on the other hand, didn't find the situation amusing. She glared at Esme, her expression somber. "This is not funny at all," she reprimanded. "This is called utter irresponsibility."

Esme's heart sank under Victoria's criticism. She felt a lump form in her throat. She immediately pulled her chin down and apologized, "I am sorry, ma'am. I was…"

Silas intervened, his voice firm but gentle. "She already apologized to me. I agree that was a mistake on her part. What matters to me is that I got the chance to get to know her because of that incident." He reached out and held her hand.

Esme raised her head and met his gaze. Blinking her tears away, she forced a smile. Silas gave her a reassuring nod, his fingers intertwining with hers.

The rest of the dinner passed in uneasy silence, the sound of forks clinking against plates punctuating the emptiness of the conversation. When the meal finally drew to a close, they discovered that it was raining heavily.

"It's not safe to drive in this rain," Ewan said, concern etched on his face. "Stay here tonight."

Esme hesitated, her eyes darting towards Silas. 

Silas, however, showed no signs of reluctance; his features were relaxed and acquiescent. "Okay, Dad. We'll stay here tonight."

Victoria's displeasure was plain to see. She pushed her chair back abruptly and stood up, her napkin falling to the floor. "I'm going to my room." Without another word, she spun around and marched up the stairs, her heels clicking sharply on the hardwood floor.

Ewan maintained his smile to ease the tension. "Silas, take Esme to your room. She must be tired. I'll have the housekeeper arrange some clothes for her."

"Good night, Dad."

"Good night." Ewan stood there, watching his son walk away with Esme. His gaze moved to his room upstairs, and he let out a sigh.

Inside Silas's room...

Esme surveyed the luxurious space, which was adorned with opulent furnishings and ornate decorations. Her wandering gaze settled on the round king-size bed, and her heart sank at the realization that she was going to share the bed with him.

Memories of the night they had spent together flooded her mind, and she felt a twinge of embarrassment. That night, she had been devastated and inebriated, which had emboldened her to succumb to his charms. However, tonight, she was sober and anxious about the prospect of sleeping beside him.

"Why did you agree to stay here?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance.

"It's raining, sweetheart," Silas replied casually, removing his coat.

Esme's agitation grew. "But I don't want to stay here," she whined.

Silas approached her, his eyes fixed on hers, attempting to discern the source of her distress. He mistook her unease for annoyance with his mother's behavior. Esme also looked back at him, hoping he would change his mind and take her away.

"Come with me." He took her hand and led her to the French window. He parted the curtains, revealing the heavy rain outside. "Look, how heavily it is raining. It's getting late. It took us two hours to reach here, and in this weather, it will take more time to reach the city. Besides, it's risky to drive in such heavy rain."

Esme recognized the validity of his arguments, but her apprehension persisted. She couldn't shake off the memory of their previous encounter, and the thought of being alone with him in the room filled her with trepidation. She was unable to articulate her concerns or escape the situation.

Silas's nearness only intensified her nervousness, making her heart race and her mind wander to that fateful night. Esme feared something like that would happen tonight again.

"It's just one night," Silas urged, attempting to persuade Esme.

Esme drew a sharp breath at his words. 'Just one night!' she muttered to herself, feeling her spine tremble. Determined not to repeat past mistakes, she asserted, "I am not sharing the bed with you. I-I will sleep on the sofa," pointing towards the nearby sofa.

"Here?" Silas's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the sofa. "Why? The bed is quite big. It can accommodate both of us. Why do you have to sleep on the sofa?" Sensing her distress, he teased with a smirk, "Are you worried I'll take advantage of you?"

Esme crossed her arms defensively, making it clear she wouldn't trust him easily.

"I am a gentleman," Silas insisted, trying to dispel her doubts. "I won't touch a woman without her consent. You can rely on me."

"No chance. I am taking the sofa. You can sleep peacefully on your bed."

"Fine!" Exasperated, Silas threw up his hands in defeat. Taking a deep breath to regain composure, he declared, "Since one of us must sleep on the sofa, I'll sleep. You take the bed."

"No. You won't be comfortable here," Esme protested.

He smiled meaningfully. "Then how will I let you sleep there? You are my guest. I ought to provide you with the utmost comfort. I'll be fine on the sofa. Trust me."

Despite his assurance, his expression changed as he looked at the sofa. How was he supposed to fit his six-foot-three frame on that tiny piece of furniture? He envisioned himself contorting into an awkward position, his neck and back aching as he tried to get some rest. This was definitely not going to be a pleasant night.

"Are you sure?" Esme asked.

Knock-Knock…

The door knocked before Silas could reply. "Let me check." He answered the door to find a young maid holding a white gown.

"This is for Miss Esme," the maid politely explained.

"Thank you. You can give it to her."

The maid obediently handed the gown to Esme and left.

Closing the door, Silas reassured Esme, "I'll be fine on the sofa."

"Cool." Esme turned and went into the bathroom.

After changing into the gown, she returned to see Silas already on the sofa with a pillow and a blanket, visibly struggling to fit in the small space.

"You still have time. We can switch places," she offered.

"I am fine," he asserted.

"Okay." She shrugged. "Good night." She clambered onto the bed and slipped into the blanket.

The bed was soft and warm. The pillow smelled like flowers. Esme had a smile on her face as she snuggled into the pillow, relishing its softness. Fatigue or the comfort of the bed—she couldn't tell, but soon she fell asleep.

Silas lay awake, his discomfort growing by the minute. He tried to adjust his position, seeking relief from the strain on his neck and back, but to no avail. His gaze shifted to Esme, who slept peacefully, oblivious to his struggles. A pang of irritation struck him; he had given up his comfort for her, yet she hadn't bothered to inquire about his wellbeing.

"Heartless," he muttered under his breath, his resentment mounting.

After a while, he sat upright, unable to endure the discomfort any longer, his eyes fixed on Esme's immobile figure.

"I am not sleeping here."

Why would he sleep in discomfort when he had such a big, cozy bed?

Silas sprang to his feet and went to bed. As he stretched out on the mattress, his body sighed in relief. The comfort of the bed enveloped him, banishing the lingering tension in his muscles. A satisfied smile crept onto his lips as he burrowed deeper into the blanket.

"My cozy bed," he whispered, savoring the warmth and softness that surrounded him. He never knew that he loved his bed so much. With a contented sigh, Silas allowed sleep to claim him.