Chapter 17
I averted my eyes, feeling oddly amused inside.
I thought to myself, Who would want to compete with her for a man like Harlant
Tun I didn’t feel like saying anything. I just hoped Harlan woukl furry up and leave after I got registereil.
Harlan glanced at his wrist, seemingly checking the time, then salirritab you walk faster) Stop wasting time here
I would’ve liked to walk faster too, but with my swollen ankle, every step felt like needles piercing my skin.
I responded coldly. “If you’re in a hurry, you can leave. I’m not begging you to take care of me.”
He stopped in his tracks and stared at me, looking slightly angry,
Given his temperament, he would’ve probably just abandoned me by now.
But the next second, he bent down and picked me up in one swill motion.
My body lost control all at once, and I was so started that I grabbed onto his cloches, “What are you doing?”
Harlan’s voice was calm. “You’re walking too slowly
We were too close to each other, and I could even smell the spent on him that didn’t belong to me. For some reason, I felt a wave of disgust. “That me down, Harlan Don’t go crazy”
He pretended not to hear me, letting me struggle in vain
When we arrived, he placed me on a chair and said coldly, “The mare careful next time. No one’s going to clean up your mess for you in the future”
I retorted angrily. I never intended for you to take care of it?
He paused for a moment, the tension around him growing thicker. “Are you trying to provoke me?
I didn’t want to engage with him, I looked around the room, trying to spot that familiar figure.
Seeing gmy actions, Harlan grew even more irritated. He blocked my view. “You really hate being around mer
1 sighed, really wishing he would just leave. “Mr. Shannon, if you have the time, you should go be with Tamara instead of wasting it here, saying these pointless things”
Harlan looked down at me, and the sharp coldness had failed from his gaze, resembling the man Fhad seen in my dreams.
I paused, turning my head away.
He scoffed, “Charlene, you’re really cruel. Now that you’re with Ashton, you couldn’t o
cire less about anyone else?”
He leaned closer to me, his eyes locked onto mine, emotions swirling within them. It was as if a storm was corning. “Why weren’t you were with me! Have you really fallen for hind”
I had no answer, so I simply kept my eyes lowered.
Seeing my silence, he tightened his lips and sat beside me without a word,
Time passed in silence und Harlan stepped away to answer u work call.
Just then. I was suddenly jolted back to reality as the call for my appointment was announced. I stood up, ready to go in.
But as soon as I got to my feet, I froze
There he was again, that incredibly familiar figure
He wore a white lab coat, standing tall, slightly turning his head to speak to someone beside bins, lus lips curling into a soft smile.
like this when you
He was the same person I had seen when I left Tamara’s room carber
I couldn’t contain myself anymore. I stumbled and ran toward him.
My ankle throbbed with pain, but I dared not stops, afraid that if I blinked, he would disappear.
12
Chapter 17
The closer I got, the more my tears welled up, and I couldn’t even make out his face clearly anymore.
I stubbornly ran to his side, my voice trembling as I called out, “Lucas=”
Through the blurry tears, I opened my arms and, just like before, wrapped them tightly around his broad back.
The faint smell of disinfectant on him, a scent that once bothered me, now felt strangely comforting.
I clung to him tightly, almost desperately, burying my face in his back as I softly whispered, Lucas, 1-1 finally found you.”
Before he could reply, Harlan’s voice pierced my ear. “Charlene, what do you think you’re doing?”
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