Chapter 84 A Slap in the Face
The room was enveloped in silence.
Aaron furrowed his brows in annoyance, a shadow forming on his handsome face.
This woman... not only did she fail to comfort him, but she also seemed oblivious to his presence!
Another ten minutes passed, and he called out again.
Still no response.
Wasn't she supposed to be here with him?
Where had she run off to?
Perhaps she went upstairs to check on the kids?
Dividing her attention while treating him.
Couldn't she focus solely on him?
Aaron's lips drew into a tight line, his heart feeling sour.
It was time for him to get up.
Again, he called, "Nora? Are you there?"
The only answer was silence.
Aaron's face darkened with frustration as he struggled to climb out of the tub.
By the time he was dressed and had wheeled himself out of the bathroom, he discovered Nora fast asleep on the couch, lying on her side.
So, she wasn't ignoring him all this time—she had just dozed off?
Aaron positioned himself in front of the couch and silently watched her for a few seconds.
The woman was sleeping soundly, a strand of hair partially hiding her face.
With a slight pursing of his lips, Aaron reached for the throw blanket nearby and gently laid it over her.
The subtle movement didn't disturb Nora; she continued to slumber sweetly.
Aaron's dark eyes locked onto her delicate features, carefully brushing aside the hair from her face, his gaze drifting slowly over her smooth forehead to her softly parted lips.
Those slightly open lips breathed a scent so tempting as if beckoning for a kiss.
Aaron's mind flashed back to the earlier fall when he accidentally brushed against something soft.
His Adam's apple unconsciously bobbed.
In her sleep, Nora felt a lurking presence.
She jolted awake to find the man's handsome face inches away, her eyes widening as she instinctively swung her hand out, slapping him.
"What are you trying to do?"
Aaron recoiled from the force of the slap, his face darkening as he faced Nora.
"What did I do? I called out for you, got no answer, and when I come out, I find you asleep. I cover you with a blanket to keep you from getting cold, and in return, I get slapped?"
Nora's foggy thoughts cleared instantly.
Seeing the annoyance on his face, she felt a twinge of guilt.
"Sorry, I was disoriented from sleep. But you were too close—I thought you were going to take advantage of me."
Aaron fixed his gaze on her as the image of Jack holding her waist flashed through his mind.
She never reacted this way with Jack, even in intimate moments.
Was he being labeled a predator just for looking at her?
So, in her eyes, he couldn't compare to Jack?
Noticing Aaron's growing coldness, Nora cleared her throat and stood up, pushing him toward the bed.
"Stop being mad, okay? I apologized. Didn't Samantha tell you I'd cheer you up? What's really bothering you today?"
She had deftly changed the subject, but Aaron's handsome face remained stern. "Samantha also said you're good at comforting me. Is this how you do it?"
Nora choked a bit and flashed an ingratiating smile. "Didn't I apologize? Let's just drop it, don't be mad."
Aaron replied, "One apology, and that's it? I'm troubleshooting for you. What are you doing? What did you do this afternoon?"
Nora thought for a moment while helping Aaron onto the bed.
"This afternoon, I went house hunting with Jack. Why, what's up?"
Aaron stared into her clear, dark eyes, irritation simmering within him.
"Why are you two looking at houses? Are you planning to buy a place and get married right after you divorce Lucas?"
Hearing this, Nora couldn't help but let out a laugh.
"What are you so worried about?" she asked, a hint of concern lacing her question. "Ever since that break-in, I've felt uneasy here, so Jack helped me look for a safer place for me. He found one today, and I went with him to check it out."
Aaron's gaze flickered with an unspoken emotion. "Is that all? You're planning to get married, is it?"
Nora fetched her acupuncture kit, her lips turning down slightly. "I'm not getting married again. I'll focus on raising my three kids."
Aaron felt an inexplicable weight lift off his chest.
Nora glanced at him, probing, "Did my house-hunting upset you that much? Who told you about it?"
"Someone would have noticed even if I hadn't," Aaron said enigmatically.
She shot back, "The way you say it, it's like I'm doing something shameful."
There was a shift in Aaron's gaze, but he said nothing. Deep down, though, something stirred. It was as if he had already claimed Nora as his own.
"Come on, Thomas, spill it. Who told you about it?" Nora laid out her acupuncture needles, her hands deftly preparing for the procedure, not forgetting to press Aaron for an answer.
Distracted, he replied almost casually, "Suzy saw you. She lives in Star River Bay, too."
That's right, Suzy was his fiancée! Nora's fingers paused for a moment, then she resumed her focus and began the acupuncture treatment.
Aaron noticed today's session felt much more painful than usual, his brow furrowing. "Why does it hurt more today?"
Nora inserted a line of long needles into Aaron's pressure points. "Didn't I tell you? I'm going to intensify the treatment tonight."
He studied her closely. "You seem to remember that very well."
"Of course, I take your care to heart," said Nora, speaking matter-of-factly.
Though simple, her words resonated warmly with Aaron. A small, appreciative smile played at his lips.
"When I move, you should go back to your place, Thomas."
The fleeting joy in Aaron's heart vanished as soon as Nora suggested he leave.
His eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to kick me out?"
Nora continued packing her kit, not looking up. "Thomas, you can stand on your own now. It doesn't look right; you are staying here with a single woman. Your fiancée might get upset."
His fiancée? Since when did he have a fiancée?
Frowned in confusion, Aaron protested, "I don't have a fiancée."
"Oh, really? Because everyone seems to think Suzy is," Nora retorted.
"Suzy is not my fiancée; she just... saved my life."
"Just his lifesaver, huh?"
Suzy probably wanted to be more than that.
Nora glanced at him. "You can go back to your place, anyway."
Regardless of his relationship status, it wasn't quite right for him to keep staying at her house.
Aaron's mood soured again.
"Nora, I'm not fully on my feet yet. Don't I still need treatment?"
"Just acupuncture in the evenings should be enough. I can come over to your place."
Nora continued, "You should start using exercise equipment for rehab. My house doesn't have any gym equipment."
Aaron considered suggesting moving his gym equipment to her place, but he ended up not saying it.
"Fine. I live at Star River Bay."
He lived at Star River Bay, too?
Nora was surprised but quickly composed herself.
Living in the same neighborhood as Suzy, they could look out for each other.
"Alright, that's settled then. I'm going to get a drink of water."
Watching her leave, Aaron's thin lips pursed in displeasure.
Why was she rushing him out?
Was she worried that Jack might get the wrong impression?
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