Chapter 341

Chapter 341

"What do you mean?" I stood up immediately.

But I'd been sitting cross-legged for too long. My legs were badly numb.

I fell right back down.

"Look at you. Why the rush? A little blood won't kill me."

Ethan steadied me with his uninjured arm.

I grabbed him in return. "What did you just say? What did you mean?"

Ethan sighed. "The mechanism works like this: when the control subject is injured, the controlled subject suffers the same damage. So Cindy, you need to behave. Otherwise, I'll be upset."

"And if I'm upset, Orion will be upset too."

I was stunned by this revelation.

I'd never heard of such a thing, but I knew there were plenty of underhanded methods in the country that never saw the light of day.

Every one of them was absurd. But they all left traces of being real.

"If you don't believe me, I can let you contact Brady."

My head snapped up. "Really?"

Ethan pulled up Brady's number and dialed directly.

"Hello?"

Brady's voice came through quickly.

Ethan gestured for me to speak.

I coughed twice to adjust my voice before speaking. "Brady, it's Lucinda."

"Lucinda, where are you? Leopold's going crazy looking for you!" Brady said urgently. "Wait, I'll go find Leopold right now."

"Don't look for him yet. Go check on Orion for me. See if he has a wound on his arm."

"I just left the hospital room. Orion's condition is very strange. The toxin isn't active, but he hasn't woken up either."

"Go check for me now."

"Now?" Brady sounded confused.

"Yes. Hurry." I urged him anxiously.

There was noise on the other end, like Brady was running.

I pressed my lips together. They stung.

I realized they'd already cracked and peeled.

"Oh my God!" Brady's voice suddenly came through. "How is there a wound on Orion's arm? I just looked at him and there wasn't one! What's going on?"

My lips trembled slightly. I pressed him again. "Where is the wound?"

"Left elbow."

I stared at Ethan's left elbow. I was on the verge of breaking down.

It was the exact same spot.

Ethan hadn't lied to me.

When I didn't speak for a long time, Brady grew anxious. "What's going on? Do you know how Orion got that wound?"

I didn't know how to explain. This was beyond my understanding.

Ethan took the phone and said calmly to Brady, "It's nothing. Cindy was just confirming something."

"Who are you?" Brady sensed something was wrong.

Ethan didn't want to respond. He was about to hang up.

"Leopold, Cindy's phone..."

The line went dead.

My gaze was drawn over just in time to see Ethan press the disconnect button.

"Cindy, do you want to eat something now? While you're eating, I can take care of my wound."

I had no room left to refuse.

I could only pick up the cold oatmeal porridge beside me and bring it to my mouth.

"Don't rush." Ethan caught my hand, somewhat helpless. "The porridge is cold. Let me reheat it for you."

I didn't object.

I didn't know if he was testing me or if he really trusted me, but when he left, he didn't take his phone.

I grabbed the phone immediately and called Leopold.

"Cindy?"

Leopold's voice made me freeze for a moment.

"It's me."

"Brady just said you called and that you know about the wound that suddenly appeared on Orion's arm. What's going on?"

"This is going to sound absurd." I struggled to organize my words. "Orion isn't poisoned. He's being controlled. Have you ever heard of that?"

"Control subject?" Leopold clearly hadn't heard of it either, but he caught on quickly. "There's a control subject inside Orion's body?"

"Yes." I had no idea how Leopold had figured it out so fast, but time was limited and I couldn't ask. "The control object is with Ethan."

"He's using this to threaten you?" Leopold asked urgently.

"No. I came here on my own."

"Why?"

"I..." I was about to explain when I saw a shadow appear on the hallway wall.

Ethan was coming.

I didn't have time to explain. I could only say hurriedly, "I'll find another chance to contact you. I have to go."

Leopold said something else, but I didn't hear it.

"Cindy, I didn't heat the porridge all the way through. Try this temperature and see if it's okay?"

Ethan came in carrying a porcelain bowl in one hand and handed it to me.

I reached out to take it. When I saw his gaze fall on the phone, my nerves went taut.

Had he noticed?

"My phone..."

He tilted his head, studying it.

My heart leapt into my throat.

Suddenly, Ethan smiled. "So that's where it was. I thought I'd left it in the bedroom."

I was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he looked at me again and asked with a smile, "Why aren't you trying it? Is it not to your taste, or did you do something bad behind my back?"

My hand tightened on the spoon. Then I forced my expression to relax. "It's hot. I wanted to wait a bit."

Hearing this, Ethan bent down and leaned close.

I didn't know what he was going to do. I instinctively pulled back.

Ethan acted as if he hadn't noticed. He inhaled softly and blew toward the bowl.

The faint stream of air fell over the porcelain bowl. It brushed my fingertips, making them tremble.

"That hot?" Ethan sounded surprised. At the same time, he reached out. "Then how about I feed you?"

"No!" I quickly refused and pulled the bowl away.

Who knew if he'd drip saliva into it while blowing on it?

The thought alone made me shudder.

Ethan stayed bent over, his eyes narrowing. He said half-teasingly, "Cindy, are you guarding your food?"

I lowered my eyes and didn't speak. I quietly drank the porridge.

The atmosphere turned cold and stagnant.

After two sips of porridge, I realized my phone had been confiscated. I had to find a way to get his phone back.

I worked up my emotions before looking at Ethan again.

"Did you take care of your wound?"

A flicker of light surfaced in Ethan's eyes, as if he hadn't expected me to ask.

He casually raised his left arm, revealing his roughly bandaged elbow.

"It's taken care of. I just need to reapply the medicine later. It's not very convenient for me to do it myself..."

He was testing me.

I resisted inwardly, but I didn't dare show it on my face.

I tried to keep my tone natural.

"Then I'll help you later."

Ethan's lips immediately curved upward. "That would be wonderful."

"What do you want to eat tonight? I'll make it for you."

"No need." I refused instinctively, then realized my tone had been too harsh. I quickly softened it. "I don't have much of an appetite right now. I don't really want to eat tonight."

Ethan expressed understanding. "That's fine. You haven't eaten in two days. I'll prepare some easily digestible food for you first. When you're hungry, I'll heat it up for you."

"Okay. Thank you."

Then I shifted the topic. "By the way, my mom's birthday is coming up. Can you give me my phone back so I can order a gift?"

Ethan hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "Your phone accidentally fell into the sink. It's not working. If you want to order a gift, you can use my phone."

I bit my lip. I knew he had to be lying.

But... there was no other choice right now.

"Okay. Then let me borrow your phone."

After unlocking it, Ethan handed it directly to me.

I opened the shopping app and was browsing when Ethan suddenly said coolly, "Cindy, how did you know which folder my shopping app was in?"

I froze. Had I been caught already?