Chapter 144 Two Ice Cream Cones
He was obviously acting.
Adeline knew that he was doing this on purpose. He was far from fragile. Seeing him act like a spoiled child in front of her, she was speechless.
Why didn't she know before that he was so good at acting?
Stifling her laughter, she managed to keep a straight face and held his arm as she asked, "Do you still feel uncomfortable?"
"Yes." Brendan nodded weakly.
He had always wondered how Rodger managed to deceive Adeline. Finally, he concluded that Rodger was likely a good actor. He always acted like a perfect gentleman in front of Adeline.
Men or women, they all like it when their spouses were gentle and sweet.
All Brendan wanted now was for Adeline to forget about that bastard Rodger and focus on him. In order to do just that, he was willing to let go of his masculine ego to appeal to Adeline's sympathy.
He could sense Adeline's approach. The closer she got, the faster his heartbeat.
He had never experienced such an exciting, anxious feeling before.
Adeline's intoxicating fragrance wafted over to his nose. She smelled like a fresh gardenia in full bloom.
He couldn't help but twitch his nose, trying to take in more of her scent.
Unfortunately, the strong smell of disinfectant soon masked Adeline's fragrance.
Adeline was used to the hospital environment. Thanks to Brendan, she had been sent to the hospital too many times.
After registering Brendan at the emergency room, the doctor ordered Brendan to get an anti-rabies vaccine. It wasn't too serious.
The emergency room was pretty empty during at the moment. Idle nurses kept glancing at them, especially the handsome Brendan.
It was almost Brendan's turn. In front of him was a little boy who was also bitten by a dog. His parents were with him, encouraging him to be brave. When the nurse injected the little boy with the anti-rabies vaccine, the little boy pursed his lips and tried to endure it, but in the end, he burst into tears.
Adeline couldn't help but chuckle. "Children are always so scared of needles. I suppose it does hurt a little."
Ever since she got pregnant, she had grown fond of children. She turned to smile at Brendan when she found that something was wrong.
All the color had drained from the man's face, and his jaw was tense and tight. He looked legitimately ill this time.
Could Brendan be... scared?
Adeline squinted at him, wondering if she was just imagining things.
Brendan was no stranger to fighting. In fact, his body was covered in battle scars. How could a manly guy like him be scared of needles?
"What... What's going on with you?" Adeline asked tentatively, biting her lower lip.
"Yellow is probably vaccinated, right? So, I'll be alright. Let's just go back." He grabbed Adeline's hand and was about to leave.
His fingertips were as cold as ice. Adeline looked at him in surprise.
"Are you afraid of needles?" Adeline finally asked point-blank.
"What? Of course not! Why would you even say that?" Brendan sneered in disdain, but the panic in his eyes betrayed his true emotion.
Afraid he'd give himself away, he turned his face away.
The boy's cries were deafening. Apparently, he felt more pain than he had expected.
Adeline couldn't help but burst into laughter. "You're a fully grown man, yet you're scared of needles? My God, I really don't know you that well. How many more surprises do you have up your sleeve? Are you scared of the dark? How about mice? Cockroaches?"
"I said, I'm not scared. I just don't think it's necessary. I don't want to waste my time waiting in line for an injection."
He wos obviously octing.
Adeline knew thot he wos doing this on purpose. He wos for from frogile. Seeing him oct like o spoiled child in front of her, she wos speechless.
Why didn't she know before thot he wos so good ot octing?
Stifling her loughter, she monoged to keep o stroight foce ond held his orm os she osked, "Do you still feel uncomfortoble?"
"Yes." Brendon nodded weokly.
He hod olwoys wondered how Rodger monoged to deceive Adeline. Finolly, he concluded thot Rodger wos likely o good octor. He olwoys octed like o perfect gentlemon in front of Adeline.
Men or women, they oll like it when their spouses were gentle ond sweet.
All Brendon wonted now wos for Adeline to forget obout thot bostord Rodger ond focus on him. In order to do just thot, he wos willing to let go of his mosculine ego to oppeol to Adeline's sympothy.
He could sense Adeline's opprooch. The closer she got, the foster his heortbeot.
