Chapter 162 Hooking His Neck, Asking for a Hug
Olivia's heart sank.
She even started to picture herself falling and ending up with a bruised and swollen face.
But at this critical moment, she felt a strong force wrap around her waist.
Someone caught her firmly in their arms just as she was about to hit the ground. Due to the momentum, the person staggered back several steps until they were stopped by a bookshelf.
Olivia heard a low, muffled grunt.
Still shaken, she quickly looked up.
The first thing that came into view was the man's strikingly handsome face, so close to hers.
His sharp jawline, his lowered eyes, his furrowed brows, his pressed thin lips, and his warm breath falling gently on her.
They were very close.
Especially their bodies...
She was practically pressed against his chest, with no gap between them at all.
Even through their coats, she could feel the constant warmth radiating from him.
The man's hand was pressed tightly against the small of her back, in a position that couldn't be more intimate.
However, Olivia didn't care about their intimate position. She only asked with concern, "Mr. Hamilton, are you okay? Did you hit something?"
The shelf had clearly made a dull thud just now. What if he'd hit his head?
Out of worry, she quickly raised her hand to feel the back of his head.
This action made their position even more intimate.
It looked like she was hooking her arm around his neck, asking for a hug...
Andrew's eyes darkened as he replied, "I'm fine. Just hit my back. With the clothes cushioning it, it doesn't hurt much. What about you? Are you hurt? I didn't have time to tell you earlier—that ladder was broken by David this morning."
As he spoke, his voice was almost right against her ear.
Olivia's ears tingled, and she finally realized how inappropriate this position was.
She quickly pulled her hand back and withdrew from his embrace, saying somewhat embarrassedly, "I... I think I'm okay too."
Andrew wasn't convinced. He straightened up and said, "Move your foot and see if you twisted it."
Olivia obediently did as told.
It was fine when she didn't move... but as soon as she did, a sharp pain shot through.
"Ouch!"
Olivia sucked in a breath, her expression changing immediately.
Andrew's face tensed. "You're hurt?"
Olivia nodded. "I think I twisted my ankle when I slid down."
Andrew's expression darkened slightly. He quickly helped her to a chair. "Sit down first. Let me take a look."
With that, he crouched down in front of her, his long fingers pressing against her ankle, as if checking how serious the injury was.
Olivia's face scrunched up in pain. She quickly grabbed his arm and said, "You... be gentle."
Andrew saw tears were about to spill from her eyes. He frowned slightly. "The bone isn't hurt. It's just a sprain. Let me put some medicine on it first..."
He turned to look at David, his tone slightly displeased. "I told you to take the broken ladder away and not leave it here. Why didn't you?"
The angle at which Olivia had fallen just now was too dangerous. Right in front of her was the corner of a bookshelf.
If he hadn't caught her in time, she might have injured more than just her leg.
David was already breaking out in a cold sweat. "I'm sorry. I meant to take it away this morning, but I got busy and forgot... I'm so sorry, Dr. Garcia. It's all my fault that you got hurt."
Olivia didn't blame him at all. "It's okay. You didn't do it on purpose. It's my fault too—I didn't look carefully."
David still felt terrible and apologized again.
As they were talking, the bodyguard had already brought the medicine.
Andrew took it and sprayed it on Olivia's ankle several times, then began to massage it. "Bear with it. It'll heal faster if I work it out."
Olivia nodded. She had no objections.
However, during the treatment, the atmosphere around them was clearly a bit tense.
Andrew seemed still unhappy about David's carelessness.
Although her foot hurt terribly, to ease the stiff atmosphere, she endured the pain and tried to persuade him, "Mr. Hamilton, don't blame David anymore. He definitely didn't do it on purpose. He's been really helpful these past few days. Let's just call it even for this incident.
When we get back to Emerald City, I'll use the medicine I developed myself. I'll be better in a couple of days!
So please don't be angry anymore, okay?"
Seeing that she was speaking up for David, Andrew didn't say anything more.
David let out a long breath.
He almost thought he'd have to commit ritual suicide to apologize!
Thank goodness for Olivia—her words actually worked!
To make up for his earlier mistake, David took the initiative to put all the materials back in their proper places.
That day, the work was successfully completed, and the group prepared to leave the outpost and return to Emerald City.
When they were leaving, Henry came to see them off in person, accompanied by several special forces members who had just recovered.
They all looked at her with sincere gratitude.
"Dr. Garcia, thank you so much for the treatment this time. Without you, who knows what might have happened to them."
"Yes, you've worked hard these past few days. The conditions here are limited. You probably weren't very comfortable, yet you still stayed all these days for everyone's sake."
This mountainous area was freezing cold, and nothing was convenient.
Most girls couldn't handle this kind of environment.
But she didn't complain at all. She even stayed two extra days to develop better medicine.
This kind of determination was truly admirable.
Olivia smiled and said, "I should be the one saying thank you. Coming here this time, I gained a lot. These materials are priceless, and the military district generously provided them. I'm the one who benefited."
Henry heard this and glanced at Andrew beside her.
In response, he received a silent warning.
He couldn't help but smile inwardly.
The military district's materials weren't that easy to get, you know.
Someone with enough influence had to speak up for that to happen...
But now it seemed that someone clearly didn't plan to let her know.
If that was the case, he wouldn't say more. He just said, "Alright, let's stop thanking each other. Dr. Garcia's foot injury hasn't healed yet, so let's not delay. Get on the plane first. Remember to rest well when you get back.
And Andrew, Dr. Garcia can't walk easily. Remember to carry her. Don't let her injury get worse!"
With that, without waiting for a response, he turned and headed back with his men.
Olivia: "..."
She didn't know if it was just her imagination, but she felt that after getting familiar with them, Henry wasn't as cold as he was at first.
He'd become a bit... less serious?
Andrew completely ignored him and simply helped Olivia onto the helicopter, leaving the mountain area.
On the way back, as a newly disabled person, although Andrew didn't carry her the whole way, she still received his care throughout.
When the plane landed in Emerald City, it was already evening.
After spending several days cut off from the world, suddenly returning to the bustling metropolis, Olivia couldn't help feeling a bit dazed.
Andrew adapted well, though, and took her straight home.
When they arrived at her apartment complex, he watched Olivia prepare to get out of the car and seemed to remember something. He asked, "Your parents and Bianca haven't come back yet, have they?"
Olivia nodded. "Right, they won't be back for another couple of days!"
Andrew frowned. "So you'll be home alone with no one to take care of you?"
Olivia smiled. "It's okay. It's just a minor injury. It's not serious enough to need someone to take care of me..."
Andrew didn't seem to agree.
It was indeed a minor injury, but there would still be inconvenient moments.
What if she accidentally fell again and something happened, and no one would even know?
Andrew was ultimately worried. After thinking for a few seconds, he suggested, "If you don't mind, you could stay at my place for now."