Chapter 38: Undress to Apply Medicine?
Nicole's POV
Wendy didn't deliberately lower her voice, so I could hear everything clearly from outside.
I let out a scornful laugh.
Shier likes me? That's the most ridiculous joke in the world.
Thinking about his strange behavior last night when he was drunk, when he almost kissed me, makes me feel sick enough to die.
If this had been two or three years ago, hearing Wendy question him like this might have secretly made me happy, but now, I have Hodgson...
No, that's not right!
What am I even thinking?!
Why would Hodgson's name pop into my mind at a time like this?
I forced myself to drive that dangerous man's image out of my head and continued listening to what was happening in the room.
Facing Wendy's interrogation, there was actually a trace of panic in Shier's voice.
"What are you talking about? Wendy, you're the only one in my heart."
"Then why?" Wendy pressed relentlessly, "Why did you agree to Mr. Hodgson's request to take Nicole with you to the beach party that Miss Molly is hosting?"
"Did I agree to that?"
Shier's tone sounded confused, followed by the sound of him hitting his own head.
"Damn it, I don't remember anything... Maybe I agreed when I was drunk. I'm sorry, Wendy."
Wendy complained very unhappily: "Why can that bitch Nicole go, but I can't? Miss Molly didn't even invite me! Shier, will you ask Hodgson for me? I want to go with you too."
"Ask Hodgson?"
Shier's voice immediately shot up, like a dog whose tail had been stepped on.
"Wendy, are you trying to get me killed? You know what kind of person my uncle is, don't you? Just behave yourself and don't cause me trouble."
Wendy was frightened by his stern tone, and her voice immediately weakened.
"I just... I just want to be with you, Shier. Ever since Nicole came back, everyone's attention has been on her. Now even you're yelling at me because of her... Am I going to lose you soon?"
Her crying instantly softened Shier's heart, and his tone mellowed.
"What nonsense are you talking about? You're the only one in my heart. Alright, stop crying."
Wendy sniffled, but soon switched to a flattering tone.
"Okay, Shier, I can skip the party, but shouldn't you compensate me somehow?"
Shier laughed: "Of course. My darling, what do you want? A bag, a necklace, or clothes? Just say it, I'll buy it all for you."
"You know, I spent a lot of money and effort finding that pen for Mr. Barry."
Wendy said, "Doris has invested all her money in her fund, so I'm a bit tight on cash lately. Could you... give me some money?"
"How much do you want?"
"Three million dollars."
Shier shouted in shock: "Three million dollars?! Wendy, are you crazy?! Do you know I just joined the company and need money everywhere to build relationships? Do you think I'm Hodgson? That I can casually pull out that much money?"
"I'm not doing this for myself," Wendy said aggrieved, "I'm doing it to fix your watch."
"What kind of broken watch costs that much money?"
Shier said impatiently, "Just throw it away."
"No, Shier!"
Wendy insisted, "I still suspect Nicole is fooling around behind your back. Think about it, how could she afford such an expensive watch? And she's been out all night for several days now. She must be sleeping with other men!"
Her voice was seductive: "Shier, are you really willing to let that bitch play you like this? Everyone in Astoria high society knows she's your fiancée, but she's out there making you a cuckold. Can you swallow that? I'm doing all this for you!"
"Fuck! That damned whore! She dares to find other men outside!"
Wendy's words completely ignited Shier's fury. He punched the wall with a dull thud.
"Fine!" He agreed through gritted teeth, "Give me a few more days, I'll definitely get you that money! I absolutely cannot let that bitch play me like this!"
Hearing this, I had no interest in listening any longer.
I turned to leave but ran right into a solid chest.
Hodgson had appeared behind me at some point.
"When did you develop the habit of eavesdropping?"
He looked down at me, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
I immediately stepped back and glared at him: "Better than you stalking people."
"Why are you so afraid of me stalking you?"
He looked me over, stepping closer until my back was against the wall with nowhere to retreat.
He lowered his head, his hot breath spraying on my face: "Do you have some secret you don't dare let me know about?"
His words made me feel guilty.
Hodgson was too perceptive. I was really afraid he had already started investigating my past in Gardella.
If he found out about the feud between my adoptive parents and the Percy family, if he knew I was targeting his future wife's family, everything would be ruined.
I immediately denied it: "Of course not!"
I didn't want to entangle with him any longer. I was about to push him away and leave, but he grabbed my arm.
"Let me go!" I lowered my voice, squeezing these three words through my teeth.
Shier and Wendy were right next door. I didn't dare make too much noise.
I struggled desperately, but his grip was surprisingly strong. I couldn't break free at all.
He just ignored my resistance and forcibly dragged me down the corridor to his room.
"Bang," the door closed.
The pulling just now had caused my sleeve to slip down, exposing the clear red marks on my wrist.
I had deliberately worn long sleeves today to hide these marks.
Hodgson's gaze fell on those marks.
"Tomorrow at the beach you'll have to wear a bikini."
he released my hand and curved his lips into a wicked smile, "Do you want Shier to see these marks and suspect you were tied to a bed and fucked by another man all night?"
I pulled down my sleeve to cover my wrist, stubbornly saying: "Who says I'm wearing a bikini?"
"Please, Nicole," Hodgson laughed, "I don't like a bumpkin."
"Fuck!"
I hate it most when people call me a bumpkin.
In the end, I compromised and watched as he took out a medical kit from the cabinet in his room.
He grabbed my wrist and used a cotton swab to dab ointment on the wounds where the skin had broken.
After applying the medicine, I immediately pulled my hand back, wanting to return to my room.
But he grabbed me again, his eyes scanning my body suggestively.
"Wait."
He leaned close to my ear, biting it as he said, "Doesn't your pussy need ointment? When I looked this morning, it was still swollen."