Chapter 39
Ophelia and William huddled together, taking advantage of the view from the hilltop as they discussed the details back and forth.
Ophelia casually picked up a stick and sketched out a rough route on the ground.
They were deep in discussion when the sky suddenly darkened again.
The clouds that had been letting through sunlight just moments ago had somehow gathered once more, pressing down heavily overhead in dark masses. The wind picked up, too, making the surrounding branches rustle loudly.
"What's going on? Didn't they say the rain had stopped?" Ophelia looked up at the sky, feeling vaguely uneasy.
The moment she finished speaking, raindrops as big as beans came crashing down, even heavier than yesterday's rain, soaking them half-wet in an instant.
"Oh no, it's a convective storm - they come fast and hard!" William immediately took off his jacket and draped it over Ophelia's head. "Quick, find somewhere to take cover!"
The hilltop was bare, without even a large tree to shelter under. They could only run down the slope, but the soil, soaked by the rain, became even more slippery. Ophelia's foot slipped, and she fell sideways.
William quickly caught her around the waist, and they tumbled together into a slightly flat depression halfway down the slope. The spot could just fit two people, and there was a thick clump of bushes nearby that could block some of the wind and rain.
They clutched the jacket tightly, barely covering their heads. Rainwater ran down the edges of the jacket, forming a small curtain of rain that separated them from the storm outside.
Ophelia leaned against William's chest. She could clearly feel his strong heartbeat and the warmth from his body, mixed with the fresh scent of rain, which somehow made her feel safe.
Her cheek pressed against his chest, burning hot. She instinctively tried to pull back, but William held her shoulder in place.
"Don't move. The rain's too heavy outside - one move and we'll be completely soaked." His voice came through the rain with a hint of huskiness. "Hang in there a bit longer. We'll go down when the rain lets up."
Ophelia had no choice but to stop moving and let him shelter her. They were extremely close, their breaths mingling. She could smell the faint woody scent on him, mixed with the fresh smell of rain-dampened clothes.
She could feel his arm wrapped tightly around her waist, with just the right amount of pressure - not making her feel constrained, yet firmly protecting her from the rain.
"Thank you for earlier," Ophelia said softly, her cheeks still burning, not daring to look up at him.
"Thank me for what?" William looked down at her, rainwater wetting his lashes and dripping down his jawline. "Isn't protecting you what I should do?"
At those words, Ophelia's heart skipped a beat. She quickly buried her head lower, pretending to look at the mud on the ground.
She knew William felt differently about her, but every time she heard such suggestive words, she couldn't help but feel flustered.
Having been through Jeffrey's betrayal, she always approached relationships with some wariness, not daring to invest easily. But William's gentleness and protection made her heart flutter despite herself.
The rain grew heavier, pounding on the bushes, and the wind whipped around, nearly blowing the jacket away.
William pulled the jacket more toward her side, leaving half his shoulder exposed, which was quickly soaked by the rain.
"Your shoulder's all wet," Ophelia noticed and reached out to push the jacket toward him.
"It's fine, I'm healthy, I'm not afraid of getting wet." William held her hand. "You shouldn't catch a cold, or who'll oversee the project?"
Ophelia felt warmth in her heart and didn't insist further, only quietly nestled closer into his embrace, trying to let them both fit under the jacket.
Shouts from workers came from below the slope - Austin must have noticed they hadn't come down and was looking for them.
"We're here!" William shouted down the slope, his voice somewhat muffled by the rain.
"Mr. Brown! Ms. Blake! Are you okay?" Austin's voice came through, sounding anxious. "The rain's too heavy, don't move around, we'll come up to get you!"
"No need!" William shouted back. "The rain's too heavy, it's too dangerous to come up. We'll come down ourselves when the rain lets up!"
He looked down at Ophelia in his arms, his eyes carrying a smile. "Looks like we'll have to stay here a while longer."
Ophelia nodded. Surprisingly, she didn't feel the slightest bit annoyed - instead, this feeling of being trapped in the rain seemed somewhat wonderful.
She sneaked a glance up at him and met his deep gaze. Through the rain, his eyes were exceptionally bright, as if hiding stars, making her heart race. She quickly lowered her head again.
"What are you thinking about?" William asked softly, his fingers unconsciously caressing her waist, the movement natural and gentle.
"Nothing, just thinking about the boardwalk route," Ophelia made up an excuse.
William chuckled softly, clearly seeing through her thoughts but not calling her out. He just went along with her words: "That gentle curve we talked about at the hilltop is definitely workable. We'll confirm the details with Austin once the rain stops."
They chatted about the project on and off. Occasionally, they fell silent, with only the sound of rain and each other's breathing - the atmosphere both intimate and warm.
Ophelia leaned against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, feeling the warmth from his body, and the wariness in her heart gradually lowered quite a bit.
She thought, perhaps she didn't need to resist so deliberately - just let things take their natural course.
After some time, the rain gradually lessened, changing from a downpour to a drizzle.
"The rain's letting up, let's go down," William said, helping Ophelia slowly stand up.
The jacket was already soaked through, clinging to them cold and damp. Ophelia couldn't help but sneeze.
William immediately took off the jacket and draped it over her, then unbuttoned two buttons at his shirt collar, revealing his solid chest, his tone teasing: "Not cold now, right?"
Ophelia's cheeks instantly flushed red. Not daring to look at him, she turned and headed down the slope: "Let's go quickly, Austin and the others are still waiting below."
William watched her flustered figure, a smile flashing in his eyes. He quickly followed, still walking beside her, occasionally steadying her to prevent her from slipping.
When they reached the bottom of the slope, Austin was already waiting with several workers, holding raincoats.
"Ms. Blake, Mr. Brown, you're finally down!" Austin quickly handed over the raincoats. "Put these on quick, don't catch a cold!"
Ophelia took the raincoat and put it on. William's jacket's scent still lingered on her, making her heart feel warm.
"Thanks, everyone, for your trouble. We're fine," Ophelia said with a smile.
William also put on a raincoat, his gaze falling on Ophelia. Only after confirming she was okay did he nod with relief: "Austin, have someone check if the soil on the slope has loosened. If there are any safety hazards, put some protective measures in place first."