Chapter 57: Chapter 57

“No need to thank me. I did what anyone else would have done.” He said after thinking and staring at her for a while. He just gave her a little smile as he had a bite of his burger.

Something did not sit right with her. Saying that anyone else would also have done what he did was not something wrong. Everyone should help the victim in such cases, but he said it so normally—like she was no different from any other girl for him.

They surely did not have a special relationship nor was she expecting something else. She just thought that it was a little different. They were neither a couple nor a friend. She did not want to change that, but the fact was that the way he took care of her the other night and acted so gently with her, she had grown a special spot for him in her heart. She did not want to name it because she did not know what it was, but that was how it was. The annoyance and irritation she felt whenever he was in front of her did not exist anymore. Rather, she felt comfortable.

And now, he was saying he did it out of impulse. There she was thinking otherwise.

She sighed and started having her lunch. She was so stupid for even thinking about him like that. He was in it just for the sake of his grandpa like she was because of her mom. Nothing could and should take place between them like what happened last night.

The kiss was the first and last that they had shared. It was the first because she did not count the other two times. Reason? She was not involved in either of them. However, last night she was completely immersed in the action.

She shook her head and looked around while having her lunch. She was not hungry, but she had to take a few bites of the sandwich he had ordered for her. She noticed that he ate a lot. She liked it. She found it attractive to know people who had a large appetite. She had the opposite perception of people who found it unattractive. She was having a smile, staring at him while he was busy with his burger.

He looked up with the piece of burger in his mouth when his eyes met hers. She was taken aback as she reverted her eyes and apparently got busy with her sandwich. He smirked as he looked at her while she avoided eye contact with him now.

He could feel her eyes on him that was why he looked up. He was aware that her behavior had started changing toward him. At first, she did not use to pay him any heed. She even felt resentment toward him for doing all the things for convincing her to marry him.

But now, she was open and gentle. In almost a month of their marriage, she had already started to be accepting it seemed. But why was she denying it like she did last night when they kissed? Why was she fighting it so much?

‘Just like how you are fighting.’ His subconscious taunted.

It was true. When she thanked him, he wanted to say that he had not slept the whole night looking at her sleeping figure with concern. He cared so much about her that he could not even explain it in words. He would have caused so much more harm to Leo if it was not for her voice stopping him.

He wanted to say that and so much more, but he stopped. He did not want to scare her with his intense words. She was already scared because of the kiss. Otherwise, why else would she react that way especially when he knew that she enjoyed their intimacy as much as he did?

“Let’s go.” He said as they were done with their lunch. She nodded and stood up.

“Do you want to go anywhere? Like anything that you enjoy or always wanted to visit… I can take you before we go to the villa.” He offered. He wanted her to enjoy and forget about everything else.

She thought for a second before opening her mouth and then closing it again.

“What? Tell me.” He chuckled at the way she was hesitating to tell him.

“Bookstore.” She said and looked at him with expectant eyes. She was expecting him to laugh at her since everyone else did when she said how much she enjoyed spending time in bookstores, but he smiled instead.

“Okay. Let’s go.” He said grabbing her hand again and walking ahead pulling her with himself. She stared at his strong back and their joined hands.

It was as if holding hands was the most normal thing for them when nothing existed between them.

They had a strange relationship that she could not understand.

He took her to the bookstore which was near the mall. They walked to the store hand in hand. He already seemed to know the directions after looking at his map. Another thing that she found attractive about him. He knew what and how he wanted to do something.

“I loved reading books when I was young, but after I entered adulthood, I got so busy that I did not get time.” He informed as he looked at the racks. There were thousands of books. She felt like she had entered heaven.

She did not even know he existed as she went to search for her favorite section. She loved reading novels, but she felt like it had been ages since she last read one. She had to be completely immersed in her job as a stripper and take care of her mom at the same time.

Now, the bookstore felt like home. She had the biggest smile on her face as she looked through the books and selected a few for herself. She did not know how much time she was taking. All she knew was that she was enjoying herself.

He just sat on the chair looking at her while she had the time of her life. He had never seen her do something with so much enthusiasm. She had a huge grin on her face as her big beautiful eyes were busy scanning the books.

He saw her bring put her phone from the purse. She must have gotten a call.

He could not hear her as he was sitting at a distance, but he could tell her face expressions had turned into a worried one. Her eyes widened as she ended the call and looked at him with a horrified expression.

He stood up concerned and gave her a questioning look. She looked worried as she almost ran toward him.

“What’s wrong?” He asked as she came to stand beside him. She was breathing heavily.

“Mo-mom.” She said briefly. He understood that her mom must have gotten sick. That was what she was worried about the most. She was afraid that her condition would worsen when she was away from her.

“How is she? What happened to her?” He asked holding her arms as she was visibly being anxious.

“She has been constantly throwing up since last night and has lost consciousness. Thomas, take me to her. Please, Thomas!” She requested profusely as her eyes got wet. She did not want to imagine the pain her mom must have been going through at the moment while she was there enjoying her time. Leaving her alone was her biggest mistake. She should have never left her when she knew she was sick.

Thomas saw her pleading like a little girl. She looked so scared and innocent that he wanted to hug her. He nodded taking her hand in his and went out of the bookstore. He made her sit on the passenger seat and took his seat before dialing his grandpa’s number.

“Hello grandpa, kindly arrange the jet for me. We are coming back.” He said and nodded as his grandpa gave his approval. He ended the call and took a look at her, seeing her deep in thought with worry written all over her face.

“We are going there. Don’t worry. Nothing would happen to her.” He said gently as he saw her face turn around looking at him as if she wanted him to assure her what he was saying was right. He nodded at her with an assuring look and took her hand in his to give it a squeeze.

“Don’t worry, okay.” He said again. She nodded squeezing his hand back.

He drove her to the villa to pack their belongings. Their honeymoon had come to end so soon, but that was not what bothered him at the moment. He was truly concerned for her mom. He had to start her treatment as soon as they got there. She would have to have her surgery.

Wasn't that why Olivia married him at the first place?