Chapter 102 Why Did You Quit?
Evelyn drove home quickly.
Other than sounding worried, Roman's voice from the call sounded like he was slightly mad.
—
The moment she stepped into the house, she barely had time to close the door before a pair of arms pulled her in.
Roman’s clean and familiar scent surrounded her instantly.
“Where have you been?” he asked, his voice low against her ear.
Evelyn let out a small breath and wrapped her arms around his back.
“I was at Lena’s,” she said. “I’m sorry. I should have called.”
“Mm.”
He pulled back just enough to look at her, his hands coming up to cup her face.
“Leo told me you left early,” he said. “I thought something might have happened.”
His eyes searched hers.
“No matter what it is, Evelyn… you can always tell me.”
He held her gaze. “Hmm?”
Evelyn smiled faintly and nodded.
“I know.”
Her reply wasn’t enough for him. But he let it go.
Something in his chest tightened knowing she was hiding something from him.
Before he could stop himself, he leaned down and kissed her forcefully. His hand tightening around her waist.
Evelyn’s eyes widened at the sudden force of it.
His tongue slid past her teeth quickly.
She gasped as he deepened the kiss more. As if trying to swallow her whole
For a moment, she remained still. Then she responded equally, her fingers sliding up around his neck as she leaned into him.
A soft cough sounded behind them.
Evelyn jolted slightly, but Roman didn’t pull away.
Instead, a low moan escaped him against her lips, the vibration sending heat straight through her body.
Her face flushed instantly.
She pushed against him lightly.
“Mmph—”
He bit down on her lower lip harshly, before releasing her.
Evelyn drew in a sharp breath, her gaze dropping as heat rushed through her.
“What was that for?” she muttered, her fingers grazing at the bite mark on her lips.
“Boss… boss lady…”
Leo’s strained voice came from behind them.
“If you could move a little… so I can leave without witnessing anything else…”
Evelyn’s heart dropped.
She quickly turned, peeking past Roman’s shoulder.
Leo stood there, awkwardly holding his briefcase, his face slightly flushed as he avoided looking directly at them.
Evelyn wanted the floor to open immediately.
She turned back to Roman, her expression shifting into a glare.
“You could have told me we had someone here,” she said, her voice rising as she brushed past him.
Without waiting for a response, she headed upstairs.
Roman watched her go, then exhaled quietly as his hands went to his pockets.
Leo cleared his throat.
Roman turned his head, fixing him a sideways glare.
Leo nearly wilted.
“I’ll… be on my way, boss.”
“Don’t come to my house again.”
Leo blinked.
“What?”
"Do you want me to repeat myself?"
"No, but—boss, you can't be serious. I'm your PA. I've been with you for—"
"You embarrassed my wife." Roman walked past him. "Your presence here is a problem.”
Leo's jaw dropped. "That's not true! The boss lady clearly likes me!”
Roman stopped. He turned slowly.
“Likes you?”
The temperature in the room dropped immediately.
Leo swallowed.
"B-boss. You know I didn't mean it like that. I just—"
"Roman!"
Hurried footsteps sounded from the stairs.
Evelyn appeared halfway down, wrapped in a robe, her hair slightly loose, her expression flushed.
"I wanted to talk to you about something." She said, slightly breathless. "Now might be a good time.”
Roman’s attention shifted to her.
Leo exhaled in relief.
“Can Leo be my assistant?” Evelyn asked.
Leo's head snapped up. "Wait—what?”
Roman's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
Evelyn shrugged. "You're on sabbatical. You don't need him as much. And I like him—" She stopped. “Oh—wait, I think I left the washing machine on.”
She turned and hurried back upstairs before either of them could respond.
The house fell silent.
Leo stood frozen, watching his boss.
Roman didn't even look at him. He reached for a glass, poured water from the jug, and drank.
"I like him." The words echoed.
His eye twitched.
His grip tightened on the empty glass.
Ding.
A thin crack appeared across the glass.
Leo’s eyes widened. He didn't know a person could crack a glass like that.
A thin line of blood slid down his hand.
Roman turned to him.
"I won't come to the house anymore," Leo said quickly. "I'll just—"
"Bring the dishes to the kitchen." Roman said calmly. "I'll need your help reheating them.”
He looked down at his hand. Blood dripped onto the floor.
“I’m injured.”
He walked toward the kitchen.
Leo wiped his forehead and followed.
—
By the time Evelyn came back down, the table was already set.
Steam rose gently from the dishes.
Roman sat calmly, flipping through a magazine.
“I feel bad,” Evelyn said as she settled on her chair. “Mrs. Chen must have gone through trouble reheating everything.”
Roman didn’t look up.
“She’s on leave.”
Evelyn blinked. "Since when?”
She stared at him.
"You reheated the dishes yourself?”
Roman set the magazine aside and reached for his utensils.
Evelyn immediately noticed a fresh cut across his palm, the edges still red.
She quickly reached across the table. "What happened?"
He pulled his hand back. "It's nothing."
"Roman. You don't need to handle kitchen work if—”
"Boss, I'm done."
Leo emerged from the kitchen, setting the last dish on the table.
Evelyn's head snapped toward him.
"Leo. You're still—" She stopped. Her eyes dropped to his hands.
Fresh red burns and blisters, covered his hand.
Her mouth opened.
"What happened?”
Leo smiled, tucking his hands behind his back. "It's nothing."
Evelyn's brows knitted.
"Did you reheat the food and burn yourself?”
Her frown deepened. She turned to Roman.
"Roman. Leo is your assistant, not a housekeeper. How could you let him do this? He's injured—”
“Boss lady, please—” Leo cut in quickly. “I helped willingly.”
He forced a smile.
“Boss got injured first. I just assisted.”
Evelyn pressed her lips thinly. Her anger deflated as she suddenly felt guilty for putting them through this.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “Both of you.”
She turned to Roman. "Where's the ointment? The one you used on me before."
Roman smiled slightly, wincing as he looked at his hand. "Upstairs. The bedside table."
She quickly hurried upstairs.
The moment she was gone, Roman turned to Leo.
“Thank you for your help today."
Leo gritted his teeth. "Anything for you, boss."
Roman nodded. “You’ll be compensated.”
That helped. A lot.
"Thank you, boss.”
As Leo turned to leave—
“Beast,” he muttered under his breath.
“Hmm?”
Leo froze.
"Did you say something? Just now?"
Leo's mind raced. "No. I said you're generous."
Roman held his gaze for a moment. Then nodded.
Leo walked out, exhaling the moment the door closed behind him.
—
When Evelyn came back down, only Roman was in the living room.
"Where's Leo?"
"He had something urgent to attend to." Roman replied.
She sighed.
“I’ll give him the ointment tomorrow.”
She knelt beside Roman, carefully taking his hand and applying the ointment gently.
Roman hissed.
"Sorry," she murmured, bowing her head over his palm.
Roman watched her quietly as she blew on the wound.
‘Maybe getting injured isn’t so bad.’
“Roman,” she called suddenly, as she kept dabbing on his hand.
"Hmm?"
Evelyn didn't look up.
"Why did you quit being a doctor?”