The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 1043

"Have you boarded?"

"Yeah, I just found my seat."

"Good. Let me know the second you land."

"I know, I know. Stop being so clingy, my colleagues are already making fun of me. I'm not a three-year-old, I'm not going to get lost."

Katrina covered her phone, emphasizing her words in a low voice.

But honestly, after spending day and night with him, constantly wrapped up in his affection, being suddenly separated felt genuinely weird. She wasn't used to it at all.

She couldn't sleep her first night in the hotel.

Without him lying beside her to hold onto, it felt like something vital was missing.

She tossed and turned until midnight before finally sending him a WhatsApp message. He replied instantly with a video call request.

Katrina answered while lying on her side, her voice sweet and soft. "Why are you still awake?"

Naylor said, "Being alone makes it hard to sleep."

Katrina chuckled softly.

Naylor asked, "What's so funny?"

Katrina put on a deliberately dramatic, soft voice. "What a coincidence. This poor girl also finds it hard to sleep alone."

This time, it was Naylor's turn to laugh.

Katrina sighed. "I'm so used to cuddling you. Now I don't have anything to hold, and my arms feel empty. No matter how I lie, I just can't get comfortable."

Naylor replied, "What should we do? Should I book a red-eye flight right now and come be your body pillow?"

"Don't!" Katrina panicked, genuinely suspecting the man was crazy enough to actually do it.

"Don't you dare do anything reckless. I don't want my colleagues gossiping, and I definitely don't want you coming here and interfering with my work. I'll finish up soon and come straight home," Katrina quickly insisted.

Knowing she had an intense workday ahead of her, Naylor had no choice but to soothe her. "Alright, go to sleep. Hug a pillow and pretend it's me."

"Mhmm, I guess that'll have to do..."

"I won't hang up. You go to sleep, and once things go quiet on your end, I'll end the call."

Katrina hadn't expected him to suggest something so sweet, and she was instantly moved.

And honestly, having his indirect presence there genuinely seemed to alleviate the sudden, inexplicable emptiness in her heart.

After an unknown amount of time, she fell into a deep sleep.

Miles away at home, Naylor listened to his wife's steady breathing. Knowing she was finally asleep, he ended the video call and settled in for the night himself.

Katrina's work trip went incredibly smoothly, and they won the case with flying colors.

After dinner that evening, her colleague invited her out shopping to see if there were any local souvenirs worth buying.

Figuring it would be boring to just sit in her hotel room, Katrina agreed.

While they were still browsing, Naylor called.

"You're not back at the hotel yet?" Naylor asked in a low voice. "Didn't you say the case went perfectly and you finished up early?"

Katrina burst into laughter. "Look at you keeping up with the trends, you even know what a security blanket is."

Her colleague walked over, her voice dripping with envy. "Katrina, you two are so romantic."

Katrina replied without missing a beat. "Of course. How could we be married if we weren't romantic?"

That comment not only made her colleague green with envy but also left Naylor grinning from ear to ear.

Her colleague excused herself and headed upstairs first.

Katrina grabbed her husband's hand. Together, they pulled her luggage toward the elevators, chatting and laughing the whole way.

Even after they entered the room, Katrina still couldn't believe it.

"How did you just show up without saying a word?"

"I wanted to surprise you."

"Really? You weren't trying to pull a surprise inspection?" Katrina raised an eyebrow, teasing him.

"How could I? I have total confidence in myself." Naylor set the luggage down, glanced around the room, and eyed the bed with apparent dissatisfaction.

Katrina noticed his reaction and glanced back at the large bed. "What's wrong?"

"Want to switch rooms?"

"Why?"

"I'm worried the mattress quality here isn't going to cut it."