Two Chapters written, deleted, and rewritten.
"I’m in love with soone else. I can’t possibly marry you. It’s useless even if you tell Dad!"
Julian Donovan took a few hard drags from his cigarette, then stubbed it out in the ashtray on the nightstand. He turned, leaned in close, and lifted her delicate chin. In her large, tear-filled eyes, he saw the reflection of his own indifferent expression as he spoke.
"Actually, you have another option..."
She asked through her tears. He gently sucked on her slightly parted, tender lips before speaking softly in her ear.
"Be my woman. Stay by my side, and never... ever leave!"
Naomi Shaw’s tears burst forth, her body trembling with anger at his words. ’He already said he wouldn’t marry , and now he wants to be his woman? Does he an he wants to be his secret mistress?’
A thick, rainy mist filled the air outside. Instead of returning next door, Naomi Shaw ran out into it, running aimlessly. Her body was covered in the marks he’d left last night. The soreness and exhaustion were constant reminders of that absurd evening. She mocked herself viciously in her heart: ’Naomi Shaw, this is what you get for being a bleeding heart and asking for trouble. You deserve it.’
She hadn’t just lost her heart; she’d lost her body, too!
It was raining heavily outside, so he didn’t go out either. After taking a shower, he went to his study. Right now, his biggest challenge was learning Thai. He had just started reading when a thunderous pounding echoed from the front door. He didn’t even have to think to know it was Lara from next door.
He went downstairs and opened the door. Lara Nash stood outside and said coolly,
"Aren’t you a doctor? She’s been out in the rain for half the day. She has a fever of forty degrees and is about to burn to death. Are you going to treat her or not?"
If she hadn’t spotted Naomi Shaw sitting in the rain by the side of the road when Ronan Joyce was dropping her off just now, she probably would have died out there.
"How could this happen?"
Julian Donovan was genuinely surprised. He had assud she went back next door after leaving his place, so he hadn’t followed her out.
"How could this happen? Don’t you know perfectly well?"
This ti, Lara wasn’t so aggressive. Instead, she had beco calm. Perhaps extre anger was followed by extre tranquility. While changing Naomi Shaw’s clothes just now, she had already seen the faint and deep marks on her body. How could she not understand what they ant?
She was truly in despair over Naomi Shaw. She really wanted to ask her, ’Was it worth it, giving your heart and body to a man like that?’
"Lara, I’m cold... I’m freezing to death..."
Julian Donovan frowned at her haggard appearance. Lara strode forward, pulled back Naomi Shaw’s blanket, and pointed to the marks on her neck and chest, saying bluntly to Julian Donovan,
"Julian Donovan, have you never been with a woman before or what? This was her first ti, and you had the nerve to be so rough with her!"
Incensed by Lara’s words, Julian Donovan shot her a glare. Although Naomi Shaw’s consciousness was hazy from the fever, she was still mortified. After all, Lara had just stripped off her soaking clothes, dragged her into the bathroom for a quick rinse and dry, and then shoved her directly into bed without putting anything on her.
She wanted to reach out and pull the blanket back but had no strength. Lara dropped the blanket, snorted, and turned to walk out.
After Lara left, Julian Donovan reached out to feel Naomi Shaw’s forehead. She instinctively dodged away, curling up with her back to him and murmuring,
"I want to go to the hospital!"
’I don’t want him to treat . I don’t want him to cure only to accuse of playing mind gas again.’
Julian Donovan frowned and turned her to face him.
"I am a doctor! I can treat a little cold like this. What do you need a hospital for!"
She didn’t know where she found the strength, but she stubbornly turned away again.
His shout made her go still. With a cold expression, he took her temperature. She did have a high fever, but it wasn’t as severe as Lara had claid. Under these circumstances, simple dicine or an injection wouldn’t be effective. When he took out the equipnt for an IV drip, she suddenly shrank under the blankets and refused to co out.
