"You're already doing great, Naomi."
His voice was unusually gentle, like a patient guide:
"It's your tough exterior and soft heart that make you who you are—unique and irreplaceable."
"Since you don't regret it, why let other people's words affect you? They aren't you. They can't make choices from your perspective."
He lowered his gaze slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I'm very happy you were willing to share your feelings with me."
"I used to think you were invincible. Now I see you have a soft side too, that you can feel lost and helpless…"
His gaze fixed for a moment as if he was thinking.
Naomi Kenway was a little stunned. The next second, she found herself in a warm embrace. A light kiss landed on the ends of her hair, and the phone was taken from her hand. "Don't look at this stuff anymore. Go to sleep. This will all pass."
Ethan Shaw's words gave her an unexpected sense of security, and she didn't find herself rejecting the hug.
