Chapter 151
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Timothy, I made a quick U–turn to leave. But just a few steps in, I stumbled upon Hogan. standing under the cloister.
With a cigarette between his fingertips, the smoke swirled around to reveal those calm, untroubled eyes.
He was staring right at me. I walked by with a poker face, and as I got closer, I heard him say, “Ms. March, you sure are a busy bee, juggling work and flirting with ease, huh?”
Flirting? I slightly furrowed my brows and replied indifferently, “Takes one to know one.”
If he insisted that there was something going on between Timothy and me, arguing would be pointless. Might as well just play along with his narrative.
But no sooner had I spoken than a cloud of darkness seemed to cross his sharp features, “Xaviera, have I been spoiling you too much?”
Not this line again. I couldn’t help but let out a scoff, “Yeah, right. You go shopping with your girlfriend and still don’t forget to make me run errands. I’m really ‘lucky.”
Hogan shot me a look and sneered, “What, got a problem with that?”
Problem. As if I had any right to have a problem. I did have that much self–awareness, at least.
I
The next second heard Hese
Chapter 151
to.”
A fact I was well aware of, yet it still twisted my heart into knots hearing him say it again. I curled my fingers and smiled, “Director Irwin must be waiting. You wouldn’t want to keep the lady worrying, Mr. Zade.”
After dropping that, I walked away, but in my haste, I completely missed the step right in front of me.
Suddenly losing my balance, I was caught off guard as Hogan pulled me into his embrace. It was so unexpected and took me completely by surprise.
Just as I stood there, dumbfounded, I heard a click from right in front and saw a tourist photographer standing there.
“Sorry about that.” He explained with a smile, “I was just passing by and couldn’t help but capture this intimate moment between you
two.”
He approached us and politely handed over the camera, “You two must be newly in love. From the photo, the affection in your eyes is evidently intense.”
At those words, I was stunned for a moment, and when I looked at Hogan, I saw awkwardness on his face too.
Just as we both felt a bit discomforted, Cecilia’s soft voice suddenly cut through, “Hogan, Xaviera, what are you two doing?”
I followed the sound and saw Cecilia and Shirley standing just a couple of steps away.
I immediately pulled away from Hogan, but it was already too late. The way Hogan had held me close was impossible to hide from
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them now.
Shirley jumped in with a preemptive strike, “What’s with this tourist shoot? Can’t you see? What couple? The real girlfriend is right
here.”
The photographer was clearly baffled, looking from me to Hogan and hurriedly apologizing, “Oh, I’m so sorry, my bad. I’ll delete the photo right away.”
His move was nimble; seemed anxious to avoid any trouble.
Meanwhile, Cecilia stood there with a drooping head, looking as if she were about to cry. Hogan immediately went over to explain, “Ms. March just missed her step.”
He was telling the truth, his tone somewhat urgent, probably worried about a misunderstanding. Cecilia didn’t respond but her face looked even more aggrieved than before. I couldn’t help but feel somewhat helpless.
Then Shirley chimed in again, “Well, Ms. March sure has a knack for timing her pains; knows just when to feel it, almost like it’s
scripted. Got to admit, it’s impressive.”
I bristled at the sarcasm, retorting, “President Stapleton, I’m flattered. It was indeed a sudden incident, but thanks to your reminder, I now feel that my foot is not up for continuing the stroll. I’ll head back to the hotel. If you two need anything, you can call me.”
With that, I turned and walked away. Honestly, I was at my limit. I was easy–going but not a pushover.
As I was about to make my grand exit, suddenly everything went
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black, and I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital room, smelling of disinfectant, with an IV in my arm.
That was when I realized I had ended up in the hospital, of all places. As I was about to get up, Cecilia’s sweet, soft voice floated to my ears, “Hogan, you should go back. Ms. March is a lady, after all. It’s more appropriate for me to take care of her.”
She seemed like the epitome of considerateness.
“It’s fine. I’ll stay,” the low, husky voice was somewhat weary. It was Hogan.
There was a brief pause before I heard Cecilia’s gentle voice close to my ear, “Hogan, are you worried I can’t take good care of Xaviera? To be honest, I was a bit jealous when the photographer mistook you two for a couple, but even if I’m petty, I wouldn’t take it out on Xaviera’s wellbeing.”
Looked like I was lucky to have such a considerate colleague.
After a moment, I heard Hogan say, “What are you thinking? With long night and damp weather, I’m just worried you can’t handle it.”
Oh, turned out even though I had passed out in the street, Hogan’s biggest concern was not to wear out his precious darling.
