Chapter Twenty Three

She cursed herself for being so careless. Reprimanding herself for answering his call, she threw her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. She didn't know what to say to him. She was pretty scared of what would come next.
She picked it up and rested it near her ear. It was quiet, " Liam, " She whispered.
She heard him deeply breathing. A deep beep hit her ear. She saw the display. He hung up the call. Tears were pinching in her eyes to swing out. She peered out of the window. She was scared of the person next to her. Liam hung up on her. She was feeling scattered. She didn't know how to survive in his cruel world. He, his bodyguards and his family couldn't protect her every time. It was an accident. It just happened. Tears trailed down her cheeks.
" Rose, I don't know how much Liam has filled you. You are not the wife of a normal person or just a businessman. You have to be strong. You cannot show yourself weak. " Olivia said. Her hands were firmly gripping the steering wheel.
Perhaps, I'm not built for his world - she wanted to say to her. She couldn't speak, partly of her choked throat, partly with dread. She just nodded her head. She wasn't sure. She was looking at her or not. Blur out of the window scenery was telling how fast she was driving the mustang.
Simultaneously, they reached home. Doctor Raven was already waiting for them in the hall. Instantaneously, she started to treat her. Danil and Kairo had already reached there. Their faces were the best examples of rage and wrath.
" Cut is deep. I'm going to stitch it. It will be painful. " Doctor Raven said. She turned her head away so she couldn't watch this painful process.
Danil glared at her deep gash. He rushed out of the hall. She could guess where he would go? She hadn't seen Liam for the last two weeks. Danil and Kairo were overprotective toward her whenever Liam wasn't around her. They must be aware of what Liam felt for her. It might be the reason for their protective nature and she was a family now, whether she wanted to accept it or not.
Danil flung her coat on the couch, " Stay here, Kairo." He exasperated and rushed out.
' Will he treat him as he treated an old man inside concrete walls?' She shivered with thought. '
" Where's he going? " She asked.
" You should stay out of this," Kairo said.
" It wa-s just by mistake. " she managed through the stitches pain.
" Rose, let them do their job. The wound is deep. Liam is going very hot under his collar when he will know this. " Olivia said.
" He already knows, I guess. I was talking to him when this happened." She whispered.
" And bro heard all that? " Kairo said bitterly.
Tears dropped from her eyes. She hadn't felt pain like this before. It was burning, stinging and hurting like hell.
" Kairo! " Nicholas came from the main door and angrily glared at Kairo. She was fearing her father in law would slap Kairo as Olivia did to the person from security. Appreciatively, nothing happened like that.
When doctor Raven was done with her tools. She injected her.
Why couldn't she inject her before stitches? Was she hurting me intentionally? she thought.
After the injection, she was feeling sleepy. Olivia helped her to reach her room. She hit the pillow and quickly closed her eyes as the dose of the injection worked.

❁
Carrying a poker face, his arms were crossed over his chest. His furious eyes were betraying his face. It was murderously red and boiling with rage. Loud noises of blades weren't troubling him. The helicopter landed on the helipad. He strode out of it. He walked hurriedly toward the mansion.
" Brother! '' Kairo exclaimed and hugged him.
" Talk to you later, " Whispering, he quickly patted his back and rushed toward his room. He tightened his grip on the knob. She was sleeping. Angelina was sitting beside her. She bowed her head and went out. He sat on the bed beside her. He was seeing her after endless days. He kissed her in the temple. He lightly touched her bandage. He heaved a deep sigh.
' She's fine, ' he consoled himself. '
He stood back and glanced at her. He stormed out of the room and directed toward the dungeon. Danil had already beaten the hell out of him. He could trust his brothers blindly when it was about family.
" Stop. " He commanded.
Travis halted instantly. He bowed and back stepped, making way for him.
" Brother, " Danil engulfed him.
He gave him a quick hug. He took two long strides and squatted down on his feet near the man who hurt his wife.
" You got my wife injured. " He said with a mix of calmness and hot-headedness.
" I'm just a thief. My wife is sick. " The man coughed and spat the blood on the floor, " It just happened. It was by mistake, sir. Please, my wife needs me. " He looked at him with beseeching eyes.
He halted for a moment. He had listened to her talk with Olivia on the phone. He wanted him to kill. If he would do so, she'd hate him more if she was not doing it yet.
