Chapter 649

The next morning, I woke naturally from sleep. Sunlight poured in through the window and bathed me in a gentle warmth that made getting up feel like a chore. I lay there for a while, wrestling with the temptation to stay in bed, before finally dragging myself up and getting dressed. When I opened the guest room door and stepped into the living room, I heard the shower running in the bathroom. Joanna was likely taking a shower. The lingering effects of alcohol made my throat feel dry and rough. I poured myself a glass of water, drank it down in one go, and dropped onto the couch, lost in thought. A few minutes later, the bathroom door swung open. Joanna stepped out, barefoot, with nothing but a towel wrapped around her. When she saw me sitting there, her cheeks flushed instantly. "You're awake…" I glanced over at Joanna. Her damp hair hung loosely down her back, and her expression was one of unease. The towel barely covered her from chest to mid-thigh, leaving the rest of her alm