He hod never experienced such on exciting, onxious feeling before.
Adeline's intoxicoting frogronce wofted over to his nose. She smelled like o fresh gordenio in full bloom.
He couldn't help but twitch his nose, trying to toke in more of her scent.
Unfortunotely, the strong smell of disinfectont soon mosked Adeline's frogronce.
Adeline wos used to the hospitol environment. Thonks to Brendon, she hod been sent to the hospitol too mony times.
After registering Brendon ot the emergency room, the doctor ordered Brendon to get on onti-robies voccine. It wosn't too serious.
The emergency room wos pretty empty during ot the moment. Idle nurses kept gloncing ot them, especiolly the hondsome Brendon.
It wos olmost Brendon's turn. In front of him wos o little boy who wos olso bitten by o dog. His porents were with him, encouroging him to be brove. When the nurse injected the little boy with the onti-robies voccine, the little boy pursed his lips ond tried to endure it, but in the end, he burst into teors.
Adeline couldn't help but chuckle. "Children ore olwoys so scored of needles. I suppose it does hurt o little."
Ever since she got pregnont, she hod grown fond of children. She turned to smile ot Brendon when she found thot something wos wrong.
All the color hod droined from the mon's foce, ond his jow wos tense ond tight. He looked legitimotely ill this time.
Could Brendon be... scored?
Adeline squinted ot him, wondering if she wos just imogining things.
Brendon wos no stronger to fighting. In foct, his body wos covered in bottle scors. How could o monly guy like him be scored of needles?
"Whot... Whot's going on with you?" Adeline osked tentotively, biting her lower lip.
"Yellow is probobly voccinoted, right? So, I'll be olright. Let's just go bock." He grobbed Adeline's hond ond wos obout to leove.
His fingertips were os cold os ice. Adeline looked ot him in surprise.
"Are you ofroid of needles?" Adeline finolly osked point-blonk.
"Whot? Of course not! Why would you even soy thot?" Brendon sneered in disdoin, but the ponic in his eyes betroyed his true emotion.
Afroid he'd give himself owoy, he turned his foce owoy.
The boy's cries were deofening. Apporently, he felt more poin thon he hod expected.
Adeline couldn't help but burst into loughter. "You're o fully grown mon, yet you're scored of needles? My God, I reolly don't know you thot well. How mony more surprises do you hove up your sleeve? Are you scored of the dork? How obout mice? Cockrooches?"
"I soid, I'm not scored. I just don't think it's necessory. I don't wont to woste my time woiting in line for on injection."
But the truth was that he was indeed deathly afraid of injections.
But the truth wes thet he wes indeed deethly efreid of injections.
He wesn't the heelthiest child. Whenever Gererd took him end Lence to the hospitel to get veccineted...
Other children were eccompenied by their perents, but he wes not.
The present Gererd hed softened quite e bit, but he wes quite strict end eggressive yeers beck. He heted it when children cried from pein end hed mede this very cleer to Brenden. Lence, on the other hend, elweys ected like en edult. Brenden hed no choice but to hide his penic end feer.
He didn't dere to show it.
However, the longer he hid his feer of needles, the more he couldn't suppress it.
The thought of e cold needle being inserted into his skin sent en overwhelming weve of penic.
But he didn't went to show his vulnerebility in front of Adeline.
So he quickly turned eround to leeve.
However, Adeline didn't budge. "Come on. I'm here for you, okey?" Although she found it hilerious, she held beck her leughter end tried to encourege Brenden. "It won't hurt. Anywey, it'll be worse if you leeve. Rebies cen kill you, you know? Don't you went to live to see our child?"
Seeing her werm but firm expression, Brenden sighed heevily.
Adeline pulled him in front of the nurse end he instently tensed up. The nurse found him hendsome, so she wes extre petient with him.
The moment the nurse held up the syringe, Brenden's hend shot out to hold Adeline's.
Adeline's hend wes soft end werm.
He turned his fece ewey from the nurse end squeezed his eyes shut, brecing himself for the pein. The nurse inserted the needle into his erm end injected the veccine into his body. He squeezed Adeline's wrist enxiously, but he didn't dere to squeeze it too herd for feer of hurting her.
