Laney was just about to fasten her seat belt in the driver’s seat when she heard Garrett’s words.She paused,her gaze instinctively drawn to the bandages on Garrett’s body.Barely an hour had passed since his wounds had been tended to,yet already some blood had seeped through the gauze—an indication of the severity of his injury.
“Smoothly?”Laney gritted her teeth,her voice sharp.”Look at yourself.Did everything truly go smoothly?”
Garrett cast a casual glance at the swathes of bandages adorning his body,then offered a nonchalant smile.”I’m a man,It’s fine if I get hurt.Besides,had I not shielded you,the potion would have splashed on your face,with far graver consequences than it landing on my back.For me,the best outcome is that you remained unscathed.”
Garrett’s earnest and gentle words momentarily stilled Laney.After a pause,she averted her gaze,her ears flushing faintly.”This time.. Thank you.”
“As your husband,it’s my duty to protect you. There’s no need for such formality,”Garrett said, taking Laney’s hand in his.Seeing the shy expression on her face,he couldn’t help but chuckle.
“But the injuries on your back..”Laney began, guilt creeping in as she recalled the shocking wounds Garrett bore.
Garrett offered a comforting smile.”It’s fine.I’ll ask Frank to prescribe some medicine when we get back.”
Despite her concerns,Laney couldn’t help but chuckle,her tone turning playful.”Though I hate to burst your bubble,I have to warn you that with such extensive injuries,there’s a high chance of scarring.”
She winked at Garrett,whose smile had frozen on his face,and continued,”Your dashing, carefree image as a wealthy playboy might just take a hit.”
At her words,Garrett’s brow furrowed,while Laney’s laughter rang out louder.”Still think it doesn’t matter?”
Garrett’s expression was pained.Just as Laney was reveling in her mirth,he fixed her with a stern look,his voice serious.”IfI do end up with scars,will you dislike me?”
Caught off guard,Laney blinked in surprise.”Is that what you’ve been worried about?”
With an aggrieved look,Garrett confessed,”I haven’t succeeded in winning you over yet.I fear that scars might make it even more challenging to capture your heart…”
Upon hearing Garrett’s concern,Laney found herself at a loss for words.She had not anticipated that Garrett,a man so conscious of his image and prone to vanity,would fear her distaste upon learning that his injuries might leave scars.
She had even assumed that he might regret his act of selflessness once he realized the potential for lasting blemishes..
Seeing Laney deep in thought and silent, Garrett mistakenly assumed she was repelled by his possible scars,causing him to feel even more distressed.”Do you truly dislike me? These potential scars are the result of me saving you!How can you find them distasteful?” Comíng back to reality and catching sight of Garrett’s mournful expression,Laney burst out laughing.”DidIever sayI’dfind them repulsive?” “You truly don’t mind?”Garrett pressed,still fraught with worry and seeking reassurance.
After all,his injuries were severe.A multitude of scars would certainly mar his back.
He had assumed that Laney’s feelings for him were,at least partially,based on his handsome features.Now,even that charm seemed lost.
Instead of answering him directly,Laney merely offered a gentle smile.”Perhaps other girls might mind.”
Seeing Laney’s nonchalant expression,Garrett felt even more heartbroken.
Laney hadn’t explicitly said she didn’t mind! Clearly,she was secretly repulsed.
As this thought gained momentum,Garrett’s spirits plummeted.Attempting to reach out and hold her,he inadvertently strained hiswounds, eliciting a sharp intake of breath as pain twisted his features.
Alarmed,Laney quickly held down his arm. “You’re still injured!Don’t move!”
Regardless,Garrett gripped her hand tightly,his gaze determined as he looked into her eyes.”I need to hear the truth from you.Will you be bothered by the scars on my back?”
Garrett’s insistence led to a resigned sigh from Laney.In a soft voice,she confessed,”I won’t.”
“Really?”
“Really.I’m being honest.”Laney’s smile slowly softened.”I’ve never been attracted to you solely because of your looks,let alone the fact that you got hurt while protecting me.How could I possibly dislike you?”
The tension that had once existed between them had dissipated,and the atmosphere had softened.
Laney’s eyes were gentle and radiant,causing Garrett to become instantly mesmerized,gazing at her obsessively.
Observing Garret’s lovestruck expression, Laney chuckled.”What’s the matter?Don’t you trust me?”
Snapped out of his reverie by her soft voice,the typically eloquent Garrett stuttered,”No..1..I just..”
“Just what?”Laney asked,tilting her head and offering him a comforting smile.”Speak your mind.”
Faced with her bright,expectant gaze,Garrett quickly averted his eyes.
What was he supposed to say?
Despite rehearsing countless times the words to express his wish to reconcile,he found himself seized by anxiety as he prepared to speak.He was terrified…
He feared hearing Laney reject him and seeing her frosty demeanor once more.
The previously fearless heir of the Harding family had turned into a timid man in front of his wife,unable to utter a word.
Seeing the hesitation and awkwardness in his demeanor,Laney had a vague inkling of what he intended to say.
In reality,she had been noticing Garrett’s efforts and progress in recent days.
He had transformed from an idle,rich young man to someone who accompanied her without hesitation to the Darkmoon Assassin Group in search of her friend,protecting her from unknown dangers.He had matured into a responsible man.
It would have been impossible for her not to be moved,but…
Laney’s long lashes fluttered twice.She bit her lip and said softly,”Let’s go back first.”
Caught off guard,Garrett shook his head resolutely,refusing her suggestion,”No,I need to clear things up with you now.”
Laney couldn’t help but smile at his determination.”Then go ahead.Why are you acting so bashful?”
Garrett’s anxiety grew in response to her question.
He was no fool.Quite the contrary,he was sensitive enough to perceive the uncertainty in her eyes.It was clear that Laney had yet to decide the fate of their relationship.
If he confessed his feelings now,he might face rejection from Laney,causing her to become even more distant.
But if he didn’t seize this opportunity,it might be difficult to find such a suitable moment in the future.
He was torn between his options.The car fell into a tense silence,neither of them speaking. After what felt like an eternity,he finally gathered his courage.Taking a few deep breaths,he grasped Laney’s hand tightly,his palm slick with nervous sweat,and stammered, “Laney…I…I want to…”
Before he could complete his sentence,a thunderous explosion resonated,causing the ground and the car to tremble.
Garrett’s eyes narrowed as he instinctively pulled Laney close into his arms.
However,he completely forgot about his wounds.The sudden jolt sent a wave of pain through his body.His face turned pale and he bit his lower lip hard to stifle a cry of pain.
Laney,however,had keenly detected a slight whimper above her.Her heart constricted with worry.She quickly extricated herself from his hold and anxiously asked,”Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.As long as you’re not hurt,”Garrett replied,doing his best to endure the pain.
But to his surprise,Laney suddenly burst into laughter.”You idiot!That must have been Harrell blowing up the lab with a bomb.That’s why the noise was so loud.Were you scared?” Taken aback,Garrett stammered,”A bomb?I thought..”
Laney chuckled and said,”Did you assume that the members of the Darkmoon were pursuing us?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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