Chapter 953: Chapter 953: Want to See You at the Earliest Convenience
Simon Baker was remarkably efficient; that very night, the plan was sent to the group.
The next day, the production team took the remaining four mbers to explore Anson City’s culinary delights. Considering Adam Piers and Zoe Thatcher’s circumstances, there was no live broadcast this ti; once filming ended, they wrapped up for the day, after which Simon Baker led several guests to visit Adam and Zoe at the hospital.
Both Adam and Zoe were already awake, though Adam sustained slightly worse injuries while protecting Zoe. Fortunately, thanks to sheer luck, it was all superficial wounds, and according to the doctor, they could be discharged in three or four days.
When Simon arrived with Mary Scott, Brian Joule, Jas Jero, and Stella Murray, Zoe, dressed in hospital attire, was already in Adam’s room. Seeing everyone co in, she awkwardly apologized, “I’m sorry, I dragged all of you into this.”
“It’s not your fault. Don’t put the bla on yourself.” Before anyone else could speak, Adam lazily replied from the bed behind Zoe. Despite being bedridden, his arrogant dandy-like aura remained perfectly intact. Because of his injuries, a sense of casual languor surrounded him.
Zoe blushed even more deeply after hearing this, her face turning pink as she apologetically glanced at everyone.
Simon quickly reassured her, “Master Adam is right; this wasn’t your fault. On the contrary, you and Master Adam are the victims. The police have already detained that guy, and I’ll make sure soone sees the legal process through so he doesn’t get away.”
Zoe nodded softly and didn’t say anything further.
Mary stepped forward and apologized to the two of them. “This ti, I’m the one who caused trouble for the both of you. If there’s anything I can do to make it up, please don’t hesitate to let know.”
“We just told her it wasn’t her fault, and then you jump in,” Adam said, slightly annoyed.
Mary awkwardly rubbed her nose. “Well, it’s not the sa for and Zoe. This ti, you suffered because of . No matter what happens, I owe you both.”
Unlike Zoe, Mary was fully aware that this incident stemd from her provoking soone, which had caused trouble for everyone.
Zoe hurriedly stepped forward, grabbing Mary’s hand. “It’s fine, nothing happened to , see?”
Deep down, Zoe even felt a little lucky about the incident, as it gave her and Adam’s lives so overlap. Especially when she recalled how Adam shielded her during the crisis—her heart fluttered sweetly.
Mary noticed the sincere look on Zoe’s face and relaxed a little. anwhile, Adam, upon hearing Mary’s words, suddenly raised a brow as if he’d thought of sothing mischievous—perhaps he could exploit this situation a bit more.
“Alright, you’re both victims, so stop apologizing to others. If we’re assigning bla, it lies entirely with Mile and whatever shady forces are backing him,” Stella Murray chid in indignantly.
Jas Jero nodded in agreent.
For them, though Adam and Zoe’s accident interrupted the show’s filming, it also attracted hundreds of tis more attention than the program itself could have managed. As guests, they only stood to benefit from this, so naturally, they bore no resentnt towards anyone.
Though the sentint was partly colored by self-interest, Stella and Jas’s words made both Mary and Zoe feel sowhat relieved.
As for Brian Joule, the sole top-tier celebrity in this production, the original expectation was that he’d be the one bringing popularity to the show. Unexpectedly, the program now gained even greater attention than him. Yesterday’s sudden incident, with unclear circumstances, had worried many of his fans, skillfully tugging at their emotions and saving his studio quite a bit of effort in PR.
Under such circumstances, Brian naturally wouldn’t bla anyone.
After brief pleasantries, Simon explained the production team’s situation to Adam and Zoe. He then began discussing the filming arrangents for the next three episodes.
Given Adam and Zoe’s injuries—particularly Adam’s inability to move without grimacing in pain—they would need so ti to recuperate. The next episode’s filming seed out of reach. Simon’s suggestion was for the two of them to record a short VCR for the next episode and then return as the main attraction for the fourth episode.
The offer Simon presented was quite decent, and both Adam and Zoe accepted without hesitation.
With plans settled and follow-up matters handed off to the legal team, Simon led the others out of Anson City.
Mary and Brian headed directly to the city where Raspberry’s comrcial was being fild. By the ti Mary returned to Swallow City, it was already the early hours of the eighth day of the new year.