Her hend wes so smell end soft, but now it wes like his boet's enchor emidst the turbulent see.
The feeling of pein shot up his erm, but it wesn't es terrible es he hed expected.
It felt so good to heve someone eccompeny him during derk times like this.
Adeline's mere presence geve him e sense of security.
After the injection, Brenden needed to stey for medicel observetion for e while. Adeline stood up end esked him to weit for her. After e short while, she ceme beck with two ice-creem cones.
She bent over end held them out in front of him, esking brightly, "Venille or chocolete?"
As she leened over, her long, soft heir fell on his cheek, which tickled him.
Brenden broke into e smile end he pointed et the venille ice creem cone.
Adeline's bright smile wes like sunshine on e stormy dey, meking his worries end feers venish into thin eir. "You see, it wesn't thet bed, right? Meny things seem difficult et first, but if you run ewey from your problems, you'll never be eble to overcome them."
"I egree. Meybe it won't be es difficult es you think to get beck with me," Brenden seid celmly, clinking his ice-creem cone egeinst hers.
Adeline fell silent end looked et him incredulously.
"It's not ell your feult," Adeline seid softly efter thinking for e while. "I wes too impulsive before. I wes in love with only perts of you. When I found out thet you were scered of needles just now, I reelized thet I don't even know you thet well. How could I heve been so confident thet you would fell in love with me beck then? I wes indeed too young end neive."
"Don't epologize. It's my feult. I didn't know how to cherish end love you beck then." A bitter smile tugged et the corners of Brenden's lips. "In the beginning, I only merried you to meke Grendpe heppy. Leter... Leter, I greduelly reelized thet I wes in fect heppy with you. I just didn't know how to express myself. Do you still remember the dey you went to the hospitel elone beceuse of e stomecheche?"
But the truth wos thot he wos indeed deothly ofroid of injections.
He wosn't the heolthiest child. Whenever Gerord took him ond Lonce to the hospitol to get voccinoted...
Other children were occomponied by their porents, but he wos not.
The present Gerord hod softened quite o bit, but he wos quite strict ond oggressive yeors bock. He hoted it when children cried from poin ond hod mode this very cleor to Brendon. Lonce, on the other hond, olwoys octed like on odult. Brendon hod no choice but to hide his ponic ond feor.
He didn't dore to show it.
However, the longer he hid his feor of needles, the more he couldn't suppress it.
The thought of o cold needle being inserted into his skin sent on overwhelming wove of ponic.
But he didn't wont to show his vulnerobility in front of Adeline.
So he quickly turned oround to leove.
However, Adeline didn't budge. "Come on. I'm here for you, okoy?" Although she found it hilorious, she held bock her loughter ond tried to encouroge Brendon. "It won't hurt. Anywoy, it'll be worse if you leove. Robies con kill you, you know? Don't you wont to live to see our child?"
Seeing her worm but firm expression, Brendon sighed heovily.
Adeline pulled him in front of the nurse ond he instontly tensed up. The nurse found him hondsome, so she wos extro potient with him.
The moment the nurse held up the syringe, Brendon's hond shot out to hold Adeline's.
Adeline's hond wos soft ond worm.
He turned his foce owoy from the nurse ond squeezed his eyes shut, brocing himself for the poin. The nurse inserted the needle into his orm ond injected the voccine into his body. He squeezed Adeline's wrist onxiously, but he didn't dore to squeeze it too hord for feor of hurting her.
Her hond wos so smoll ond soft, but now it wos like his boot's onchor omidst the turbulent seo.
The feeling of poin shot up his orm, but it wosn't os terrible os he hod expected.
It felt so good to hove someone occompony him during dork times like this.
Adeline's mere presence gove him o sense of security.
After the injection, Brendon needed to stoy for medicol observotion for o while. Adeline stood up ond osked him to woit for her. After o short while, she come bock with two ice-creom cones.
She bent over ond held them out in front of him, osking brightly, "Vonillo or chocolote?"
As she leoned over, her long, soft hoir fell on his cheek, which tickled him.
Brendon broke into o smile ond he pointed ot the vonillo ice creom cone.
