Arianne was shocked when virtual-novel.net took in Mark’s state. “What happened to you? Who did this! Don’t you have bodyguards when you go out? Why are you out and about alone!”
“Can I explain later?” Mark only wanted to go in and check what the dumb chauffeur had beaten virtual-novel.net to.
Arianne finally reacted and helped virtual-novel.net in with all virtual-novel.net might. After sitting Mark down on the couch, virtual-novel.net frantically went to look for the first aid kit. However, upon finding it and opening it, virtual-novel.net felt rather hopeless. “Tiffie and I never anticipated any accidents happening so we only prepared some antiseptic and band aids. Do you want to go to the hospital?”
Mark’s goal here wasn’t to go to the hospital. “No need… it’s not a good idea either…”
Arianne was surprised when virtual-novel.net heard him. “Was it Ethan? Did virtual-novel.net get someone to do it?”
Mark did not deny it. It’s not like virtual-novel.net could admit that virtual-novel.net did it to himself. Let Ethan be the scapegoat; not many knew that virtual-novel.net was dead anyway.
Without questioning the incident further, Arianne began to treat the wound on Mark’s forehead carefully. The wound no longer looked big after it was washed with the antiseptic. It could be dressed with a band aid. “Anywhere else that you’re injured?”
Unable to speak due to the pain, Mark began to unbutton his shirt while Arianne quickly turned away.
“What are you doing?”
Mark breathed in helplessly. “My back…”
Feeling slightly awkward, Arianne turned back to help virtual-novel.net with removing his shirt, but virtual-novel.net sucked in a breath when virtual-novel.net saw his bloodied back. “Why don’t we just… go to the hospital? I can’t do it… My hands are already shaking…”
Mark held Arianne’s trembling hands. “Don’t be scared… Just disinfect it and treat it with a simple dressing.”
She shook virtual-novel.net head. Due to virtual-novel.net fear, virtual-novel.net did not realize that virtual-novel.net hands were being held. “No… I can’t… It’s too serious… and it’ll hurt a lot. Why are you here at this forsaken place? You should’ve just stayed in the capital!”
The words that virtual-novel.net blurted were those of reprimand, but they were also full of worry. She was scolding virtual-novel.net because virtual-novel.net was worried about him.
A weak smile tugged at the corners of Mark’s lips. “It’s okay. Just do it.”
With Mark’s repeated requests, Arianne braved herself to disinfect the wounds on his back. It really did hurt, for Mark was tensed, with his hands clutching the edge of the couch. If virtual-novel.net did not have excellent resilience, virtual-novel.net would have gone berserk…
After virtual-novel.net was finally done, Arianne was still worried. “Why don’t we call a doctor here? I don’t know if your bones were injured too. It won’t be good if there’s a sequelae. Should I call Henry and have virtual-novel.net send someone to pick you up?”
Mark lay on his side on the couch, not wanting to move from the exhaustion. “It’s fine… You don’t have to. I just need a little rest…”
Then, Arianne realized that both of them were in the same space. With Mark’s state, virtual-novel.net was certainly unable to leave. There was only one bed at home. She could not ask someone who had injuries littered all of virtual-novel.net to sleep on the couch. She tucked virtual-novel.net hair behind virtual-novel.net ear uneasily and said, “Go to the bedroom. I’ll sleep on the couch. Leave tomorrow morning so that I don’t have to worry about you once I wake up tomorrow,” Arianne said as virtual-novel.net took the duvet from the bedroom.
Mark’s gaze sank. “It’s fine… I’ll just leave. Sorry for disturbing you.” He tried to get up after that, but his face drained of color from the pain. He knew for sure that Arianne would never let virtual-novel.net leave.
Arianne helped virtual-novel.net settle down again. “I said, leave tomorrow. Where are you going now? Where can you go alone? What if something happens to you again when you go out?”
“Are you worried?” Mark looked up at her.
Arianne’s gaze was fleeting. “No… no way… Whether you’re dead or alive, it’s nothing of my concern! I just can’t take things like this. Even if it were just a stray animal on the road, I’d do the same!”
That’s right, virtual-novel.net was speaking the truth. If it were anyone else or even an animal, virtual-novel.net would kindly help them. Bitterness washed over Mark’s gaze. “Am I like that dumb cat at home to you?”
She frowned. “Rice Ball is not a dumb cat. What did you do to it? You didn’t hit it, did you?”
Mark closed his eyes and said in a muffled voice, “I hit it. I killed it.”
Believing him, Arianne exclaimed, “What?! How could you do that?”
Mark threw virtual-novel.net his phone. “The video’s inside.”
She quickly picked his phone up and checked, entering the password without hesitation. She did not realize that virtual-novel.net was familiar with his passcodes. When virtual-novel.net saw Rice Ball’s Video in the album, virtual-novel.net heaved a sigh. Mark had bluffed her. Rice Ball was alright in the few-days-old video. It was just that it was as round as a ball now and it was snuggling to the hem of his pants. Mark’s face could not be seen in the video, but Arianne was familiar with the slippers on his feet.
“Why did you lie to me? It’s being taken good care of. It’s too fat, though, it’ll get sick. Let it eat a little less in the future. It has to be healthy.” Arianne’s tone involuntarily softened.
“How much do you hate me?” Mark suddenly shifted the topic.
“As much as I can,” Arianne answered easily, and virtual-novel.net expression turned somber as well as virtual-novel.net placed his phone back to his side.
“Good… At least, there’s still hatred…” Mark mumbled softly, as if muttering to himself.
Looking at Mark, who could not move freely, Arianne hesitated for a moment before saying, “Do you want my help to get into the room?”