My Substitute CEO Bride (Nash Calicraft) novel Chapter 2328

The sky poured down with heavy rain, drenching both the upper and lower levels. The dark night made both sides of the city equally bleak and lifeless.

Along with the rain, Chuck's tears fell too. He held Zoe in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably, unable to accept that she was now silent and still.

Before him lay the ruins of the once-grand Calhoun residence, now reduced to rubble. Clayton stood triumphantly atop the debris, looking down at the powerless Chuck below before turning and walking away.

While Francel and Barther had fought below, another upheaval had been unfolding above.

After a long, exhausting day, Chuck washed his face and planned to lie down on the ground to rest. He had been sleeping on the floor these past few nights, all because of Zoe.

Regardless of the circumstances, Zoe was now an ally. With the Heifers destroyed, she had nowhere else to go, and Chuck could not just let her wander the streets.

Just then, Zoe stood beside Chuck, her slender legs and graceful figure illuminated under the moonlight.

Feeling embarrassed, Chuck turned his head away. At the moment, Zoe could not see clearly because it was too dark. She thought Chuck had fallen asleep, so she quietly lay down behind him, gazing at the man she had grown to love.

Fully aware of Zoe's presence, Chuck panicked when he felt her lying so close. The makeshift mattress could barely fit one person, and now, Zoe was so near that he could even hear her soft breathing.

The closer she was, the more nervous Chuck became. He had never had a girlfriend before, let alone been in such close proximity to a woman.

If it had been any other time, his mind would have likely shut down from the anxiety. However, thanks to the trials he had faced recently, he had grown a bit more resilient. It allowed him to keep his composure.

Chuck carefully pulled the blanket over her. The cold night air from the constant rain made it particularly chilly. He watched her turn in her sleep and could not help but touch her cheek. It was soft and delicate, like the first thin layer of snow in winter, lovely yet fleeting.

The sound of rain tapping outside the window grew louder. Yet at that moment, Chuck caught a whiff of something strange.

A burnt, acrid smell filled the air, accompanied by a nauseating feeling. Alarmed, Chuck glanced outside the window but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Still, the scent was too strong and unsettling to ignore. Something was definitely wrong.

He quickly rushed to the door to investigate.