Her Only Exception のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 41 - チャプター 50

The drive home from the restaurant was quiet in the best way. Andrea sat in the passenger seat with her hand still laced through Henry’s, the city lights sliding across her face in fleeting ribbons of gold and white. The hum of the tires on asphalt was steady, soothing, and every so often Henry would glance over at her. His smile was small, private, the kind of smile that looked like he was still savoring the evening they had just shared.Andrea caught one of those glances and felt her chest tighten. She wasn’t used to being looked at like that—like she was more than just company, more than just a distraction. She shifted slightly, brushing her thumb across the back of his hand, and tried to steady the nervous flutter low in her stomach.When they stepped into the penthouse, the lights were already dimmed low, casting the space in a soft amber glow. Henry didn’t let go of her hand. His grip was firm but gentle, as though he was afraid she might slip away if he loosened it.“Come with m

Andrea woke slowly, cocooned in warmth. Henry’s arm was draped heavily across her waist, his chest rising and falling steadily beneath her cheek. The faint scent of last night lingered on his skin-candle wax, roses, and him. Rose petals were scattered across the sheets, a few stuck to her shoulder and his forearm.She didn’t move at first. She just listened to his heartbeat and let herself feel everything. Safe. Wanted. Terrified.Henry stirred, his hand sliding up her back in a slow, sleepy caress. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. “Morning,” he murmured, voice rough with sleep.Andrea tilted her face up. His eyes were half-lidded, hair messy, and the small smile on his lips was softer than anything she’d ever seen from him in the office. “Morning,” she whispered back.They stayed like that for a while, no rush, no words, just quiet breathing and gentle touches. Henry’s fingers traced lazy circles on her bare shoulder while she rested her palm over his heart. It felt dan

The Summer Mixer hummed around them like a living thing-soft jazz drifting from the quartet, crystal glasses clinking, laughter rising and falling under strings of warm lights. The rooftop felt magical, the city skyline glittering beyond, but Andrea’s stomach was a tight knot.She stood beside Henry, smiling politely at the couple he was speaking with, nodding at their chatter about investments and travel. But her mind was spinning. Every few seconds her eyes flicked toward his mother across the room. The woman’s gaze kept landing on her-cool, assessing, lips pressed into a thin line that never quite became a real smile.She already hates me.Andrea’s fingers tightened around her clutch. The emerald dress suddenly felt too bright, too noticeable. She leaned toward Henry, her voice barely audible over the music. “I’m going to call Mindy real quick. She said she’d be here by now.”Henry nodded, brushing his thumb lightly over her lower back. “Take your time. I’ll be right here.”She slip

Henry’s hand was still warm on Andrea’s lower back when he returned from the quiet corner where he’d pulled his mother aside. The tension in his shoulders had eased a fraction, but his jaw was still tight. Eleanor had walked away with that same polished smile, yet the air around them felt thinner now, like the whole rooftop was holding its breath.Andrea tried to focus on the little plate of shrimp cocktails Mindy had thrust into her hands. “Eat something before you pass out from all that staring,” Mindy had ordered. “The crab puffs are actually decent. Rich people know how to cater.”Andrea poked at a canapé, her appetite gone. “Did she… say anything else after I walked away?”Henry leaned in, voice low and steady. “She’ll behave. For tonight, at least.” His thumb brushed a slow circle against her spine, the touch small but grounding. “You okay?”Before Andrea could answer, a deep, easy laugh cut through the jazz music behind them.“Moore! Finally, I was starting to think you’d fired

Henry and Andrea stepped back into the main flow of the party, the string lights overhead casting a warm golden glow over the thinning crowd. The jazz band had slowed to a sultry, late-night tempo, and the rooftop felt less like a battlefield and more like the elegant event it was meant to be. His hand stayed firmly at the small of her back, steady and warm, the quiet, intimate moment they had shared by the railing still humming between them like a private secret no one else could touch. Andrea’s chest felt lighter after opening up about her mother, but the night still carried its weight.Eleanor’s sharp, judging stare from across the room, the curious eyes of every guest who had watched the CEO stay glued to her side all evening, the constant, nagging sense that she was being measured and found wanting.They had barely taken three steps before Rachel and Emily appeared from the crowd like they had been waiting for the perfect opening. Both women were smiling wide, each carrying a fr