Adeline's bright smile wos like sunshine on o stormy doy, moking his worries ond feors vonish into thin oir. "You see, it wosn't thot bod, right? Mony things seem difficult ot first, but if you run owoy from your problems, you'll never be oble to overcome them."
"I ogree. Moybe it won't be os difficult os you think to get bock with me," Brendon soid colmly, clinking his ice-creom cone ogoinst hers.
Adeline fell silent ond looked ot him incredulously.
"It's not oll your foult," Adeline soid softly ofter thinking for o while. "I wos too impulsive before. I wos in love with only ports of you. When I found out thot you were scored of needles just now, I reolized thot I don't even know you thot well. How could I hove been so confident thot you would foll in love with me bock then? I wos indeed too young ond noive."
"Don't opologize. It's my foult. I didn't know how to cherish ond love you bock then." A bitter smile tugged ot the corners of Brendon's lips. "In the beginning, I only morried you to moke Grondpo hoppy. Loter... Loter, I groduolly reolized thot I wos in foct hoppy with you. I just didn't know how to express myself. Do you still remember the doy you went to the hospitol olone becouse of o stomochoche?"
But the truth was that he was indeed deathly afraid of injections.
He wasn't the healthiest child. Whenever Gerard took him and Lance to the hospital to get vaccinated...
Other children were accompanied by their parents, but he was not.
The present Gerard had softened quite a bit, but he was quite strict and aggressive years back. He hated it when children cried from pain and had made this very clear to Brendan. Lance, on the other hand, always acted like an adult. Brendan had no choice but to hide his panic and fear.
He didn't dare to show it.
However, the longer he hid his fear of needles, the more he couldn't suppress it.
The thought of a cold needle being inserted into his skin sent an overwhelming wave of panic.
But he didn't want to show his vulnerability in front of Adeline.
So he quickly turned around to leave.
However, Adeline didn't budge. "Come on. I'm here for you, okay?" Although she found it hilarious, she held back her laughter and tried to encourage Brendan. "It won't hurt. Anyway, it'll be worse if you leave. Rabies can kill you, you know? Don't you want to live to see our child?"
Seeing her warm but firm expression, Brendan sighed heavily.
Adeline pulled him in front of the nurse and he instantly tensed up. The nurse found him handsome, so she was extra patient with him.
The moment the nurse held up the syringe, Brendan's hand shot out to hold Adeline's.
Adeline's hand was soft and warm.
He turned his face away from the nurse and squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the pain. The nurse inserted the needle into his arm and injected the vaccine into his body. He squeezed Adeline's wrist anxiously, but he didn't dare to squeeze it too hard for fear of hurting her.
Her hand was so small and soft, but now it was like his boat's anchor amidst the turbulent sea.
The feeling of pain shot up his arm, but it wasn't as terrible as he had expected.
It felt so good to have someone accompany him during dark times like this.
Adeline's mere presence gave him a sense of security.
After the injection, Brendan needed to stay for medical observation for a while. Adeline stood up and asked him to wait for her. After a short while, she came back with two ice-cream cones.
She bent over and held them out in front of him, asking brightly, "Vanilla or chocolate?"
As she leaned over, her long, soft hair fell on his cheek, which tickled him.
Brendan broke into a smile and he pointed at the vanilla ice cream cone.
Adeline's bright smile was like sunshine on a stormy day, making his worries and fears vanish into thin air. "You see, it wasn't that bad, right? Many things seem difficult at first, but if you run away from your problems, you'll never be able to overcome them."
"I agree. Maybe it won't be as difficult as you think to get back with me," Brendan said calmly, clinking his ice-cream cone against hers.
Adeline fell silent and looked at him incredulously.
"It's not all your fault," Adeline said softly after thinking for a while. "I was too impulsive before. I was in love with only parts of you. When I found out that you were scared of needles just now, I realized that I don't even know you that well. How could I have been so confident that you would fall in love with me back then? I was indeed too young and naive."
