Chapter 6
“I’m really sorry, Gianna. I was so hungry I couldn’t wait for you,” Chloe said
apologetically as she pulled Gianna toward the dining table.
However, the table held only scraps of leftovers.
Gianna stood still, staring at the remnants. A complex wave of emotions surged through her–sorrow, disappointment, and something she couldn’t quite name.
“Forget it. I’m not feeling well today, so I’ll skip dinner. You two enjoy,” Gianna said quietly, turning to hobble toward the stairs.
Behind her, Chloe sounded surprised. “Gianna, what’s wrong? Are you upset because I didn’t wait for you to eat?”
Steven reached out to ruffle Chloe’s hair, his voice carrying a hint of indulgence. “Don’t overthink it. She sprained her ankle today and isn’t feeling well.”
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This casual display of affection happened to catch Gianna’s eye as she glanced back. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but all that emerged was a sigh. With a downcast look, she turned and retreated to the master bedroom.
Her mind replayed the events of the day. Chloe’s simple phone call had made Steven drop everything and rush to her side. Meanwhile, Gianna could barely walk and yet received no such concern. The stark contrast felt like a dagger to her chest.
Once in the bedroom, she tried to ignore the pain radiating from her ankle as she rummaged through drawers and cabinets, searching for a first aid kit. After what felt like an eternity, she finally found an old medicine box shoved under the closet in the guest room. It contained a single bottle of expired iodine.
With no better options, Gianna carried the iodine back to the master bedroom. She
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noticed in passing that the guest room had been recently tidied up–clean and
organized. However, she didn‘ t dwell on it.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she carefully dabbed the iodine on her swollen ankle. The moment the cotton swab touched her skin, a sharp pain made her gasp.
After just one day without treatment and the strain of walking such a long distance, the injury has significantly worsened.
“You shouldn‘ t use that.”
The sudden voice startled her. She looked up to see Steven standing in the doorway, holding a new bottle of herbal liniment.
“This iodine is expired. Didn‘ t you notice? You‘ re still so careless.” He sighed and walked over, crouching down in front of her.
Gently, he reached for her injured ankle to inspect the swelling. However, Gianna instinctively pulled her foot back, avoiding
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his touch.
“Are you disgusted by me?”
In the dim light of the bedroom, Steven‘ s expression was unreadable.
Gianna tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, feeling the awkward tension between them. “No… It’s just that Chloe is still waiting for you outside. You should go keep her company. Leave the liniment here—I can manage on my own.”
Steven stared at her for a moment, his face impassive. Without a word, he suddenly grabbed her ankle and pulled it into his lap, ignoring her protests.
His abruptness made Gianna wince in pain, a small cry escaping her lips.
When he saw how swollen and bruised her ankle was, the irritation in Steven‘ s
expression softened, replaced by a rare hint of guilt.
“Sorry,” he murmured.
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The apology caught Gianna off guard.
Steven wasn‘ t the type to apologize easily. In the three years they‘ d been together, this was the first time she’d heard the word from him.
Even when he had left her by the roadside with a ruptured appendix, he hadn’t apologized. Later, she learned he’d been rushing to a medical seminar where Chloe was to be introduced as his mentee. Gianna, writhing in pain, had been left behind like an afterthought.
“Why the sudden apology? That’s not like you,” she said, trying to resist the
temptation to dwell on his fleeting moment of tenderness.
Steven looked up briefly, his hands still carefully applying the liniment. “Your ankle’s in bad shape. I shouldn’t have ignored it earlier.”
The sincerity in his voice made Gianna‘ s heart ache. She had long stopped expecting
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warmth from him, so his apology felt like a cruel tease–offering hope where none existed.
Biting her lip, she forced herself to smile.
“It’s just a sprain. Nothing worth apologizing for.”
