Chapter 320 An Awkward Atmosphere
It’s only during the critical times that I realize how important I am to him!
I wrapped my arms around Michael’s neck, feeling touched then. At that very moment, I felt that everything was worth it to be with him for the rest of my days.
Ronan followed behind us, and his gaze dimmed when he saw me snuggling into Michael’s arms with bliss written all over my face. I knew that he was feeling dejected, but I only wanted to be with Michael.
Meanwhile, Emma stood frozen to the spot with her face drained of all color, saying nary a word further. While Michael didn’t do anything to her then, considering his character, I believed that he wouldn’t let her off easily this time because she had gone past his bottom line.
When we climbed into Michael’s car, his arm was still bleeding. I looked at him in distress, wishing that I was the one injured instead. Seeing him injured while saving me, I was even more devastated than if that knife had grazed me.
Ronan drove behind our car, and we headed straight for the hospital.
It wasn’t until the doctor cut off Michael’s shirt and revealed his arm did I see how bad the injury was.
The cut was at least ten centimeters long and was very deep. The doctor even said that it almost hurt the tendon, cleaning the wound with antiseptic while treating it. At the same time, another doctor treated the cut on my neck. When he cleaned the injury with antiseptic, stinging pain assailed me. My injury is insignificant, yet it’s already unbearably painful. I really don’t know how Michael can bear the excruciating agony when the cut on his arm is so deep.
Michael sat there expressionlessly, merely allowing the doctor to clean and suture his wound. From beginning to end, he didn’t make a single sound. However, I could sense that he was holding himself in check from the sweat dotting his forehead.
When I was done, I went over to him and grasped his other hand. I looked at him in anguish, words eluding me.
“I messed up this time. I promise that such an incident will never happen again in the future.”
Michael’s gaze stopped on the gauze on my neck. Then, he stared into my eyes and enunciated that solemnly.
In the face of his promise, my heart skipped a beat. I didn’t say anything, merely nodding seriously.
For some inexplicable reason, I was actually rather glad that such an incident transpired. If Emma hadn’t kidnapped me, I wouldn’t have known how important I am to him. I’d always thought that he merely likes me, but I’m now certain that he loves me!
Throughout it all, Ronan remained by our side silently. At the sight of our intimacy, he appeared rather despondent though he didn’t make it obvious. After all, he knew that it wasn’t the time for that.
“The incident this time was Emma’s doing. How are you planning to handle it?” he subsequently questioned.
He trained his eyes on Michael, and his expression seemed rather gloomy, which was a sharp contrast from his usual sunny disposition.
“This time, I’m not going to let her off so easily anymore.”
Hearing Ronan’s question, Michael balled his hands into fists as wrath manifested on his face once more. I knew that Emma had enraged him to the point of no return. He had been turning a blind eye to the paltry matters in the past, but considering the severity of the incident this time, his character dictated that he wouldn’t let the matter rest.
“Just tell me if you need my help.”
Ronan’s gaze shifted from his face to me after having obtained his answer before saying that in an impassive voice.
I knew that Ronan also wanted to get involved in the matter, but I didn’t really want him to do so for my sake. It was unfair to embroil him into our affairs since I wouldn’t be able to reciprocate no matter how much he did for me.
“I’ll settle this matter by myself.”
Michael naturally understood why Ronan wanted to get involved in such a matter. He fixated his complicated gaze on him for a brief moment before saying that placidly.
Ronan didn’t insist further after his offer was turned down. However, I could tell that he was truly crestfallen then.
While I felt a smidge guilty, I reckoned that it was the best for him. I didn’t want to see him fall even deeper while I couldn’t do anything about it.
When we were having our wounds treated at the hospital, Michael’s secretary delivered a set of clothes over since the wedding gown on me was already ripped into pieces and appeared extremely revealing.
After I had changed, Michael was also done having his wound bandaged. I then returned the jacket Ronan draped over me earlier.
“Thank you, Ronan.”
Verily, I was incredibly grateful that he suddenly appeared and saved me that day. If he hadn’t appeared out of the blue and sneaked up on the man who was holding me at knifepoint, Michael probably wouldn’t have been able to liberate me so easily.
Furthermore, it was exceedingly dangerous there, so I was truly touched that he would come to my rescue at the risk of his life.
“Why are you being such a stranger to me? Didn’t you say back then that we’re friends forever?”
Ronan flashed me a bitter smile when I thanked him. His gaze dimmed as well, perchance feeling perturbed by my distant tone.
“Of course, I’ve got to thank you since you risked your life to save me today.”
In truth, I instinctively wanted to keep a distance from him as I didn’t want him to do so much for me or sacrifice too much for my sake.
“Anna, do we really have to be such strangers? Can’t we return to how we were in the past?”
Looking into my eyes, Ronan chuckled wryly, sounding rather forlorn.
Dismay inundated me to see him in such a state, yet I didn’t know how to comfort him and was at a loss for words. All I wanted to do then was to shy away.
“I’m done here, so let’s go,” Michael said to me casually after walking out of the examination room.
His sudden appearance rattled me, for I wasn’t quite sure whether he heard my conversation with Ronan just now.
He’s an incredibly possessive man, so he’ll definitely be angry if he overheard our exchange.
I cautiously studied his expression, only to see his gaze stilling on Ronan’s face for a moment before shifting away.
At that, I breathed a sigh of relief, concluding that he hadn’t heard our conversation.
“Let’s go.”
Walking over to him, I took his arm.
As Ronan stared at our linked arms, his gaze darkened. But still, he didn’t say anything in the end.
After we were done having our wounds bandaged at the hospital, Michael drove me back to the Shaw residence. Due to my abduction that day, the wedding was ruined, causing a tremendous negative impact on the Shaw family. Michael’s wedding was wrecked twice, so there was no news more explosive than that.