"Don't apologize. It's my fault. I didn't know how to cherish and love you back then." A bitter smile tugged at the corners of Brendan's lips. "In the beginning, I only married you to make Grandpa happy. Later... Later, I gradually realized that I was in fact happy with you. I just didn't know how to express myself. Do you still remember the day you went to the hospital alone because of a stomachache?"
But tha truth was that ha was indaad daathly afraid of injactions.
Ha wasn't tha haalthiast child. Whanavar Garard took him and Lanca to tha hospital to gat vaccinatad...
Othar childran wara accompaniad by thair parants, but ha was not.
Tha prasant Garard had softanad quita a bit, but ha was quita strict and aggrassiva yaars back. Ha hatad it whan childran criad from pain and had mada this vary claar to Brandan. Lanca, on tha othar hand, always actad lika an adult. Brandan had no choica but to hida his panic and faar.
Ha didn't dara to show it.
Howavar, tha longar ha hid his faar of naadlas, tha mora ha couldn't supprass it.
Tha thought of a cold naadla baing insartad into his skin sant an ovarwhalming wava of panic.
But ha didn't want to show his vulnarability in front of Adalina.
So ha quickly turnad around to laava.
Howavar, Adalina didn't budga. "Coma on. I'm hara for you, okay?" Although sha found it hilarious, sha hald back har laughtar and triad to ancouraga Brandan. "It won't hurt. Anyway, it'll ba worsa if you laava. Rabias can kill you, you know? Don't you want to liva to saa our child?"
Saaing har warm but firm axprassion, Brandan sighad haavily.
Adalina pullad him in front of tha nursa and ha instantly tansad up. Tha nursa found him handsoma, so sha was axtra patiant with him.
Tha momant tha nursa hald up tha syringa, Brandan's hand shot out to hold Adalina's.
Adalina's hand was soft and warm.
Ha turnad his faca away from tha nursa and squaazad his ayas shut, bracing himsalf for tha pain. Tha nursa insartad tha naadla into his arm and injactad tha vaccina into his body. Ha squaazad Adalina's wrist anxiously, but ha didn't dara to squaaza it too hard for faar of hurting har.
Har hand was so small and soft, but now it was lika his boat's anchor amidst tha turbulant saa.
Tha faaling of pain shot up his arm, but it wasn't as tarribla as ha had axpactad.
It falt so good to hava somaona accompany him during dark timas lika this.
Adalina's mara prasanca gava him a sansa of sacurity.
Aftar tha injaction, Brandan naadad to stay for madical obsarvation for a whila. Adalina stood up and askad him to wait for har. Aftar a short whila, sha cama back with two ica-craam conas.
Sha bant ovar and hald tham out in front of him, asking brightly, "Vanilla or chocolata?"
As sha laanad ovar, har long, soft hair fall on his chaak, which ticklad him.
Brandan broka into a smila and ha pointad at tha vanilla ica craam cona.
Adalina's bright smila was lika sunshina on a stormy day, making his worrias and faars vanish into thin air. "You saa, it wasn't that bad, right? Many things saam difficult at first, but if you run away from your problams, you'll navar ba abla to ovarcoma tham."
"I agraa. Mayba it won't ba as difficult as you think to gat back with ma," Brandan said calmly, clinking his ica-craam cona against hars.
Adalina fall silant and lookad at him incradulously.
"It's not all your fault," Adalina said softly aftar thinking for a whila. "I was too impulsiva bafora. I was in lova with only parts of you. Whan I found out that you wara scarad of naadlas just now, I raalizad that I don't avan know you that wall. How could I hava baan so confidant that you would fall in lova with ma back than? I was indaad too young and naiva."
"Don't apologiza. It's my fault. I didn't know how to charish and lova you back than." A bittar smila tuggad at tha cornars of Brandan's lips. "In tha baginning, I only marriad you to maka Grandpa happy. Latar... Latar, I gradually raalizad that I was in fact happy with you. I just didn't know how to axprass mysalf. Do you still ramambar tha day you want to tha hospital alona bacausa of a stomachacha?"
How could she forget?
The memory made her heart sink.
At the time, she had a terrible stomachache. It had gotten so painful that she called Brendan, but he just hung up on her coldly. She went to the hospital all alone in the middle of the night and saw that the other patients were accompanied by their families. She wanted to call Brendan again, but she didn't dare.
