Chapter 68
Scarlett finally realized the situation she was in and quickly pulled her hand back. Her face was flushed.
“Uh… I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to check the injury on your leg.”
“Oh,” Xavier responded lightly, but the corner of his lips curled up slightly as if amused by her obvious attempt to explain herself.
Scarlett hesitated. “Maybe you could let go of my hand, and I’ll go grab some scissors to cut your pant leg open?”
“That’s just troublesome,” he muttered, voice curt and sharp, “Just take them off.”
Scarlett was speechless. She stressed again, helplessly, “I really just want to see your thigh Injury.”
“Mm. Take them off.”
Scarlett went silent. She was sure now that Xavier had misunderstood her intentions. She tugged at her wrist, but the man’s expression immediately turned cold, and his grip tightened even more.
Scarlett looked around and then had an idea: “Alright, then. I’ll proceed.”
“Mm.”
She lowered her head and picked up his pant leg with her teeth, attempting to tear it open. Xavier simply watched her quietly.
Scarlett gnawed at the fabric for a while, cursing in her mind. What kind of hospital gown is this? Who made it so durable?
Suddenly, she froze in place. Calmly, she reached into her bag and pulled out an acupuncture needle. She stabbed it three inches below his navel with a clean, precise motion.
The view was instantly cleared.
Xavier didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. He continued to quietly watch her, his gaze surprisingly gentle. Even the exhaustion in his eyes softened into a kind of tender indulgence–as if no matter what Scarlett did, he’d let her get away with it.
Scarlett snuck a glance at his expression, and when she saw nothing off, she lowered her head again and continued tearing at the cloth. Finally, the thick fabric gave
way.
She quickly began her acupuncture treatment, stopping the bleeding and easing the pain with practiced skill. Then came round two of coaxing him to sleep.
After everything, Scarlett herself was completely exhausted. While comforting him, she accidentally drifted off, falling asleep right there on his shoulder.
Half an hour later, the hospital room door creaked open again. Earlier, though Percy hadn’t explained what happened, he had told Caleb that Xavier had fallen asleep.
Caleb, having calculated that enough time had passed for Xavier’s brain activity to stabilize, decided now was the moment to resume treatment. But the scene that greeted them when they opened the door left everyone frozen in shock.
Xavier’s hospital gown was unbuttoned, exposing his firm chest. His pants were in tatters. They looked like they’d been chewed up by a dog, and his injured thigh was completely visible.
Most shocking of all, Scarlett was asleep next to him! Her head was resting on his shoulder, and his arm was wrapped intimately around her waist. The two of them looked just like a pair of lovers.
Everyone at the door stood wide–eyed, speechless. The sound of the door opening jolted the ever–alert Xavier awake. His sharp gaze immediately swept toward the intruders, eyes radiating ice–cold warning.
The crowd froze in terror. No one dared to make a sound. Still, the intense stares directed at Scarlett roused her.
She slowly opened her eyes. She saw the room full of people and instantly sat up straight, fully alert.
“Dr. Gaztrict, you’re here. I’ve already stabilized Mr. Stroud’s cerebral hyperactivity and stopped the bleeding and pain. You may now proceed with the next phase of treatment.”
Everyone was shocked.
Noah’s aged eyes widened. He was utterly dumbfounded.
Caleb was the first to regain his senses. He was overwhelmed with joy. Scarlett was not only alive but unharmed, too. Even as he saw her lying beside Xavier, he didn’t question it for a second.
He rushed forward, put on his stethoscope, and began examining Xavier’s condition.
Scarlett also prepared to get out of bed, but as soon as she set one foot on the ground, Xavier’s hand shot out and gripped her wrist again.