Love Unspoken

Completely worn out from a day spent scrubbing dishes, Quinn fell onto her bed the moment she stepped into her bedroom. Her gaze fell upon her fingertips, raw and peeling from the day's labor.

Thoughts of Abigail's messages filled her mind, and she found herself slipping into a daydream. A knock at her door yanked her back to reality. Standing in the doorway was Juliet, her frame hunched and weary. She regarded Quinn with a look of concern. "Are you hungry, dear?" she asked.

Pushing herself up from the bed, Quinn moved towards her, surprise evident in her gesture. "Why are you still awake at this hour?"

"I was waiting for you," Juliet responded simply.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

"You shouldn't have. You should get your rest," Quinn advised, concern tingeing her voice.

Juliet merely shook her head, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Sleep doesn't come easy at my age. Haven't had your dinner yet? Let me fix something for you."

A feeling of warmth spread through Quinn as she took in Juliet's caring gaze. The thought of being cared for, being considered, felt incredibly precious. It was like finding a safe harbor for her heart, a place where she belonged, a home. Leaning on her cane for support, Juliet shuffled off, returning shortly with a comforting bowl of oatmeal and a plate of homemade treats. At the table, Quinn attacked her meal with a voracious hunger, alternating between mouthfuls of oatmeal and the delicious treats.

"Slow down, love," Juliet chided gently. "There's plenty more. What did you do today to work up such an appetite?"

Quinn paused, her memory flashing back to the long day and the images of Alexander and Getty on the television screen. A pang of sorrow rose unbidden within her as she swallowed the pastry she had been eating.

She quickly finished off the remaining oatmeal in her bowl. Juliet served her another helping. Accepting the bowl from Juliet with a soft smile, Quinn couldn't help but return the older woman's smile.

Just then, Alexander descended the stairs, arriving in time to witness this tender exchange. There was something different about Quinn's smile when she was with Juliet. It was genuine, full of warmth, as if her eyes were shining with happiness. Alexander watched them for a moment before retreating back up the stairs. Once she had finished her meal, Quinn, still weary, made her way back to her bedroom.

As she pushed open the door, she heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. The hazy silhouette of a tall figure behind the frosted glass startled her for a moment.

Soon, the water stopped, and Alexander emerged, wrapped in a towel, his hair still wet. "Did you get a chance to shower?" he asked suddenly.

Quinn shook her head, her gaze briefly falling on his well-defined abs before she averted her eyes and moved towards the bathroom. Just as she was about to enter, a hand grabbed her arm. She turned in surprise, her eyes meeting his. Droplets from his hair dampened her sleeve as he held her gaze. "You didn't grab a change of clothes," he pointed out.

Biting her lip, Quinn stepped back, intending to fetch her clothes, but Alexander didn't let go. She tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened. In the next instant, he pushed her into the bathroom.

Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, she found herself backed against the wall, the door locked behind her. She looked up at him, confusion written on her face.

His eyes were dark and stormy, a look she was all too familiar with. She began to squirm instinctively. He pinned her hands above her head and leaned in close, whispering, "Let me help you."