" Travis, check it. Is what he said true? If not, shoot him in his head. If yes, help them. " He enacted.
" Yes, sir. " Traves took the man with him, with the help of two guards.
" I know you wanted to kill him, brother. " Danil said.
" Yeah! But I didn't. She wants him to live." He said slowly.
" You should teach her self defence, brother. " Danil smirked.
It drew a smile on his face, " Sure If you would like to have a punch from her. " He wryly smiled.
" Anything for the family. " Danil smiled, " Why did you do this? I didn't get it truly. She was hardly eating when you weren't around. " He shrugged.
" I know you care for her. It was the best. Staying away from her. Anyways..." He shoved his hands in his pocket, " See you around. " He said and paced out of the dungeon.
" No! Wait! " Danil joined him.
He was sitting next to her, gazing at her sleeping face. A dark sheet of the night had spread silently all around. Abruptly, she opened her eyes and caught him staring at her.
" Liam. " She whispered sheepishly.
She rose and groaned in pain. He budged near to her.
" Stay put. You're injured. " He said slowly. He helped her to sit.
" Are you real? " she whispered.
He smiled wryly, " You're still in your sleep. " He murmured.
" Like another dream. " She scowled and pressed her lips slightly together.
He snapped his head to look at her. He just stared at her.
She put one arm on his shoulder, " Let's go in the garden. We'll walk bare feet. " She smiled.
He couldn't stop himself from wrapping his arms around her slender waist, " You dream about me! " " he astonishingly asked her.
" Hmm, Twice! The last dream was beautiful. You took me out in a rose garden. There were all kinds of roses. " She answered him smilingly.
" I can build that for you, Rose. " He gazed at her in puzzlement. He had spent the last weeks thinking she hated him. Her smiling face and she was dreaming about him, was telling another story.
" You have already built for me in my dream. Let's go. It would be still there," She insisted while giggling.
Although she was thinking of it as a dream. He was elated. She wasn't stuttering while talking to him. She wasn't frightened of him. He strolled out in the garden area with her. The light was gleaming, giving grass dark and around adding some more dark colours. He hadn't seen her smile for him.
" You should rest. " He told her, beckoning at her arm.
" Humans don't walk with the help of arms. " She mocked.
It was his first time. He was watching her smiling with him without any fear. How could he miss all this? He loved the woman standing in front of him more than anything. He missed her like hell. He wanted to know from her. Did she feel the same?
His hand touched softly on her arm, " Did you miss me? " He whispered.
" Yes. " she instantly replied to him while walking.
He skipped his heartbeat. It was getting faster in his strong chest. The rush of ecstasy hit him.
" But... " She stopped.
" But what? Rose, " He eagerly asked her with a disappearing smile.
" Um, We're not like other couples. I mean, look at Travis and Mel. They're cute together. " Her smile was adorable, making his heart flutter.
" Ain't we cute together? " He frowned and stopped his feet.
" We're the best. But you.....? " She trailed.
He glanced at her. He wanted to know what was keeping her away from him, " Say it, Rose. " He demanded, killing the distance between them.
" You are too perfect. If I ignore this, um your cruel world. Why me? You should marry a perfect girl. I'm not perfect. See! I hurt myself again." She pointed at her bandage.
" You are perfect for me, Rose. " He caressed her cheeks, " It was by mistake, right? " He jutted his chin at her wound.
" Yeah! Do you really love me? " She looked in his eyes, " How stupid! You do. That's the reason, you didn't force yourself when I demanded. " She hung her head.
" Why do you want to keep yourself away from me? " He asked, dropping his hand from her cheeks.
She thought for a second. He was waiting for her to say, give him some hints. He wanted to work on it. It felt real to her, not a dream. She shook her head
" I wasn't ready for it, you know marriage and..... I wanted to fulfil my dreams. You are what a girl wants in her husband. " She smiled.
" I'll do anything for you, just say it," he said.
" Strange! It all looks real. " She blinked and yawned, " I can't stand on my feet anymore. I hate needles. " She muttered.
" Let's get you back to bed. " He smirked. He didn't want to break her delusion. He picked her up. She instantly rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. There was a permanent smile on his face. She never opened herself for him. Indeed, it was the first time when they both talked like a couple. He kissed her forehead and gazed down at her blossom face.