Chapter 84: Go to the Marriage Registration Office, Remarry
Ava gathered her thoughts, her voice cool and detached. "What? Is Mr. Thomas here to get justice for Mia?"
"..."
Joshua didn't speak. Ava only felt those eyes staring intently at her, as if trying to pierce through her body and see into the depths of her soul.
Ava's butterfly-like lashes trembled slightly. Her chest felt tight. Today's events had truly exhausted her. She didn't want to say anything, and right now she didn't want to deal with Joshua either.
When it came to Joshua, she could never use tactics like Mia did—pretending to be pitiful to gain sympathy. Maybe she shouldn't have asked that question today at all.
But deep down, she wanted Joshua to believe her, so she asked.
The result disappointed her.
When he didn't trust her, she admitted that her unwillingness to explain or show evidence was because she was being stubborn.
A dark corner of her heart hoped that Joshua would regret not trusting her today.
The hospital room was silent. Ava closed her eyes deeply. "If you want to stand there, go ahead. I'm tired..."
Before Ava could finish, a strong arm locked around her waist.
Ava's heart jumped. In the darkness, the man leaned down, his cool lips covering hers, directly prying open her teeth.
His intense, familiar scent enveloped Ava completely. Her whole heart felt like it would leap out of her chest.
She froze in complete disbelief.
When she came to her senses, her resisting hands pressed against Joshua's solid chest, trying to push him away.
But that little bit of strength was useless against the strong Joshua. Her resistance only made Joshua more wild.
"...Joshua!"
Her breath completely taken away, Ava finally got a chance to breathe, only to be kissed by Joshua again.
She couldn't handle Joshua's intensity tonight. After struggling uselessly, she could only submit and let him kiss her.
Unconsciously, Ava's eyes moistened. Between their tangled lips and teeth, a taste of blood emerged.
Ava bit Joshua's lower lip, biting hard, as if determined to hurt him.
Joshua held the back of her neck, not letting her escape, allowing her to bite, while he kept kissing her, unwilling to leave her even the slightest gap.
The two were like long-separated lovers, grief and resentment mixed together, love surging, needing to hurt each other to soothe their inner pain before they would stop.
Tears slid down her cheeks. The faint sobbing sound finally brought Joshua back to his senses, and he was willing to let Ava go.
In the darkness, Joshua leaned over, his arm hooked around Ava's waist. Ava's nerves were tense. Their eyes met, neither speaking.
Silent for a long time.
Joshua slowly lowered his head, burying it in the crook of Ava's neck, his fine breaths scattering densely on Ava's neck.
Ava didn't dare move. The calm after the storm—who knows how long it lasted.
"Ava."
Joshua's low, hoarse voice sounded. "Promise me you won't get hurt again."
He had never been as afraid of losing her as he was today.
The way she looked today scared him so much he didn't dare breathe.
Ava's lashes trembled slightly. This kiss seemed to have subtly changed the relationship between them.
Right now, Ava really couldn't understand Joshua at all. What exactly was he doing? This sudden impulse and concern gently tugged at her heartstrings.
She pulled at the corner of her lips and asked in a choked voice, "Joshua, are you concerned about me?"
"Yes, I'm concerned about you."
His low, mellow voice fell. Ava's heart trembled.
"So promise me, don't get hurt again. I can't take it."
Ava blinked lightly, staring into Joshua's eyes. She seemed to think of something, and a shadow fell in her eyes. Finally, she chose to look away.
"Does it really matter to you whether I get hurt or not? Concerned about me? Joshua, in what capacity are you concerned about me?"
Joshua's hand around her waist tightened a bit.
Ava pushed at Joshua. This extremely intimate position made her very uncomfortable, and Joshua's overwhelming presence forced her to hold her breath a little.
But Joshua remained unmoved like a mountain.
Ava bit her lip.
"If you have nothing to say, Mr. Thomas can leave. I need to rest."
"If caring about you requires a specific capacity, then let's remarry."
Joshua's sudden words made Ava's heart jump. She almost doubted she'd heard wrong, but in the hospital room so quiet she could hear Joshua's soft breathing, the words echoed in her ears again. The chance of mishearing was zero.
"You're joking!"
Having ruled out the possibility of mishearing, Ava could only find this explanation.
Her body moved, and the next second Joshua scooped her up in one motion, carrying her straight toward the door.
Ava was completely stunned.
"Joshua, what are you doing?"
"Marriage registration office."
Ava's heart jumped.
This was crazy.
He was using actions to prove to her whether he was joking or not.
"Put me down. Who agreed to remarry you?"
"Reason?"
A reason for not agreeing to remarry.