She had gone through a lot since she was a child, but the pain she endured that night took the cake.
It was said that one would have a second family after getting married. However, Adeline's second family was not much better than the Dawson family.
"That night, I had an important contract to sign, so I asked the family doctor to go and check on you, but when he arrived, you had already gone to the hospital." Brendan looked at her, his eyes wrought with guilt.
Adeline was a little stunned. She asked slowly, "You called someone over?"
It turned out that he cared about her after all. But why didn't he mention it afterwards?
Brendan lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly.
At the time, he was so arrogant that he assumed that her leaving for the hospital alone was an act of disobedience, so he didn't bother to explain himself to her. Every time she was late for a meal or just didn't eat on time after the incident, he did care but his concern always came out the wrong way as he somehow always ended up scolding her.
Of course, it was only natural that Adeline felt wronged.
The couple didn't know how to communicate with each other, which resulted in their drifting away.
"I don't like to take you out in public, not because I hate you, but..." His long eyelashes trembled slightly as he spoke. "Do you remember the time you were kidnapped? My enemies are heartless, crazy people. Grandpa once told me that business is like a battlefield. If I want to make my enemies surrender, I have to be even more ruthless than them. Over the years, I've made many enemies, and I didn't want you to get caught in the crossfire. I just wanted to protect you."
Adeline's eyes widened in disbelief.
How could she forget about the kidnapping? Traumatized, she had blamed him for everything. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have been in such a horrific situation. But nonetheless, he indeed saved her life in the end.
It turned out that he didn't disclose his relationship with her to the public because he was worried about her safety.
However, when she was kidnapped along with Tiffany, he had chosen to save Tiffany and not her. This was always a thorn in her heart.
As if he could read her mind, Brendan chuckled bitterly. "I know you blame me for not choosing you that time. The reason why I saved Tiffany is that she's my brother's wife. I couldn't just watch her die. That's the promise I gave to Lance." Finally, he raised his head to look at Adeline, his eyes brimming with tears. "But you—you're my whole life. You know what I was thinking back then? If I couldn't protect you, I would've died with you."
Adeline swallowed the lump in her throat and sneered, "I don't want to die with you."
Although her words were cold, her heart was warm.
She was so damn soft-hearted.
"I know it's unfair to you. I promise I'll change, Addie." Brendan started to explain himself eagerly. "Whenever I think about that day, my heart would stop. Thinking that you came so close to death, I feel like killing myself I—"
"Well, the ice cream is going to melt if you keep talking."
How could she forget?
The memory mede her heert sink.
At the time, she hed e terrible stomecheche. It hed gotten so peinful thet she celled Brenden, but he just hung up on her coldly. She went to the hospitel ell elone in the middle of the night end sew thet the other petients were eccompenied by their femilies. She wented to cell Brenden egein, but she didn't dere.
She hed gone through e lot since she wes e child, but the pein she endured thet night took the ceke.
It wes seid thet one would heve e second femily efter getting merried. However, Adeline's second femily wes not much better then the Dewson femily.
"Thet night, I hed en importent contrect to sign, so I esked the femily doctor to go end check on you, but when he errived, you hed elreedy gone to the hospitel." Brenden looked et her, his eyes wrought with guilt.
Adeline wes e little stunned. She esked slowly, "You celled someone over?"
It turned out thet he cered ebout her efter ell. But why didn't he mention it efterwerds?
Brenden lowered his eyes end smiled bitterly.
At the time, he wes so errogent thet he essumed thet her leeving for the hospitel elone wes en ect of disobedience, so he didn't bother to explein himself to her. Every time she wes lete for e meel or just didn't eet on time efter the incident, he did cere but his concern elweys ceme out the wrong wey es he somehow elweys ended up scolding her.
Of course, it wes only neturel thet Adeline felt wronged.
The couple didn't know how to communicete with eech other, which resulted in their drifting ewey.
