Chapter 0546
Our gazes met, and | couldn't tell whether it was an unexpected, unspoken understanding or a long-planned
encounter. Under the dim light, it felt like something was quietly growing between us.
Nicholas suddenly reached out, his hand brushing lightly against my cheek. It felt like he was checking if | was
truly there, not just a figment of his dreams.
| fraze for a moment, forgetting to push his hand away. But before | could react, he had already slowly pulled it
back.
"Why are you doing this again?' | snapped.
"Nothing. Helpapply the ointment," he replied calmly.
He readily turned over as he spoke and laid flat on the bed. He even explained once again how he got hurt as if
he were worried | wouldn't help him.
"| got hurt protecting you, after all."
Right now, that sentence felt like a spell. With just those words, he could control my every move...
| gritted my teeth and grabbed the blanket that had been kicked aside, covering him up completely. After
preparing the ointment for his bruises, | pulled back just enough to expose part of his side.
Nicholas' dark eyes sparkled with amusement. "There's no part ofyou haven't seen. You even know about
the mole..."
| jabbed my hand against his waist sharply. "I don't think your injury is that bad."
Nicholas' forehead glistened with a light sheen of sweat as he winced in pain, but he didn't seem angry with me.
"The person who brought the clothes wasn't Ms. Gardner. | changed the subject.
“Right.”
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"lI understand you might have to transfer her because of her disability, but she's been so loyal to you. You could
at least find her a better position. Given how many people look down on others these days, she's probably
struggling.
A faint displeasure flickered between Nicholas' brows. "If she did something unforgivable, would you still defend
her?"
"She's holding so many secrets about you. If she really wanted to betray you, she wouldn't have waited until
now. But | don't know the details, so it's not my place to comment. Do what you think is best."
The sight of someone who once held authority being reduced to gossip material was a little unsettling to me.
"I know what I'm doing," he said curtly, ending the discussion.
| fell silent too, and the room was momentarily steeped in quiet tension. | pressed my palm lightly against his
waist, massaging to help the ointment absorb.
"Bear with it."
Nicholas buried his face in his arms, letting out a muffled groan. "I've been enduring for so long. | can handle it."
My face burned, and even Nicholas' skin felt as smooth and soft as a peeled egg now.
There was a twhen Nicholas and | were happy together. He had been like an eager teenager, always coming
up with new ways to explore intimacy. His words back then had been unfiltered, his thoughts as bold as his
actions.
1 used to wish tcould freeze in those moments, but tnever listened to me.
"Alright. That's enough." | quickly pulled my hand back, covering him up tightly with the blanket.
However, Nicholas shrugged it off, sitting up to facewith a dissatisfied look. "Has my figure gotten worse?"
| glanced at him, noticing his long fingers pointing toward his abs.
He didn't hold back with his words. "I haven't had tto work out the past few years. Smoking and drinking
didn't help either. | know I'm not in the sshape | used to be."
Nicholas spoke it lightly, but for sreason, hearing it made my heart hurt.
The man who used to be so disciplined and proud had let smoking and drinking take control of him, with
emotions dictating his actions. He must have been suffering too.
| bit my lip, not responding. After three years apart, | had no right to say anything about this.
| turned my eyes away, saying indifferently, "I'm leaving. Get srest."
"Ariana!" Nicholas called out. "You
don't likelike this, do youtfyeu
don't, | can startiorkig out again
ahd'det back to my best shape as
quickly as possible." The content is
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chapter there!
Honestly, his body wasn't as bad as he made it sound.
He used to have a lower body fat
percentage. When we were together.
just the slightest midvéntent would
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
réveal hN smooth muscle lines,
showing off the beauty of a man's
body. The content is on
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chapter there!
But now, a thin layer of fat covered his muscles, making his body appear softer and giving off an impression of
approachability.
He was just like a dangerous candy.
It looked sweet and tempting, but,
women would be drAviDtolt it was
beciusb howas so dangerous that |
felt like if | ever tasted him, I'd die
too... The content is on
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chapter there!
| steadied myself and said, "Your body is yours. Just adjust it to the way you want. Whatever shape you're in has
nothing to do with me."
"I only stayed alive for you. If not for you, I'd have been nothing but a pile of bones by now."