6
When she woke up again, Carice found herself lying on the bed in the villa.
Exaggerated laughter and anime lines came from outside the door, the volume turned up so loud it almost made the walls tremble.
She propped herself up and sat up. As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw Annalise sitting cross–legged on the living room carpet, snacks in her arms, laughing hysterically at the TV.
“Carice, you’r awake?” Annalise turned her head, her face still wearing an uncontained smile, “Sorry, did the anime disturb you?”
She deliberately crunched the chips loudly:“My chest has been feeling tight lately. The air is better in this villa area, so Rufus let me stay here for a few days to recover… Carice, you don’t mind, do you?”
Carice instinctively looked toward the sofa-
Rufus was sitting there, his slender fingers flipping through financial reports, his cold and focused eyes behind gold–rimmed glasses.
The TV was so loud, yet he didn’t even furrow his brow
Carice suddenly remembered the words written in her diary:
[He got angry again today because I was eating an apple next to him. He said the chewing noise was distracting and told me to leave.]
[Remember when he’s in his study, even your breathing should be quiet.)
And now….
Annalise crinkled the potato chip bag noisily, while exaggerated fight sound effects played in the anime, yer Rufus didn’t even lift his head.
The difference between love and no love is so obvious.
She was about to speak when Rufus suddenly said, “If it weren’t for that accident, this house would have been yours.”
His tone was cold, his gaze still fixed on the documents he’s just a squatter. Why bother telling her?”
“Yes, no need to report to me,” Carice said calmly, “Stay as long as you want.”
Rufus’s fingers paused slightly as he turned the page, finally lifting his eyes to glance at her, his gaze behind the lenses slightly narrowed.
wasn’t like her.
This
Normally, she would either cry hysterically or silently endure with reddened eyes.
She wouldn’t be this… calm.
But this anomaly lasted only a second in his mind.
He averted his gaze and continued working on the documents
After all, anything related to her was never worth his extra thought, let alone concem
Carice didn’t care about his thoughts either and went straight in, closing the door behind her.
For the entire day, Carice locked herself in the room, listening to the sharp noises constantly coming from outside the door.
Annalise turned the TV volume to the maximum while watching a variety show, clacking around in high heels on the hardwood floor, and even opened Rufus’s treasured red wine to pair with fried chicken.
Each of these things stepped right on Rufus’s pet peeves:
In the past, if she accidentally touched his bookshelf, she would be met with a cold glare; if she walked in slippers and made noise, he would frown and stop her; let alone touching his red wine. But now, she clearly heard Rufus just say helplessly, “ESlow down, no one’s going to take it from you.”
It wasn’t until dinner time that Carice pushed the door open and went out.
The dining table was already filled with dishes, and Annalise was sitting next to Rufus, smiling with crescent eyes:“Rufus, these are all my
favorite dishes!”
BookSnap: 15min a book
home se
“Mm,” Rufus said gently, “I haven’t forgonen a single thing about your preferences.”
Annalise blushed, then turned and saw Carice standing at the door, immediately calling out, Carice, come eat!”
Carice silently walked to the other end of the table and sat down.
At this moment, Annalise seemed like the lady of the house, while she felt like an intruding guest.
She picked up a bite of the dish in front of her, but after just two mouthfuls, she suddenly felt her throat itch.
She frowned and tried another dish, but the discomfort only grew stronger.
“Carice, what’s wrong? Annalise suddenly exclaimed, “What are those red spots on your arm? Are you allergic to something?”
Carice lowered her head and saw that her arms were indeed covered in red rashes.
Her breathing became increasingly rapid, wanting to speak but unable to make a sound.
With difficulty, she pointed to her bag where the emergency medication was. Annalise frantically got up to check but accidentally knocked over the scalding soup bowl-
JAh…
The scalding soup splashed entirely onto Carice‘ already rash–covered arms, the intense pain instantly bringing tears to
She saw Rufus rush over in a flash, only to-
her
eyes.
shield Annalise in his arms!
“Are you okay?” he nervously checked Annalise’s hands, his voice so gentle it could drip with tenderness, “Why so careless?”
Carice vision darkened in waves, and before losing consciousness, the last thing she saw was Rufus carrying Annalise away…
When she woke again, she was lying on a hospital bed.
A nurse was changing her IV drip Your allergy was so severe, you almost died. You also have second–degree burns. It’s been two days, and still no family has visited?”
Carice opened her mouth but then heard murmurs outside the door
“I heard Mr. Sackhoff booked the entire floor?“
“Yeah, just for that minor burn on Mis Annalise’s hand.”
“He’s so spoiling. By now, the wounds are probably healed..”
Carice slowly closed her eyes: “I have no family.”
BookSnap: 15min a book
