Pearl tried to pull her hand back. "It's nothing, just a scratch from some glass," she said. But Oscar held her small hand tight, not letting her go.
Oscar turned on the light, examining her hand closely. His expression darkened.
"How did you get hurt like this?" he asked. "You've lost so much blood. Why didn't you take care of it? Pearl, you're an adult. Don't you know how to handle an injury?"
Oscar's voice kept rising, his sharp eyebrows furrowed, and the concern on his handsome face made Pearl feel a bit dazed.
She realized that he did care for her after all, but she didn't dare to accept it.
His care would only make her heart, which had just calmed down, flutter for him again!
"It's just a minor injury, Mr. Brown. You don't need to worry," Pearl said, trying to keep her cool.
" A minor injury?" Oscar glanced at her helplessly, and immediately instructed the servant to bring the first aid kit.
He personally tended to her wound, disinfecting and bandaging it.
His actions were so gentle that Pearl began to believe, perhaps, he did care about her.
Pearl's nose tingled, a tear welled up and fell on Oscar's hand.
Oscar paused, looking at her with surprise.
"What's wrong?"
Pearl sniffed, trying to calm down.
"It's nothing, just stings a bit when disinfecting the wound."
"Then I'll be more gentle." Oscar's actions became even more tender.
Pearl looked at his handsome face up close, smelled his scent, and suddenly had an impulse.
She wanted to bury herself in his arms and confess her feelings for him over the years.
She wanted to tell him that, in fact, she wanted to be with him as his wife.
She wanted to be with him forever, never to part.
But Pearl lacked the courage to do so.
After tending to Pearl's wound properly, Oscar had the servant take the first aid kit away.
Seeing her still with red eyes and a pale face, he asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
"No, I just feel a bit hungry." Pearl shook her head.
"You didn't have dinner." Oscar furrowed.
Pearl didn't respond, which was an admission.
He gave her a slightly reproachful look and pulled her downstairs, instructing the servant to prepare dinner.
The servant quickly brought up a plate of pasta. Pearl took a few bites, feeling Oscar's gentle gaze on her, and tears uncontrollably welled up in her eyes again.
Why did he, just when she had finally made up her mind to let go of this marriage, give her a glimmer of hope again?
This was too cruel for her.
"Pearl." Oscar wiped away her tears. "What's going on?"
"There's too much black pepper in this pasta, it's making my eyes uncomfortable." Pearl casually made up a lie.
Of course, Oscar wouldn't believe such a clumsy lie.
He thought it might be because of Haley.
He didn't say anything further, and Pearl remained silent, the atmosphere suddenly becoming eerie.
After finishing the pasta, Oscar escorted Pearl back to the room.
After she freshened up in the bathroom and returned to the bedroom, she was surprised to find Oscar in his pajamas lying on the bed.
She was surprised, unsure whether to approach him.
"Let's go to sleep," Oscar spoke first.
Pearl tentatively walked over and sat on the bed, only to be pulled into his embrace.
His warm embrace caught her off guard, and Pearl was so nervous that she didn't know where to place her hands and feet.
Oscar wouldn't have treated her like this before.
He was acting a bit out of character today.
Normally, with Haley back, he should keep his distance from her!
Oscar held her tightly, his pleasant scent enveloping her, making Pearl's heart beat faster and faster.
Their heartbeats and breaths intertwined, and the atmosphere gradually became ambiguous.
Pearl could feel his body responding, and she couldn't help but recall that unforgettable night when he had filled her with pleasure, causing her body to tremble lightly.
As their breaths quickened, Oscar's phone rang.
It was a call from Haley.
The ambiguous atmosphere was instantly interrupted, and he got up to answer the phone.
After the call, he said to Pearl, "I have some work matters to attend to, you could rest first."
With that, he put on his clothes, and left without looking back.
Watching him leave, Pearl suddenly smiled. As she continued to smile, tears blurred her eyes once more.
‘Pearl, it's time to wake up.’ Pearl thought to herself.
A phone call from Haley shattered Pearl's last bit of fantasy.
Pearl spent the night sleepless.
The next day, she got up as usual to go to work.
At the office, Queenie anxiously said, "Pearl, Mr. Brown is not here today. We need someone to go to the construction site for inspections."
"I'll go with you guys," Pearl replied decisively.
She thought that Oscar probably wouldn't come today.
Last night, he went to be with Haley.
At the construction site, under the scorching sun, the temperature on-site was abnormally high.
Pearl was about to start the inspection when she saw a group of workers gathered, causing a commotion.
Someone was waving a stick, and the situation seemed tense.
"What's going on?" Pearl hurried over, about to inquire about the situation, when a burly male worker directly picked up a wooden stick and swung it towards her!
"Damn it, I'll fight you all!"
"Pearl!" Someone exclaimed.