I’ll decide if I should apologize based on the explanation I plan to give tonight.
Joan grinned. Since when did I become so smart?
“All those tweets you saw earlier are not true. We went hiking, and I sprained my ankle,” Joan explained to Larry, “That’s why Dustin had to carry me. Nothing is going on between us.”
The former then continued explaining, “It was too late for us to head home, so we had no choice but to stay in a hotel.“There was only one available room. Dustin and I didn’t have a choice but to share a room that night.”
Larry paid close attention to her explanation as he did not want to miss out on the details. “I see. I guess I misunderstood him.”
“You also beat him up,” Joan said coldly as her eyes shot daggers at him. “How could you do that to someone who saved my life?”
“What did you say? He saved your life?” Larry shot her a confused look.
Joan lowered her voice down to a whisper as if she was afraid to mention the situation out loud. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Long story short, I almost got kidnapped.”
The thought of the danger she had been in sent chills down her spine.
“You’re telling me Dustin saved you?” Larry asked softly.
“Yeah. He even got all the cash ready as a bribe,” she replied.
Larry’s face turned grim. She only left the country for a couple of days, yet all these happened so coincidentally? Who was the man who kidnapped her, though?
Suddenly, Gabriella’s smug face popped up in his mind.
He truly believed Gabriella would go to the ends of the earth to get rid of a person she despised.
Yes. Gabriella sure is one scary, persistent woman. A hard glint flashed across his eyes at the thought.
“Hey.” Joan gently patted his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“Hm? Oh, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Larry immediately changed the subject after, asking Joan concernedly, “How are you feeling? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry. Look!” The woman tapped her chest repeatedly.
She would not want him to know if she was injured because she knew he would worry. Even if she was hurt, she would have recovered by now.
“Stop worrying about me. It’s getting late. Go to bed! You should find a way to apologize to Dustin,” Joan said, intentionally reminding Larry of an apology that was due.
“Joan.” The man inched closer and embraced her.
“It’s all my fault. You wouldn’t have gone through all these had I agreed to go with you.” Larry buried his head in her collarbone.
Joan took a deep sniff of the familiar scent emitted from his body.
She gave his back a gentle pat, hoping to provide him an indication that she’s forgiven him. Things that are destined to happen will still happen. Even if there’s no Gabriella in this world, there will always be a Gisella, Granella, or even Gerdanella, who will try to torture me.
I can’t expect people to always be there for me. I can’t expect people to rescue me whenever I’m in trouble. I must face such things on my own.
Larry held Joan tightly in his embrace as the two of them closed their eyes and enjoyed the comfortable silence.
The morning sun that rose the next day permeated through the window, filling the room with warmth.
Joan stretched before she gradually opened her eyes.
She turned around to face Larry, who was lying in the bed next to her. The events that had happened last night felt like a dream.
Anger had been written all over Larry’s face when he arrived, but the man had instantly turned a total gentleman last night after she explained her side of the story.
Perhaps he was angry out of jealously. Joan stroked the man’s brows tenderly, lost in thought.
“Why are you up so early?” Larry suddenly grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.
She was so close to his chest that she could clearly hear his heartbeat thumping at a steady rhythm.
“I can’t sleep any longer,” she answered softly.
“But I’m still tired.” Larry ran his finger down her cheek.
“Okay. I’ll go for a morning jog while you catch some more z’s,” Joan stated decisively before she got out of bed.