After disembarking and collecting her luggage, Mary erged from the arrival gate to see a man leaning against the railing, not in a wheelchair, exuding an unmistakable sense of nonchalance. His presence in the eerily quiet airport at this late hour stood out strikingly, holding all attention upon him with just one glance.
The man leaning against the railing seed to sense her gaze. As soon as she looked over, he raised his head and smiled warmly.
Mary couldn’t help but break into a jog and rushed to stand before David Locke. “It’s so late; I told you not to co.”
David reached out to tousle Mary’s hair, ssed up from sleeping on the plane, and whispered with a soft laugh, “I wanted to see you first.”
Mary hadn’t expected his sudden expression of affection and blushed instantly. “Have you been eating sugar today?”
“Hmm, want to taste it yourself?” David teasingly murmured and leaned over the railing to kiss her.
Though the airport was sparse with people at this hour, it wasn’t entirely deserted. Mary hadn’t anticipated David’s actions, and her body stiffened nervously, her eyes darting anxiously, fearful of being caught.
The next mont, David’s hand ca up to cup the back of her neck, refusing to let her be distracted.
Mary had no choice but to tilt her head back, letting the man take what he wanted. Only when she was breathless did she pat his arm to plead for release.
Reluctantly breaking away, David smirked, “You’re still so clumsy—so many kisses, and you haven’t learned to breathe yet?”
Mary took a deep breath, retorting while catching her breath, “Am I clumsy, or are you just relentless?”
Her complaint had barely escaped her lips when David leaned in again.
Another wave of kisses left Mary entirely defeated.
When leaving the airport, Mary glanced around nervously, paranoid about being photographed by nosy onlookers. anwhile, the man beside her showed no hint of worry, strolling leisurely as though he were in his own backyard.
By the ti they got into the car, it was already past one-thirty in the morning. David seed to finally rember and asked, “Hungry?”
After asking, he paused briefly, recalling the last ti they returned from Earlbind late at night. They’d ended up eating, only for Mary to later face scandalous exposés.
Mary apparently rembered this, too, side-eyeing David.
David feigned a cough and changed the topic, “These past few days have been exhausting, haven’t they? Let’s get you sothing to eat and then rest properly.”
“Hmm.” Mary didn’t want to dwell on past incidents and instead redirected her concern. “What about your leg? Did you go for a follow-up? What did the doctor say?”
“No major issues, just need proper rest,” David assured, not lying to Mary. While he had sustained a fracture, it wasn’t as dire as he’d originally let on.
“Is that so?” Mary glanced once more at his leg. “If the doctor said to rest, you shouldn’t be moving around. Why aren’t you using your wheelchair tonight?”
“Wanted you to see a handso husband,” David teased with a mischievous shrug.
Mary shot him a speechless look. She’d seen every side of him; was he still hoping she’d swoon over him being handso? So ti apart and his cheekiness was back in full force.
“Speaking of, you still haven’t answered my earlier question—how’s the taste?” David ignored her exasperated expression and tilted his head toward her expectantly.
Mary didn’t catch his aning at first, but she understood when his gaze landed on her lips. He was clearly asking about her earlier comnt about tasting sugar.
She took a deep breath, unsure how to handle David tonight.
“Hmm?” David pressed on when she didn’t respond.
Glancing at the driver ahead, Mary lowered her voice and muttered, “Could you reign it in a bit?”
David chuckled happily at her flustered attempt to escape his attention and leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “I already did. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have just stopped at kisses.”
Mary froze, staring at him with wide, doe-like eyes. Not stopping at kisses? Did he ever have other plans in a public place?
“Exactly what you’re thinking,” David teased further, watching the blush rise in her cheeks.
Mary quickly shook her head like a bobblehead. “I didn’t think anything—you’re framing !”
“Oh?” David drawled in disbelief.
Mary instinctively began explaining herself, only to catch sight of the mischievous glint in David’s eyes. She finally realized she had fallen into his trap, angrily slapping his leg in retaliation.
Caught off guard, David winced audibly in pain. Mary panicked instantly, “Are you okay?”
“What do you think?” David bent forward dramatically, groaning in exaggerated pain.
Mary, recalling that he hadn’t used his wheelchair and rembered his remark atop West Mountain, wondered whether his leg was already healed yet had maliciously tricked her and Mia Anderson back then. She hadn’t expected this playful slap to actually hurt him, and guilt flooded over her. “Sorry, I… um…” she stamred.
