Carson didn’t dare make another sound. Instead, like a wooden statue, he sat silently, resting his chin on his hand as he watched her sleep.
How can anyone look so beautiful?
Even sick and fragile, she looked stunning.
She slept peacefully—no arguments, no defiance, no stabbing remarks—gentle as a delicate canary.
Carson selfishly wished he could hide her away, keep her to himself, and never let anyone else see her.
But he wasn’t like that heartless man who just stood and watched things fall apart.
He would love her. He would cherish her for the rest of his life.
The most frustrating thing was that Adriana, a woman who seemed so smart and capable, turned into a complete schoolgirl when it came to Calvin—naïvely counting the money even while being cheated.
Carson couldn’t give Calvin another chance to deceive her.
Thinking this, a fierce determination lit up inside him.
That
Carson's breath was getting closer — in the next moment, it would be on her mouth. Sensing her disconnected self approaching, Adriana finally raised her hand in irritation and pushed him away.She hadn’t eaten anything for two days, so her strength was naturally low. The slap was weak, but it was enough to convey her attitude.Carson chewed the pastry in his mouth and swallowed it. Then he picked up another small piece.“Since you don’t want me to feed you, eat it yourself. You're lying here now — your head can’t move, and you barely have any strength. If I really wanted to force you, you wouldn’t be able to fight back at all.”Adriana angrily gritted her teeth. Carson was perfectly capable of doing that sort of thing. There was no point in gambling with him on dignity. She opened her mouth and bit down, her eyes rolling in frustration.“Fine!”She was in such a foul mood that she d
Carson didn’t dare make another sound. Instead, like a wooden statue, he sat silently, resting his chin on his hand as he watched her sleep.How can anyone look so beautiful?Even sick and fragile, she looked stunning.She slept peacefully—no arguments, no defiance, no stabbing remarks—gentle as a delicate canary.Carson selfishly wished he could hide her away, keep her to himself, and never let anyone else see her.But he wasn’t like that heartless man who just stood and watched things fall apart.He would love her. He would cherish her for the rest of his life.The most frustrating thing was that Adriana, a woman who seemed so smart and capable, turned into a complete schoolgirl when it came to Calvin—naïvely counting the money even while being cheated.Carson couldn’t give Calvin another chance to deceive her.Thinking this, a fierce determination lit up inside him.That
Carson’s second surgery lasted longer and was more complicated.When Alice heard that Carson was injured again, she immediately removed her IV and ran to his ward. The nurses couldn’t stop her.“Carson, why are you hurt again? What happened?”Carson, who was lying on the bed with pale, bloodless lips, turned his head to look at Alice, who was still dressed in a hospital gown.“What is Miss Hamper doing here with me instead of getting well? I’m not a doctor—I don’t know how to cure people.”Alice felt stung by his words, but instead of turning around and leaving, she said in a distressed tone, “You look terrible. Did you lose too much blood? How did this happen? The doctors said your last surgery was a success.”Carson’s thoughts were still stuck on Adriana’s tears. The night had passed without rest, and the more he thought about it, the more pleased he became. Then
After she asked, she quietly waited for Calvin’s answer.But Calvin didn’t say a word.Time stretched endlessly, a vicious pause between them.The silence was like a chasm, completely decimating the rickety trestle between them.Adriana inhaled feebly, gently, worried she might die if she didn’t breathe.“That day, I was with my brother. We had just arrived abroad and were unfamiliar with the country. My brother was trying to find a job, but he was always rejected. He was in a bad mood, so I suggested we go for a drive to blow off some steam.”Adriana didn’t mention that the car was a rental.“We turned around and prepared to go back to the place where we were staying. Just as we were about to get in the car, a group of people suddenly rushed over, shouting my brother’s name and demanding that he go with them. They looked dangerous. Of course, my brother refused, and they started hitting people. I was terrified. It was nighttime in a foreign country—there was no one on the road, no wa
Calvin was still the same Calvin. At times, he could show gentleness and softness like a milkshake, but once someone touched his bottom line, his fierceness would erupt at full force.In truth, against a half-crippled man, he didn’t even need to try.Adriana’s mind screamed in panic. “Calvin, don’t!”But her cry couldn’t stop him. Calvin gripped Carson’s broken leg by the ankle with one hand and, with brutal force, folded it.Carson let out a scream even more tragic than Adriana’s—a sound like a beast trapped in the depths of a midnight forest, engaged in a desperate duel. The heavens and earth seemed to shake, and the entire hospital building trembled with the force of his agony.“AHHH!”His wailing was mournful and heart-wrenching.The broken bone hadn’t even begun to heal. The surgery hadn’t had time to take effect, and the anesthesia had worn off. The pain Calvin caused was doubled, like his skin was being flayed and his bones shattered all over again. It was as if a dam had burst
“I don’t want it!”Adriana’s reaction was like an electric shock—or rather, it didn’t even make it past her brain. She instinctively and firmly refused.Regardless of Calvin’s reasons for giving her equity, once they became entangled in long-term interests, disentangling themselves completely would be extremely difficult. She had long seen through Calvin’s cleverness. If he wanted to achieve something, even if it took going around in a hundred circles, he would do it. Xavier was proof of that—and she could be next.Calvin seemed to have anticipated her refusal. His reaction was calm.“That island is very suitable for people suffering from illnesses caused by chronic mental stress. It can be a good way to regulate both body and mind. Grand Empire will hire the best psychiatrists from home and abroad to create the first royal physical therapy center there. Anyone wishing to convalesce on the island must be carefully screened by the team—from identity to financial ability. Anyone who doe