Adrian sighed softly. There was no need to deny it anymore. He slowly met her inquisitive gaze, and a gentle smile crossed his lips as he reached across the table for her hand.
"Babe," he called softly. As he held her hand in his, his thumb gently caressed the back of her palm in a slow and tender motion. "I am curious about what happened, but then, one glance at you told me something else."
Stella's brow furrowed slightly. "What did it tell you?" she asked, genuinely curious about what he had noticed.
"From the moment you stepped out of those woods, I noticed the fatigue wrapped around you."
Stella's eyes narrowed slightly. "Fatigue? How did you know I was exhausted?"
Adrian chuckled softly. "It was clearly written all over you. You might have looked fine to everyone else, but I could see it."
Though he had been worried sick about her wellbeing, he had always placed a strong belief in their bond.