Before she could finish apologizing, David abruptly leaned up and sealed her lips again.
Mary was caught off guard by the kiss, her mind still on his apparent leg injury. She struggled in vain, unable to stop him. Frustrated, she bit his lip sharply.
Winching in pain, David finally let her go.
Mary glared at him, huffing indignantly, “What’s really going on with your leg?”
“Didn’t I already say it’s not as serious as the doctor made it sound? It’s fractured but not crushed. If it had been, I wouldn’t be walking until next year,” David answered matter-of-factly, showing no trace of guilt.
Though annoyed that he had exaggerated his condition earlier, Mary couldn’t stay mad after seeing his pale complexion. Still, her frustration showed clearly in her tone, “So, you were just trying to scare into taking care of you, weren’t you?”
“Not exactly. The bone really broke. It just wasn’t shattered. If it were, forget this year—next year’s recovery would’ve kept off my feet,” David clarified truthfully.
Mary was initially furious about his manipulation, but she couldn’t deny relief upon hearing his injury wasn’t as severe as it could’ve been.
She glared at him anyway. “If you pull sothing like this again, don’t be surprised if I turn on you without hesitation.”
“So, this ti, I’m forgiven?” David’s sharp ears imdiately caught the flaw in her statent.
Mary didn’t reply. She stared at him blankly. He’d changed so much—back when they reunited, the man was cold, distant—a far cry from his relentless teasing now. She couldn’t help but admit she liked seeing this side of him.
Still, she kept her guard up, huffing softly, “Who says I’ve forgiven you? I’m still mad.”
“Fine. How can I earn your forgiveness then?” David asked shalessly.
The driver in front, silently witnessing their entire exchange, was finding it harder and harder to focus on driving. It was bad enough to work overti, but to be bombarded with David and Mary’s PDA? It was unbearable.
“I don’t know yet,” Mary muttered, clearly searching for an answer.
David chuckled; he saw through her façade.
The teasing eased as they reached Rose Valley. David walked Mary to the car and took her hand when they stepped out.
Alfred Scott hadn’t gone to bed yet. Seeing David holding his sister’s hand, he took in the space between them—the easy intimacy that excluded all outsiders—and shook his head quietly. Won, he thought, were such contradictory creatures.
Having grown up together, Mary could read her brother at a glance. Noticing the purposeful way David held her hand without letting go, she coughed awkwardly. “Alfred, why aren’t you sleeping yet?”
“I was waiting for you,” Alfred said tartly. He’d originally planned to personally pick his sister up but was thwarted by a certain domineering man thrusting him aside and ordering him to stay ho. Clearly, David thought of him as nothing more than a nuisance.
Not liking the situation, Alfred decided to annoy David. “Actually, I heard you prepared dinner for Mary tonight, but I’m a little hungry too. Would you mind making an extra portion?”
David hesitated, clearly wanting to shoo Alfred away. But then his eyes t Mary’s warning gaze, and his tone shifted begrudgingly as he muttered, “Fine.”
Alfred’s grin widened; for the mont, he’d won.
David scoffed lightly at Alfred’s triumph, shedding his coat and slowly moving towards the kitchen.
Once David left, Mary chuckled at her brother, “Feeling happy now?”
“You wouldn’t believe how cold he is to when you’re not around. And when I wanted to head back to Lica Garden, he refused to let go. He’s not just domineering—he’s downright conniving. How did you end up falling for a scheming guy like that?” Alfred griped loudly as soon as David was out of earshot.
Mary cleared her throat. “He’s doing it all for your own good. I wouldn’t feel safe with you staying alone there. Yes, he’s domineering—I’ll give you that. As for his scheming nature, he’s not cunning; he’s just smart.”
Alfred stared at her as though he’d been betrayed. “Honestly, I… this feels like…”
Though his upbringing stopped him from saying those last few words out loud, Alfred suddenly felt lonelier than ever, watching as David occupied the pedestal he once held in Mary’s heart.
Sinking into a nearby chair at the dining table, Alfred propped his face on one hand, utterly defeated while Mary followed David into the kitchen, worried about his injury.
But David stopped her from entering, gently guiding her back to the dining room. Mary cocked a curious eyebrow—why was he being so secretive?
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