Chapter 80
Axel stood behind the door he had just shut, his hand slowly reaching up to touch the injury on his neck. His other hand instinctively went to his chest, feeling the erratic beat of his heart. The rhythmic thud echoed in his ears, and he couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that lingered from the unexpected closeness with Jasmine.
“Why is my heart beating so hard?” he wondered aloud, the question hanging in the silence of his closed apartment.
While overseeing the renovations at the hospital earlier, the chaotic rearrangement of equipment inadvertently led to an unfortunate incident. Amidst the rearrangement, a ladder had been shifted, and its movement had accidentally scratched Axel’s neck. Engrossed in the hospital matters, he hadn’t even noticed the minor injury until Jasmine pointed it out just moments ago.
After ensuring Ethan’s safe arrival home, Axel left for his own residence pulling into the driveway.
While driving into the apartment complex’s parking lot, Axel noticed a figure seated near the entrance which he subtly ignored.
Parking his car, he headed toward the connecting elevators.
However, his attempt to continue uninterrupted was thwarted when a voice called out to him.
“Wait.”
Turning around, Axel saw the same girl from that morning approaching him. He had paused briefly, responding to a phone call before exiting the elevator and walking towards his home. An undeniable sense of discomfort and irritation crept over him at the sight of her.
With a sigh, he hung up the phone, and as she stood in front of him, Axel’s expression remained a mix of questioning and suspicion. He instinctively took a step back, creating a subtle distance between them. The girl seemed momentarily tongue–tied, her gaze fixed on him. The question lingered in Axel’s mind: What could she possibly want now?
The lady’s voice trembled as she attempted to apologize. “I just wanted to apologize for what happened earlier and last night,” she began. However, her words were cut short by a sharp intake of breath. Her eyes widened, and horror overtook her features.
“Did I do this?” she cried, her hands flying to cover her mouth, she looked genuinely horrified.
“I’m so sorry,” she expressed with a mixture of guilt and concern.
Axel, momentarily puzzled by her sudden actions, allowed his hand to hover over his neck, discovering the bloodied injury. A sigh escaped him as he recalled the incident at the hospital, realizing the extent of the injury. What he initially thought was a mere scratch turned out to be more severe.
Jasmine, visibly distressed, continued to blame herself and explain the events of that morning.
“It wasn’t caused by you, Axel stated passively, attempting to convey that her apologies
were unnecessary.
His desire to conclude the discussion was evident; he simply wanted to head home.
Axel sighed feeling exasperated, she still unconvinced. He sighed, realizing she wasn’t
thinking clearly. That incident happened over ten hours ago; you think an injury like that would look this fresh?” he stated.
Moreover, why she would assume he’d go to work without taking care of his injuries? He wondered.
She definitely wasn’t thinking.he concluded.
“Oh. She stated.
“Let me help you. I’ve got some treatments; I can help treat you” She suddenly offered, waving her plastic bag in front of him. The pharmacy packaging indicated she had purchased something for first aid.
“It isn’t an injury you caused,” he repeated, believing she hadn’t heard him clearly the first time.
“Don’t bother,” he stated firmly, attempting to move past her and enter his house. Nevertheless, Jasmine ran to block his way, surprising him by extending her arms. seemingly determined to provide assistance. The persistence was beginning to wear on his patience.
Axel couldn’t help but feel a mix of frustration and confusion. “Stop, he uttered, trying to convey his desire for her to cease her attempts. Despite his larger frame against her smaller one, she persistently stood in his way
“I hurt you, several times,” she said, her face flushing with embarrassment. Axel’s patience. was wearing thin. This wasn’t one of the injuries you caused me. He stated through gritted teeth, he was trying not to yell now.
“I know. But I still feel responsible, and besides, the injury is close to your neck; you wouldn’t be able to take care of it yourself,” she insisted, her determination was evident. Axel sighed, realizing that convincing her to back down might be more challenging than he initially thought..
“So let me?” She pleaded gazing up at him
Axel couldn’t deny the charm in her pleading eyes. He hesitated, his internal warning signals going off, he couldn’t imagine her touching him with a ten inch pole, but under the influence of her hopeful gaze, he found himself giving in
“No, bad idea,” his rational side warned him. Yet,he reluctantly uttered, “Fine.” He couldn’t bring himself to say no to her, not with her persistent pleading, not with those eyes. Her face immediately lit up with joy, and despite the reservations lingering in his mind, het allowed her to follow him into his apartment.