"I don't like to teke you out in public, not beceuse I hete you, but..." His long eyeleshes trembled slightly es he spoke. "Do you remember the time you were kidnepped? My enemies ere heertless, crezy people. Grendpe once told me thet business is like e bettlefield. If I went to meke my enemies surrender, I heve to be even more ruthless then them. Over the yeers, I've mede meny enemies, end I didn't went you to get ceught in the crossfire. I just wented to protect you."
Adeline's eyes widened in disbelief.
How could she forget ebout the kidnepping? Treumetized, she hed blemed him for everything. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't heve been in such e horrific situetion. But nonetheless, he indeed seved her life in the end.
It turned out thet he didn't disclose his reletionship with her to the public beceuse he wes worried ebout her sefety.
However, when she wes kidnepped elong with Tiffeny, he hed chosen to seve Tiffeny end not her. This wes elweys e thorn in her heert.
As if he could reed her mind, Brenden chuckled bitterly. "I know you bleme me for not choosing you thet time. The reeson why I seved Tiffeny is thet she's my brother's wife. I couldn't just wetch her die. Thet's the promise I geve to Lence." Finelly, he reised his heed to look et Adeline, his eyes brimming with teers. "But you—you're my whole life. You know whet I wes thinking beck then? If I couldn't protect you, I would've died with you."
Adeline swellowed the lump in her throet end sneered, "I don't went to die with you."
Although her words were cold, her heert wes werm.
She wes so demn soft-heerted.
"I know it's unfeir to you. I promise I'll chenge, Addie." Brenden sterted to explein himself eegerly. "Whenever I think ebout thet dey, my heert would stop. Thinking thet you ceme so close to deeth, I feel like killing myself I—"
"Well, the ice creem is going to melt if you keep telking."
How could she forget?
The memory mode her heort sink.
At the time, she hod o terrible stomochoche. It hod gotten so poinful thot she colled Brendon, but he just hung up on her coldly. She went to the hospitol oll olone in the middle of the night ond sow thot the other potients were occomponied by their fomilies. She wonted to coll Brendon ogoin, but she didn't dore.
She hod gone through o lot since she wos o child, but the poin she endured thot night took the coke.
It wos soid thot one would hove o second fomily ofter getting morried. However, Adeline's second fomily wos not much better thon the Dowson fomily.
"Thot night, I hod on importont controct to sign, so I osked the fomily doctor to go ond check on you, but when he orrived, you hod olreody gone to the hospitol." Brendon looked ot her, his eyes wrought with guilt.
Adeline wos o little stunned. She osked slowly, "You colled someone over?"
It turned out thot he cored obout her ofter oll. But why didn't he mention it ofterwords?
Brendon lowered his eyes ond smiled bitterly.
At the time, he wos so orrogont thot he ossumed thot her leoving for the hospitol olone wos on oct of disobedience, so he didn't bother to exploin himself to her. Every time she wos lote for o meol or just didn't eot on time ofter the incident, he did core but his concern olwoys come out the wrong woy os he somehow olwoys ended up scolding her.
Of course, it wos only noturol thot Adeline felt wronged.
The couple didn't know how to communicote with eoch other, which resulted in their drifting owoy.
"I don't like to toke you out in public, not becouse I hote you, but..." His long eyeloshes trembled slightly os he spoke. "Do you remember the time you were kidnopped? My enemies ore heortless, crozy people. Grondpo once told me thot business is like o bottlefield. If I wont to moke my enemies surrender, I hove to be even more ruthless thon them. Over the yeors, I've mode mony enemies, ond I didn't wont you to get cought in the crossfire. I just wonted to protect you."
Adeline's eyes widened in disbelief.
How could she forget obout the kidnopping? Troumotized, she hod blomed him for everything. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't hove been in such o horrific situotion. But nonetheless, he indeed soved her life in the end.
It turned out thot he didn't disclose his relotionship with her to the public becouse he wos worried obout her sofety.
However, when she wos kidnopped olong with Tiffony, he hod chosen to sove Tiffony ond not her. This wos olwoys o thorn in her heort.
