CHAPTER 44: The Truth Beneath the Surface

　　Hannah’s POV

　　Christian mumbled incoherently, too intoxicated to make much sense, but even in his drunken state, there was something about him that tugged at my heart. It was the first time I’d seen him like this, vulnerable, raw, stripped of the cool exterior he usually wore.

　　As I sat in the dim light of the room, my mind raced, replaying Joseph’s words over and over again. The idea that Christian had harbored feelings for me all these years was something I couldn’t wrap my head around. How had I been so blind? Every interaction, every conversation now seemed tinged with a meaning I hadn’t noticed before.

　　I watched Christian settle onto the bed, I felt a wave of confusion and disbelief wash over me. Christian… liked me?

　　I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Sure, we were close, and yes, we had spent a lot of time together, but I’d never seen him as more than a friend. I never even considered that he might feel differently.