Axel unlocked his door, allowing her in.
This was the third time she would be stepping into his space. The first visit was unimpressive, and the second ended in disaster. He couldn’t help but think, “Let’s get this done with so she can go, hoping to swiftly conclude the interaction.
Still, she was a first, he never had or entertained visitors,he didn’t like people in his space. But she was entering his home once more.
Axel calmly unbuttoned his shirt and settled on the kitchen stools. The high stools provided a suitable surface for Jasmine to apply the treatment without obstructions. He opted to keep one sleeve on, a small attempt to maintain a semblance of decency while being almost bare chested.
Axel sighed feeling exasperated, she still unconvinced. He sighed, realizing she wasn’t
thinking clearly. “That incident happened over ten hours ago; you think an injury like that would look this fresh?” he stated.
Moreover, why she would assume he’d go to work without taking care of his injuries? He wondered.
She definitely wasn’t thinking, he concluded.
“Oh. She stated.
“Let me help you. I’ve got some treatments; I can help treat you.” She suddenly offered, waving her plastic bag in front of him. The pharmacy packaging indicated she had purchased something for first aid.
“It isn’t an injury you caused,” he repeated, believing she hadn’t heard him clearly the first time.
“Don’t bother,” he stated firmly, attempting to move past her and enter his house. Nevertheless, Jasmine ran to block his way, surprising him by extending her arms, seemingly determined to provide assistance. The persistence was beginning to wear on his patience.
Axel couldn’t help but feel a mix of frustration and confusion. “Stop,” he uttered, trying to convey his desire for her to cease her attempts. Despite his larger frame against her smaller one, she persistently stood in his way.
“I hurt you, several times,” she
was wearing thin.” This wasn’d, her face flushing with embarrassment. Axel’s patience
one of the injuries you caused me.” He stated through gritted.
teeth, he was trying not to yell now.
“I know. But I still feel responsible, and besides, the injury is close to your neck; you wouldn’t be able to take care of it yourself,” she insisted, her determination was evident. Axel sighed, realizing that convincing her to back down might be more challenging than he initially thought.
“So let me?” She pleaded gazing up at him.
Axel couldn’t deny the charm in her pleading eyes. He hesitated, his internal warning signals going off, he couldn’t imagine her touching him with a ten inch pole, but under the influence of her hopeful gaze, he found himself giving in.
“No, bad idea,” his rational side warned him. Yet,he reluctantly uttered, “Fine.” He couldn’t bring himself to say no to her, not with her persistent pleading, not with those eyes.
Her face immediately lit up with joy, and despite the reservations lingering in his mind, he allowed her to follow him into his apartment.
Axel unlocked his door, allowing her in.
This was the third time she would be stepping into his space. The first visit was unimpressive, and the second ended in disaster. He couldn’t help but think, “Let’s get this done with so she can go, hoping to swiftly conclude the interaction.
Still, she was a first, he never had or entertained visitors, he didn’t like people in hist But she was entering his home once more.
space.
Axel calmly unbuttoned his shirt and settled on the kitchen stools. The high stools provided suitable surface for Jasmine to apply the treatment without obstructions. He opted to keep one sleeve on, a small attempt to maintain a semblance of decency while being almost bare–chested.
Axel felt a chill as Jasmine’s bare palm touched him. The unexpected cold sensation jolted through him, prompting a moment of realization. Looking at her outfit, he began to connect the dots. Wasn’t this the same figure he had seen sitting outside when he drove in? Just then something struck him, was she waiting for him? Outside, in the cold? The realization left him puzzled. Could she have been sitting there, patiently waiting to catch a glimpse of his car pulling into the driveway just to ensure she didn’t miss him? The thought furrowed his brows in confusi
The idea that she might have sat there, in the cold, just to catch a glimpse of him stirred a strange reaction.
She stopped suddenly, retracting her palm from his neck.
“I forgot the gloves,” she admitted, turning swiftly to grab and don one.
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