Chapter 356
356:
Recognizing Dylan’s smooth voice, Christina relaxed at once. That hint of concern always managed to slip into his words. Instead of lashing out, she gave him a laid-back grin. “Nothing serious. I just bumped into someone from my past and ended up gabbing too long. Now I’m about to burst—I need to find a restroom.”
“Alright.” Relief flickered through Dylan as he gave her a quick, subtle nod. His arm lingered around her waist for a moment too long, and she gave a gentle nudge. “I, uh… I really need to go.”
Awkward realization dawned on him. His hand dropped immediately, a sheepish look flashing across his features.
“See you later,” Christina remarked, turning to move past him. Then, she noticed a splash of bright red blooming across his hospital gown, stark and fresh over his chest. Worry pulled her brows low. “You’re bleeding!”
Regret spiked through her—had she hit him hard enough to reopen his wound? “You need to see a doctor. Come on.” Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed his hand and pushed forward, her face tight with worry—there was no time for apologies.
Nothing else mattered to her at that moment except getting him help. She hardly noticed how close they looked to anyone watching. To passersby, the two of them could have stepped right out of a romantic drama.
The moment her fingers slipped around his, Dylan went rigid with surprise. For a second, he simply let her tug him along, still stunned. Only after a moment did a quiet smile begin to pull at his lips. Gone was the usual cold sharpness in his gaze—warmth replaced the ice completely.
Any ache that had been lingering in his chest seemed to vanish completely. Nothing could compare to the effect of Christina’s gentle grasp. With every step, he felt lighter, as if he were walking on air instead of cold hospital floors. Before the elevator doors slid open, Christina threw Dylan a concerned glance. In an instant…
Dylan wiped away all signs of his grin. Where warmth had just flickered, only his usual frosty reserve remained. Anyone witnessing it would have been left astonished. That was the work of someone who had truly perfected the art of switching expressions in an instant.
Dylan felt his heart jolt. That was too close. If he had been a second slower, she might have caught on to his bright smile.
Concern deepened in Christina’s eyes. “Does it hurt anywhere?”
Feel the thrill at g aln ov el s . com
A neutral mask stayed fixed on Dylan’s face. He nearly let a quick “I’m fine” slip past his lips, but hesitation held him back at the last second. His brows drew together, and he let out a soft sigh, pretending the pain bothered him. “Yeah, it hurts a little. But I’ll live.”
“I’m so sorry—I didn’t mean to! I had no idea you’d be coming around the corner,” Christina said apologetically.
Dylan reassured her, “It’s not your fault. Just one of those things.”
“How about switching to a hospital in Dorfield once you’re feeling better?” Christina suggested. The thought of remaining in Kitaso any longer made her uneasy.
“Alright. It won’t take long,” Dylan murmured. He recalled that Kurt Miller, the Miller family’s patriarch, had a birthday celebration coming up soon. It would be best to attend it before leaving.
This time, Dylan had been caught off guard. If the Millers hadn’t stepped in, he would have taken more than just one bullet. Even now, some of the security around him was courtesy of the Miller family. His hospital stay had been arranged by them, though they couldn’t exactly visit openly, not with so many eyes watching. The more people who knew he was injured, the worse it would be for him.
.
.
.