4 “I’m Willa Lin, thank you so much for earlier,” I said, extending my hand to him. Jasper kept staring at my wrist, where the rope had left bloody marks, looking alarming. “Let me help you with that,” he said. I shook my head, “It’s just a small injury, it’s nothing.” “Weren’t you the one who said you’d do anything if I saved you?” Without waiting for a reply, he sat me down and took out a first–aid kit. “Bear with it,” he said.
I bit my lip, watching him carefully treat my wound. A warmth spread through me. I remembered when I first married Declan, one time he got drunk, and as I helped him to his room, I casually mentioned he should drink less. He flew into a rage, pushing me away. I lost my balance and fell, shattering the jade bracelet on my wrist; the shards cut into my skin. I screamed, clutching my bleeding wrist. Declan just coldly stared and said, “Does it hurt? It should. Cora hurt a thousand times more than you, and now she can’t even say it. If it weren’t for saving you, she wouldn’t have been humiliated by the kidnappers or lost hope…
I sat there, disbelief on my face, feeling my heart grow colder. After a long time, I found my voice. “But the kidnappers took Cora and me to threaten you! You chose to save me first; why blame me now?” Declan, his drunkenness seemingly fading, looked at me with icy eyes. “Willa, ! was always against this arranged marriage. If you hadn’t told Grandma you liked me, she wouldn’t have forced me to marry you.” “So, you’re saying if it weren’t for me, you’d only need to save Cora?” I laughed bitterly, “Declan, you’re insane. Blaming me instead of the kidnappers.”
I got up and treated my wound alone in my room. After that, no matter how much it hurt, I never told Declan. Now, the man in front of me was gently blowing on my wound, afraid I’d be in pain. My eyes stung, and I closed them, taking a deep breath, asking knowingly, “What are you doing?” Jasper looked up with a genuine smile. “When I was little and got hurt, my mom did this. Does it feel better?”
I nodded, “Yes, a lot better.” Encouraged, Jasper continued. But the moment was soon interrupted.
5 “Jasper, I heard someone’s causing trouble at your shop, so I rushed over…” “Whoa! Where did you find such a pretty girl?” A tall man with tattooed arms entered, eyes lighting up when he saw me. “This is rare. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful girl here…” The tattooed guy said, a strange blush on his face. Jasper stepped in front of me protectively.
I nodded, “Yeah, much better.”
Jasper, reassured, continued with his task, but the atmosphere was quickly disrupted.
“Jasper, I heard there was some trouble at your shop, so I rushed over…”
“Whoa! Where did you find such a beautiful girl?”
A tall man with a tattooed arm walked in, his eyes lighting up as he saw me.
“Really unusual, I think it’s the first time I’ve seen such a pretty girl here…”
The tattooed guy said, with an oddly shy expression. Jasper noticed and moved to shield me.
“Thanks, but it’s sorted now. As for other stuff, it’s none of your business. I’ll treat you to a drink another day.”
The tattooed guy paused, then got the hint.
“Jasper, now that you have a girl, you’re ditching your buddies?”
He turned away with a playful huff, looking slightly upset.
Jasper sighed and pulled him aside, whispering, “Can’t you take a hint? Go hang out somewhere else.”
“Jasper, is she your girlfriend?”
“Does it look like she is?”
“Absolutely! You two look perfect together.”
“Smart observation.”
“I’m not leaving until you give me some wedding candy.”
“You’ll get your share.”
Not far off, the two of them continued their whispering, but even though they tried to keep their voices down, I could hear everything clearly.
4:23 PM
<
Trying to ease the awkwardness, I pretended to be busy, looking everywhere except at them.
A few minutes later, Jasper managed to send the tattooed guy away.
After he left, Jasper asked me, “Where do you live? I’ll take you home.”
Maybe it was selfish of me, but suddenly I didn’t want to go back so
soon.
My parents are always busy with their own affairs. Even if I didn’t go
for a month, they wouldn’t notice.
As for Declan, if I’m right, he might have been reincarnated too. He’s probably eager to be with Cora now.
I was married to him for seven years in my past life. He never took me to any events or shared a room with me.
When people asked about me, he’d always have a cold expression, turning me into a joke in our circle.
This time around, I want to stay far away from him.
