Chapter 145: Can you walk, or do you want me to carry you?

A loud slap rang out.

Carissa’s hand landed hard across Leon’s face. After the way he kissed her like he had lost control, he still had the nerve to ask if she wanted more. The question alone made her blood boil.

“Here, if you want to continue, use this instead,” she snapped, grabbing a pot hanging nearby and dropping it straight onto his head. By the time Leon pulled the pot off his face, Carissa was already gone.

Leon did not even try to think about what he did wrong. He just let out a low laugh. He could not help it. The way her face twisted in anger looked way too cute to him.

If she had said yes, he would have taken it much further and made her feel far more than that.

His fingers moved to his lips, brushing over the spot where her taste still lingered. A slow smile spread across his face as he looked toward her bedroom door. Her rejection did not push him away. It pulled him in even more.

He wanted to see how long she could keep acting like she did not want him. No matter how long it took, he had already made up his mind.

He was going to have her. He just needed the right moment.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Morning classes were always draining.

Carissa sat in her chair, her body feeling weak. She had not eaten anything, and there was still one more hour before the class ended. Her hand pressed against her stomach as the pain grew worse.

Her stomach problem was acting up again. She skipped dinner last night, and this morning she woke up late, so she did not get the chance to eat.

“Car, what is wrong with you?” Dinne asked in a low voice from across the table, her face filled with concern as she saw Carissa holding her stomach.

“It hurts…” Carissa said, her voice weak. Her face had turned pale, and sweat covered her forehead.

Dinne could not just sit there and watch. She raised her hand.

At the front of the class, Leon stopped talking, his lips pressing together.

“I have not opened the question session yet, Miss Dinne,” he said, his tone relaxed but carrying pressure. He did not like being interrupted while teaching.

“I am not asking a question, sir. I want to take Carissa to the clinic,” Dinne said clearly.

Right away, everyone’s attention turned to Carissa.

Leon did not hesitate. He walked straight to her.

“Carissa, are you sick?” he asked as he lowered himself in front of her, trying to see her face, which she kept turned away.

Without asking, he moved her hair aside and tucked it behind her ear so he could see her properly.

Soft gasps spread across the room. People were already reacting to how close they were. Leon did not hide his concern at all, even in front of everyone. It was enough to start new gossip about the young lecturer.

“My stomach hurts,” Carissa said, her voice barely holding.

Leon immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders, trying to help her stand so he could take her to the clinic.

Carissa shook her head and pushed his hand away, refusing him.

“Dinne, please…” she said after rejecting Leon, reaching out her hand toward her friend.

“Dinne, help her,” Leon said.

Dinne quickly stood up and supported Carissa, helping her out of the classroom.

“Be careful,” Leon added, unable to hide the worry on his face as he watched Carissa leave.

He let out a breath before forcing himself to return to the front of the class. He continued teaching, but his focus was no longer complete. He could not stop thinking about Carissa.

^^^^^^^^^^

Carissa had been asleep in the clinic for about thirty minutes.

Earlier, Dinne bought her some chicken porridge from outside the campus, along with warm sweet tea and stomach medicine from the clinic staff. Carissa felt guilty because Dinne had to miss part of the class just to take care of her. She planned to treat her to a meal later.

Her eyes slowly opened.

At first, everything looked blurry, but then she noticed a tall figure sitting beside her bed.

She shifted slightly, and pain followed right after.

The man beside her lifted his head at once.

“You are awake, Carissa?” Andrey asked, panic clear on his face.

Carissa nodded.

She tried to sit up, but Andrey quickly moved closer, ready to help her.

“No need,” she said, raising her hand to stop him. “I can do it myself.”

Andrey nodded and sat back down.

“How are you feeling now?” he asked, his deep voice filling the quiet room.

Before answering, Carissa bit her lower lip. Being this close to him made her feel awkward. They were not even that close.

“I feel better,” she said, keeping it brief. “How did you know I was here?”

Andrey rubbed the back of his neck. “I was in the next class when you came in. I saw you by accident.”

Carissa nodded.

“Do you still have another class, or are you going home?” he asked.

Her eyes widened as she checked the time on her wrist. “I still have class,” she said, letting out a breath of relief when she saw it would start in thirty minutes.

She took her phone out of her pocket, focusing on the screen.

“Carissa,” Andrey called, placing his hand on her arm.

Carissa reacted right away. She pushed his hand away and moved back.

“Hey, I am just touching you,” he said with a smile that did not match the moment. Still, his hand reached out again.

“It is fine, Carissa. I am just touching you.”

Tears started to form in her eyes. Her face turned pale again, and her lips began to tremble.

His hand would not leave her. His touch made it hard for her to breathe, like her chest was closing in.

“Please do not…” she said in a weak voice.

“Do not what? I am just touching you. There is no need to cry,” Andrey said like it meant nothing.

To him, it was nothing. To Carissa, it felt like torture. A quiet sob escaped her.

In the next moment, Andrey was pulled away and thrown to the floor. Leon stood there.

His jaw was set tight, his eyes locked on Andrey with anger that was impossible to miss.

“You think you can touch her and just walk away like nothing happened?” Leon said, his voice low but filled with warning.

Andrey did not answer. He quickly got up and left the room. Leon let out a breath and turned back to Carissa. She had curled into herself, shaking.

He moved closer, more careful this time, then pulled her into his arms, holding her gently while his hand moved over her back in a slow, comforting motion.

This time, she did not pull away. Instead, she leaned into him. She felt safe. For a moment, she forgot she had been trying to avoid him.

“It is okay. I am here,” Leon said, trying to calm her down.

“I am scared…” Carissa admitted, her voice breaking as tears kept falling.

“Let us go home,” he said softly. “I will take you back to your place. Can you walk, or do you want me to carry you?”