Chapter 296: A Familiar Feeling
Though she was several steps away, Alison could see the bulging veins on Gabriel’s forehead.
He forced himself to remain silent, enduring the agony alone.
“Gabriel…” She pushed open the window and jumped inside.
Hearing her footsteps on the floor, he slowly lifted his head.
“Go… go away…” he managed. His forehead was covered in beads of sweat.
“Gabriel, let me clean you up.” Driven by an inexplicable urge to help him, she rushed to his side.
“No.” He shoved her away.
“Don’t provoke me. I’ll kill you.”
His tone was cold, barring her from approaching.
“Gabriel, let’s go. If not, you’ll only suffer more.” She grabbed his arm, trying to help him up.
He jerked his arm free, voice strained, low and shaking.
“Let go.”
She lost her balance, stumbled backward, and crashed to the ground.
The cut on her foot was bleeding.
She frowned and hesitated to move.
Flushing, she turned to Gabriel, who was still in agony, and asked,
“May I use the bathroom, Gabriel?”
He seemed oblivious to her injury and nodded.
He was fighting whatever demons haunted him — no strength left for anything else.
Alison struggled to her feet and hopped toward the bathroom.
The tiny bathroom lacked a water heater.
Alison frowned.
She really didn’t want to bathe in cold water.
“Gabriel, is there hot water here?”
“No… no.”
His voice was hoarse, and his entire body was tense.
Alison had no choice but to turn on the cold water tap.
Just then, Gabriel’s voice snapped back, tight and warning.
“Don’t bathe here.”
“I’m just washing my feet,” she retorted.
“I came up barefoot, and they’re filthy. Don’t get any ideas. I have a husband, and I’m not interested in you.”
Silence fell outside the door.
“Did you hear me? I said I’m not interested in you!” she raised her voice.
He still didn’t respond.
Only the sound of light footsteps reached her, echoing faintly through the cracked tiles, unsettling her more than words.
The door opened a crack, and a thermos was handed through.
His hoarse voice came through.
“There’s an outlet on the wall. Boil the water yourself.”
Though his tone remained icy, something in it softened her, a quiet care disguised in indifference.
She hopped forward to take it, but her foot slipped and she crashed to the floor with a thud.
The water spilled everywhere.
The bathroom door burst open.
Gabriel dashed in, roaring,
“Dummy! If you’re going to die, don’t do it on my turf!”
He scooped her up, kicked the shattered kettle aside, and stormed out of the bathroom.
“Ugh…” The pain nearly knocked her unconscious.
She had expected him to throw her onto the bed roughly, but instead, he laid her down gently and grabbed her ankle.
“Ah!” She screamed.
“Why didn’t you say something earlier?” he growled as he caught sight of the blood streaking her heel.
“I—” Tears welled in her eyes.
“Why should I?”
The words left him speechless.
“Wait,” he barked, turning to leave.
His body swayed, his balance wavering, fighting some unseen force.
“Gabriel, don’t go. Stay right here. I can handle this myself.”
Hearing this, he spun back around and gripped her shoulders tightly.
“Sit down. Don’t move. Or I’ll throw you off this roof right now!”
His threat was sharp, desperate, and almost pleading beneath the bark.
Alison laughed, realizing he had heard everything.
“Gabriel, you’re not as cold as you look,” she murmured, smiling as she watched his retreating figure head toward the kitchen.
His footsteps faltered momentarily.
Soon, he emerged carrying a basin of steaming hot water.
The rising vapor made him seem almost unreal.
His face wasn’t handsome, but his sharp, icy features held a rugged charm.
His deep blue eyes reminded her of Jack’s.
He brought over a small stool and placed the basin on it.
His rough hands gently lifted her injured foot, his calloused fingertips grazing her skin with unexpected tenderness.
She had wanted to tell him that she could manage it herself, but she held back as he lowered her foot into the warm water.
Seeing the beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, she couldn’t utter a word.