Chapter 243: They Live Together Now

The palm was broad and large—a man's hand.

Turning her head, Joanna squinted at the blurry silhouette beside her.

"Justin?"

Justin lay on his side, maintaining his hold on her, completely still.

Listening to his breathing, it took Joanna only a second to realize he was faking sleep.

"Justin, you're breaking our agreement."

She removed his hand and threw back the covers, making to get up.

His muscular arm wrapped around her waist again, pulling her back into his embrace.

"Don't accuse me falsely. You fell asleep holding onto me and wouldn't let go, so I had no choice but to stay with you."

Justin leaned close to Joanna's ear, his warm breath brushing against her face as he spoke words that left her feeling helpless.

"You've really taken to playing the scoundrel lately."

Joanna tugged at his arm, commanding in a low voice, "Let go."

Justin groaned in pain.

Joanna froze. "What's wrong?"

"When I carried you upstairs, I aggravated my rib injury."

Justin's voice was muffled as he continued, "Just now your elbow hit the same spot."

"Does it hurt badly?" Joanna's heart tightened. "Should we go to the hospital?"

"No need."

Justin caught her hand, preventing her from moving about, and rested his chin on top of her head. "Just lie here with me for a while."

"Really?"

"So concerned about me?"

"You still have the energy to joke around? Are you serious or not?"

"You can take it as not serious if you want."

With that, Justin released her and rolled onto his back.

Joanna immediately sat up and turned on the light.

The blanket rested at Justin's waist. One hand covered the left side of his ribs, his brow slightly furrowed, his chest rising and falling.

His eyes were closed—whether from pain or because the light was too bright, she couldn't tell.

But Joanna noticed that Justin had already removed his jacket.

This proved it definitely wasn't because she'd been holding onto him that he'd ended up sleeping here.

Joanna sat thinking for a few seconds, then pulled the blanket up to cover him to his neck before getting out of bed and leaving the room.

Joanna found Karen in the kitchen and explained the situation to her.

Worried that Justin might be putting on a brave face, she wanted Karen to check on him again and see if he needed to go to the hospital.

After listening, Karen remained unhurried. "If he says he's fine, then don't worry about it. Just let him rest."

Stirring the beef stew in the pot, Karen ladled some into a bowl and handed it to Joanna. "Here, help me taste this."

Joanna took the bowl, blew on it, and took a sip. "It's delicious."

Seeing Karen's unconcerned attitude, Joanna stopped worrying.

At dinner, Justin came downstairs to eat, moving normally.

Seeing this, Joanna completely relaxed.

She thought this little episode was over.

To her surprise, when she emerged from the bathroom after washing up, she found Justin on her bed again.

Justin had changed into a dark-colored set of pajamas and was gracefully settling into bed.

"In case my rib punctures an internal organ during the night, at least with you beside me, you can call an ambulance. So sleeping here is safer for me."

Joanna stood at the foot of the bed, the corner of her mouth twitching at Justin's absurd logic. "You're using this excuse tonight. What excuse will you use tomorrow? The day after?"

Justin lay on his side, propping his head up with one hand. "Come here and I'll tell you."

Knowing Justin wouldn't leave willingly, and that she couldn't exactly throw him out, Joanna had no choice but to compromise.

She walked to the bedside and looked down at him.

Justin suddenly sat up, wrapped his arms around her waist, and in one smooth motion, rolled over, pinning her beneath him.

Joanna's breath caught as she instinctively reached toward his injured ribs.

Justin caught her hand and pressed it against the bed beside them. "Can I use your grandfather as an excuse?"

His gentle, magnetic voice fell upon her ear, making Joanna's heart tremble.

"Grandfather told me to take good care of you. If you keep shutting me out, how can I do that?"

His warm palm gently caressed Joanna's cheek, a hint of hurt in his voice. "How long are you going to keep pushing me away?"

He lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to Joanna's lips.

"Joanna..."

He nuzzled her neck with his own, his chest pressed tightly against hers. His heart was racing.

His warm breath fell on her neck again as Justin spoke once more. "Can we try? Please?"

Soft lips landed behind Joanna's ear. She unconsciously gripped the sheets tighter, her body feeling as if it were frozen in place.

Rationally, she felt a trace of resistance.

But she couldn't bring herself to say the words of refusal.

Her body grew hotter, her heartbeat faster, her breathing labored.

Justin suddenly used his tongue to part her lips, kissing her deeply.

The taut string in her mind snapped. In that instant, Joanna decided to follow the instincts of both her body and heart.

She slowly lifted her head and wrapped her arms around his waist.

The moment Joanna touched Justin's body, he paused, and then kissed her even more passionately.

Deep into the night, all was quiet.

Justin held Joanna close, the two of them nestled together, sleeping soundly.

Considering Joanna's health, Justin hadn't taken things to the final step.

But even just this was enough to give Justin sweet dreams all night long.

At breakfast time, Hazel had already finished eating, yet Justin and Joanna still hadn't come downstairs. She asked why no one had called them.

Karen and Elizabeth exchanged a knowing smile.

Elizabeth spoke first. "Your aunt went to call Justin first, but discovered he wasn't in his room—the bed hadn't even been slept in. Only then did a servant mention she'd seen him go to Joanna's room last night."

Hazel stretched her neck forward, her eyes slowly widening, her mouth falling open as she grinned meaningfully. "They're sharing a room now?"

Karen and Elizabeth nodded in unison.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"

Hazel excitedly set down her chopsticks and made an immediate decision. "I'm not going to the office today. I'm staying home to watch this unfold."

"Watch what unfold?"

Elizabeth shot her a look. "Just pretend you don't know anything. Don't say something wrong and upset Joanna."

Hazel said, "Got it!"

Everyone had finished eating by the time Joanna and Justin finally made their leisurely appearance.

Joanna wore a white turtleneck sweater that perfectly concealed her neck.

The three women exchanged glances, then simultaneously stood up, leaving the dining room space to the couple.

As they exchanged morning greetings, everyone looked at them with knowing smiles.

Noticing this, Joanna self-consciously tugged at her sweater collar.

Justin smiled as he pulled out a chair for Joanna, poured her a glass of milk, and acted as if he hadn't noticed the others' unusual behavior.

Once everyone had left, Joanna shot the man beside her a sharp look. "Next time you can't be so reckless. Grandma and the others will notice."

Seeing the marks on her neck when she'd gotten up that morning, Joanna had already glared at Justin several times.

Now, she emphasized it again.

"Understood, honey."

Justin agreed, willing to listen to whatever Joanna said.

A peeled shrimp appeared on the plate in front of Joanna.

Joanna glanced at it, then casually ordered, "I want some bread."

The next second, Justin handed her two pieces of bread.

Joanna chewed her bread thoughtfully. "I should start preparing to go back to work."

Justin nodded. "As long as Dr. Quinn says it's okay, I have no objections. I'll drive you to and from work, or arrange for a driver—I don't feel comfortable with you going alone."

Joanna continued, "I also need to start studying for my doctoral exams. I should make a plan for that too."

Justin agreed again. "Alright. Whatever books and materials you need, I'll get them for you."

Joanna took a sip of milk, smiling faintly as she looked down.