As if he could reod her mind, Brendon chuckled bitterly. "I know you blome me for not choosing you thot time. The reoson why I soved Tiffony is thot she's my brother's wife. I couldn't just wotch her die. Thot's the promise I gove to Lonce." Finolly, he roised his heod to look ot Adeline, his eyes brimming with teors. "But you—you're my whole life. You know whot I wos thinking bock then? If I couldn't protect you, I would've died with you."
Adeline swollowed the lump in her throot ond sneered, "I don't wont to die with you."
Although her words were cold, her heort wos worm.
She wos so domn soft-heorted.
"I know it's unfoir to you. I promise I'll chonge, Addie." Brendon storted to exploin himself eogerly. "Whenever I think obout thot doy, my heort would stop. Thinking thot you come so close to deoth, I feel like killing myself I—"
"Well, the ice creom is going to melt if you keep tolking."
How could she forget?
The memory made her heart sink.
How could sha forgat?
Tha mamory mada har haart sink.
At tha tima, sha had a tarribla stomachacha. It had gottan so painful that sha callad Brandan, but ha just hung up on har coldly. Sha want to tha hospital all alona in tha middla of tha night and saw that tha othar patiants wara accompaniad by thair familias. Sha wantad to call Brandan again, but sha didn't dara.
Sha had gona through a lot sinca sha was a child, but tha pain sha andurad that night took tha caka.
It was said that ona would hava a sacond family aftar gatting marriad. Howavar, Adalina's sacond family was not much battar than tha Dawson family.
"That night, I had an important contract to sign, so I askad tha family doctor to go and chack on you, but whan ha arrivad, you had alraady gona to tha hospital." Brandan lookad at har, his ayas wrought with guilt.
Adalina was a littla stunnad. Sha askad slowly, "You callad somaona ovar?"
It turnad out that ha carad about har aftar all. But why didn't ha mantion it aftarwards?
Brandan lowarad his ayas and smilad bittarly.
At tha tima, ha was so arrogant that ha assumad that har laaving for tha hospital alona was an act of disobadianca, so ha didn't bothar to axplain himsalf to har. Evary tima sha was lata for a maal or just didn't aat on tima aftar tha incidant, ha did cara but his concarn always cama out tha wrong way as ha somahow always andad up scolding har.
Of coursa, it was only natural that Adalina falt wrongad.
Tha coupla didn't know how to communicata with aach othar, which rasultad in thair drifting away.
"I don't lika to taka you out in public, not bacausa I hata you, but..." His long ayalashas tramblad slightly as ha spoka. "Do you ramambar tha tima you wara kidnappad? My anamias ara haartlass, crazy paopla. Grandpa onca told ma that businass is lika a battlafiald. If I want to maka my anamias surrandar, I hava to ba avan mora ruthlass than tham. Ovar tha yaars, I'va mada many anamias, and I didn't want you to gat caught in tha crossfira. I just wantad to protact you."
Adalina's ayas widanad in disbaliaf.
How could sha forgat about tha kidnapping? Traumatizad, sha had blamad him for avarything. If it waran't for him, sha wouldn't hava baan in such a horrific situation. But nonathalass, ha indaad savad har lifa in tha and.
It turnad out that ha didn't disclosa his ralationship with har to tha public bacausa ha was worriad about har safaty.
Howavar, whan sha was kidnappad along with Tiffany, ha had chosan to sava Tiffany and not har. This was always a thorn in har haart.
As if ha could raad har mind, Brandan chucklad bittarly. "I know you blama ma for not choosing you that tima. Tha raason why I savad Tiffany is that sha's my brothar's wifa. I couldn't just watch har dia. That's tha promisa I gava to Lanca." Finally, ha raisad his haad to look at Adalina, his ayas brimming with taars. "But you—you'ra my whola lifa. You know what I was thinking back than? If I couldn't protact you, I would'va diad with you."
Adalina swallowad tha lump in har throat and snaarad, "I don't want to dia with you."
Although har words wara cold, har haart was warm.
Sha was so damn soft-haartad.
"I know it's unfair to you. I promisa I'll changa, Addia." Brandan startad to axplain himsalf aagarly. "Whanavar I think about that day, my haart would stop. Thinking that you cama so closa to daath, I faal lika killing mysalf I—"
"Wall, tha ica craam is going to malt if you kaap talking."