"I don’t want a shot! I don’t want a shot! I can just take dicine..."
"You’re a grown woman, and you’re still afraid of a little needle!"
"Naomi, you’ll only get better quickly if you get the shot..."
His tone was uncharacteristically gentle and coaxing. Naomi Shaw slowly quieted down and offered him her hand. As he inserted the needle, she began to whimper again, whether from the pain or sothing else, she didn’t know.
"I’m not that kind of person! Julian, I’m not, I’m not..."
Julian Donovan’s hands paused. He knew she was referring to what he’d said that morning about her playing mind gas. Looking at her haggard, tear-streaked face, his lips moved, and he finally said,
"Last night... it was all my fault..."
’It really was his fault. She hadn’t rejected him; in fact, she had responded to him. But he shouldn’t have lost control. Now that things had co to this, how were they supposed to face each other and get along in the future?’
Ti for a little sweetness.
Julian Donovan’s words made Naomi Shaw’s eyes sting. She shook her head.
"No, Julian, you did nothing wrong. I don’t regret what happened last night, as long as you don’t think of that way! Last night..."
If it weren’t for his words this morning, she would have had no regrets. She had willingly given herself to him. She bit her lip and tremblingly forced out the last sentence,
"Let’s just both forget about last night!"
’Forget about it. What else could she do? Go to her father and force him to marry her, just like he said? No, she wouldn’t do that. In the end, she couldn’t bear to make things difficult for him.’
Her feigned, resolute indifference brought a flash of astonishnt to Julian Donovan’s cold eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. ’Since she said to forget it, then they would forget it. He would never allow himself to make such a mistake a second ti.’
Naomi Shaw watched him accept her words with a flat, emotionless expression and felt a bitter taste in her heart. ’Even though I knew he wouldn’t react any other way, I still held a glimr of hope. I’m so hopelessly naive.’
Averting her gaze, she opened her mouth to speak.
"Julian, you can go. I’m a little dizzy, I’m going to sleep for a bit."
"Drink so water first to rehydrate, then sleep!"
Julian Donovan glanced at her dry lips and brought over a large glass of water. He leaned over, trying to help her sit up, but she stubbornly tilted her head and dodged him.
"I’m not thirsty... I don’t want to drink it..."
’I don’t want him to help drink! I don’t want him to show even the slightest bit of tenderness! Because... it would only make fall deeper.’
Unable to do anything about her stubbornness, Julian Donovan sat back down. He took out a cotton swab, dipped it in water, and began to moisten her lips. Naomi Shaw hadn’t expected this. Her eyes flew open in astonishnt as she watched him perform the task with a natural air. She longed to ask him: ’Are you doing this out of a doctor’s concern for a patient, or because I beca your woman last night?’
When Lara Nash pushed the door open and ca in, this was the scene that greeted her. She stuck out her tongue and was about to back out when Julian Donovan stood up, turned to her, and said,
"You’re just in ti. She’s going to sleep, so watch over her for a bit. She’s on a drip; don’t let her get too drowsy and pull out the needle!"
Lara dug in her heels.
"No way! Why should I take care of your woman!"
Lara deliberately emphasized the two words "your woman." She had no idea how awkward things were for the two people who had just decided to forget last night. Julian Donovan walked up to Lara and hissed in her ear through gritted teeth,
"Do you want to stay here until sothing happens?"
’God knows why his mind had started to wander just now while he was trying to give her water. Staring at her small lips, he couldn’t help himself. He had clearly told himself not to get entangled with her again, yet he couldn’t stop thinking about last night—about her delicate skin, her firm softness, and the clumsy way she had received his pleasure beneath him.’
"Hey! Julian Donovan, you... you..."
Lara glanced at Naomi Shaw, who was watching them in confusion, and swallowed the word "pervert" that was on the tip of her tongue. Instead, she snorted, walked over, and sat down by Naomi’s bed. Julian Donovan, anwhile, strode out of the room.
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