Chapter 402 Showing Weakness
Bella peered through the peephole and saw Sterling leaning against the wall, his face pale and blood trickling down his forehead. He looked utterly exhausted and weak.
Startled, Bella quickly opened the door.
Seeing him in such a state, Bella was visibly shaken. A barrage of questions spilled from her lips, her eyes filled with concern and anxiety. Her voice trembled slightly, clearly distressed by Sterling's injuries.
"What happened to you? Who did this? Why didn't you take a bodyguard? What were you thinking going out alone?"
Sterling, despite his condition, felt a small smile tug at his lips seeing her so worried. Knowing that Bella still cared about him was a comfort. He forced a weak smile, trying to calm her down. "Can we talk about it later? I need to take care of these wounds first."
He began to make his way to the couch, each step a struggle. Bella rushed to support him, helping him sit down more easily, her eyes filled with sympathy.
Bella hurriedly fetched the first aid kit, but it only contained basic supplies like antiseptic, iodine, and band-aids. She felt a pang of anxiety. Looking up at Sterling, she said worriedly, "Your wounds look serious. This might not be enough. Shouldn't we go to the hospital?"
Sterling shook his head gently, his voice weak but firm. "No, it's not convenient."
He knew that if they went to the hospital, the doctors would easily figure out the nature of his injuries.
Seeing the determination in his eyes, Bella felt a sense of helplessness. Though still worried, she nodded. She did her best to treat his wounds with the limited supplies, then tried to think of another solution.
As she cleaned his wounds, she suddenly asked, "Was it Caleb? Did he send someone after you?"
Sterling didn't deny it. He couldn't very well admit he did it to himself, so he let Caleb take the blame. After all, not many knew Caleb was already dead.
Bella took his silence as confirmation and didn't press further. She carefully tended to the cut on his forehead, disinfecting it and covering it with a band-aid. "Do you have any other injuries?"
Sterling gritted his teeth in pain, sweat beading on his forehead, his lips pressed tightly together. He struggled to unbutton his shirt, each movement causing him more pain.
Bella, seeing this, blushed and turned away, her voice flustered. "What are you doing?"
Sterling took a deep breath, his voice pained. "My back is hurt."
Bella felt conflicted. She knew she couldn't let him handle his injuries alone, but she was embarrassed to face his bare body. After a moment of hesitation, she finally mustered the courage to turn around, though she kept her face averted, and mechanically reached out to help him with his shirt.
When she saw the gruesome gashes on his back, she gasped. The wounds looked severe, as if slashed by a sharp object, and his shirt was soaked with blood. Her hands began to tremble uncontrollably, her voice choked with emotion. "We should go to the hospital. I can't handle this... my hands are shaking too much..."
Sterling felt her fear and tightened his grip on her trembling hand, his voice weak but steady. "Don't worry. Just clean it up and do a basic patch-up. I'll be fine."
Bella shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes, her fear and concern overwhelming her. She barely noticed that he was still holding her hand tightly. She shook her head, her voice breaking. "No... I can't do it... the wound is too serious... and disinfecting it will hurt a lot. Why did you come to this dangerous place? You should have stayed in Harborvale, away from all this danger!"
Her words were filled with reproach, but more than that, deep concern. She was angry at him for risking his safety and worried about his well-being.
Sterling saw the guilt and pain in her eyes. He knew his actions had caused her worry, but he had his reasons for being there.
Sterling managed a faint smile, despite the pain, his expression reassuring. "It's really okay, Bella. You can do it. I trust you."
With his encouragement, Bella finally gathered the courage to pick up the antiseptic and cotton swabs, carefully approaching his back. Her fingers trembled, but she tried to stay calm as she began to treat his wounds.
As the antiseptic touched his wounds, Sterling's body tensed, and he took a deep breath, gripping the edge of the couch tightly, trying to suppress the pain. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his lips pressed together, but he didn't make a sound.
Bella's heart ached seeing him in such pain. She knew how much he was suffering.
Bella watched Sterling lying on the couch, looking drained. Her worry hadn't lessened. She knew that even though the wounds were treated, his condition was still concerning.
Bella frowned slightly, trying to persuade him again. "Sterling, are you sure you're okay? If the injury is serious, it could cause long-term problems. I should call Owen and have him bring a doctor here to check on you."
Sterling shook his head gently, his voice tired but firm. "No need, Bella. I'm just a bit tired. I just need some rest. Besides, I don't want to trouble Owen and the doctor over a minor injury."
Bella felt a wave of helplessness but understood Sterling's stubbornness. Once he made up his mind, it was hard to change it.
Realizing they were alone in the apartment and Sterling couldn't leave in his condition, Bella felt a bit uneasy. There was only one bed, and she couldn't let him sleep on the couch in his state. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to let Sterling rest in the bedroom while she took the couch.
Bella tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to sound casual. "Sterling, you should sleep in the bedroom. I'll take the couch. You can leave in the morning, and I won't have to worry as much." She then went to the bedroom, grabbed a clean blanket, and set it up on the couch.
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