Chapter 84 Opportunity
I couldn't predict the future, but right now, I couldn't ignore a man crying. Louis had liked me since high school, and I'd decided to give him and myself a shot.
I might've been a bit disappointed in him, but not enough to shut him out completely.
I was just too soft-hearted.
Maybe Louis's situation was really urgent. I wanted to believe yesterday was just a fluke.
'Let's leave it at that,' I told myself. 'Jane, give him one more chance, just this once!'
Louis kept going on about his regret and fear, and how heartbroken and guilty he felt seeing me unconscious in the hospital. It was like he didn't hear me and just kept talking.
I didn't say anything, just listened quietly with a smile in my eyes.
Suddenly, Louis stiffened, like he realized something. He straightened up and looked deeply into my eyes.
I saw pure joy in his tear-filled eyes.
There were still tears on his cheeks.
They say men shouldn't cry easily, but Louis cried for me.
'Let's trust him this time, give him and myself a chance,' I thought.
"Sweet porridge, right? I'll make it now, just wait. I won't break my promise this time."
Louis, from the prestigious Anderson family, wiped his face with his sleeve and bounced to the door like a kid who just got candy.
He bounced back, kissed my forehead, and said, "I'm so happy, thank you."
Watching him leave the hospital room cheerfully, my mood lifted a bit. But yesterday was too dangerous. The more I thought about it, the more scared I got. It wasn't something I could forget easily.
I'd been through too many dangerous things lately. Was it bad luck? Why do these scary things always happen to me?
Not long after Louis left, Brad called.
I answered the video call, and Brad's anxious, handsome face appeared on the screen. "Are you still having a fever? Does the wound hurt? That heavy rain must have scared you. It's all my fault for being so far away."
Brad reached out, trying to touch my face on the screen. I instinctively moved closer.
I missed Brad.
"Yeah, I was so scared. There was no one on the road. I fell four times, and my legs got bruised. My favorite dress got ruined. I was so afraid I would die there, Brad."
Alone in the hospital room, I didn't hide my fears from Brad, recounting everything to him.
In front of Brad, I couldn't hold back, and my tears kept flowing, making Brad's eyes turn red.
"Jane, be good, don't cry. I will feel heartbroken," he comforted me in a hoarse voice.
"No, I want to cry. Brad, why are you so far away? Without you, I'm so scared. You've turned me into a coward. Brad, I miss you so much. I don't want to be so far from you. No one takes care of me. I want to go back to the Northern Institute of the Arts. Can you help me?"
Brad looked at me deeply, his eyes filled with pain. I saw him raise his right hand several times, probably wanting to pat my head. But the distance was too great, so he could only let his hand fall helplessly.
He patiently comforted me for a long time, each word easing my mind until I stopped dwelling on last night.
"Brad, did you get the birthday gift I sent?" I asked.
"Yeah, I just got it and called you right away. Did you make it yourself? It's beautiful, and I love it," Brad said, his voice deep and hoarse, his eyes shining.
"Yeah, I made two. The dark blue one's yours, and the light blue one's mine. Did you see the little figures? The tall one's you, and the short one's me."
"So I guessed right. You were always a little troublemaker. Remember when you insisted on catching dragonflies, and Helen couldn't take you, so I had to? I even put on your coat and tied your hair into a ponytail. It was my first time doing a girl's hair, so it didn't look great," Brad recalled.
"Brad, you remember so clearly. I do too. There were so many dragonflies that day, flying everywhere. But you were so clumsy, you only caught one," I said, feeling better talking about our childhood.
It felt like I was back in that warm evening, with Brad's big hand holding mine, chasing dragonflies in the sunset.
"So, Jane, guess why I only caught one?" Brad asked earnestly.
I thought for a moment. "Because dragonflies are beneficial insects, and you didn't want me to hurt them."
"You're so smart, that's exactly it," Brad said.
I laughed, but accidentally pulled the wound on my leg, making me gasp in pain.
Brad's eyes turned anxious again. "Is the wound hurting? Where's Daniel? Ask him to call a doctor."
"Zoe called him. I didn't want to see him, so I let him go. I can take care of myself," I replied.
Brad continued, "Where's Louis? Why isn't he here?"
"He went to get me some porridge. He'll be back soon. Don't worry, Brad. I'm not scared anymore. You saved me again. Even from far away, you protect me. Thank you."
"When I got your distress call, my heart almost stopped. You really scared me. Jane, promise me, when I'm not around, take care of yourself. Nothing‘s more important than your safety, understand?" Brad said.
"I know, and I'll be careful," I answered.
Whether it was Daniel or Louis, they both apologized for not protecting me. Only Brad asked if I was scared or in pain.
We talked for almost an hour, and only after I repeatedly promised not to scare him again did Brad hang up.
When Louis came in with the porridge, I still had a smile on my face.
"Jane, you're not mad at me anymore?" He put the things on the bedside table, took out the bowl and cutlery, went to the bathroom to wash them, then poured the porridge and gently stirred it.
He did it all so skillfully, like he'd done it many times before.
"How do you know how to do these things?" I asked.
"When you went to college, Grandma was always sick. I was running back and forth between Regalia and Sunhaven. Whenever I had time, I would go back to take care of her. Over time, I learned everything," Louis explained.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
