hapter 25
Levi scooped Zoey into his arms and walked past Aiden and his crew without glancing their way
“Mr. Gordon, please, give us another chance. We won’t ever mess with
woman again, I swear Abden erted
Another guy also begged with sobs. “Mr. Gordon, we were just joking around with her. We didn’t mean in really hurt her Please, have merry off this time.
Aiden slumped to the ground, his face pale as ash. He murmured to himself. It’s over Everything’s over Tarpeting ney is the worst instabs of my life. Not only have I been expelled frour school, but I’ve also provoked the one I should’ve never FIASSEI
I can already see the future–my family bankrupt, exiled from Brandor, and my once comfortable his torn to shreds. How am I going to replein this to Dad? I’ll probably be beaten to death for ruining everything. It’s all Ellie’s fault. If she hadn’t egged me on, he woublot be in this
Aiden didn’t dare hate Levi, so he poured all his blame and rage onto Ellie instead.
Zoey woke up after dozing for a short while. Her palms itched, and instinctively, she wanted to scratch them, tour then she heard a voice beside her “Don’t move.”
Zoey blinked, still a little dazed, and turned her head in the direction of the voice. Even with her blurred vision, she knew sanctly whom it was “Mr Horton… she called out softly, her voice a slight nasal tone from crying
“Don’t move. I’m disinfecting your hands. It may be sting,” Levi added.
He carefully held her fingers to clean the wounds on her palms with a cotton swab soaked in iodine, and he applied mintment before wrapping them neatly. He wasn’t much of a talker, especially now, as he silently focused on tending to her wounds
Zoey lay still on the sofa, not wanting to disturb him. She blinked her long lashes and watched him quietly, the room falling in silence.
Her eyes lingered on him, and her thoughts were drifting. Without thinking, she slowly raised her uninjured hand and reached out to touch his
face.
Just as her fingertips were about to brush against him, Levi turned his head away, avoiding her touch. He raised his eyebrows and asked, “What are you doing?”
“N–nothing.” Zoey mumbled while lowering her head. She wasn’t sure what had come over her maybe it was a sudden surigaity to know what yi looked like. But when he dodged her hand, a small pang of disappointment flickered in her chest.
Levi finished bandaging both of her hands and looked up at her, his voice low. “Does it hurt?”
Zoey snapped out of her daze and shook her head. “Nope.”
“The wounds shouldn’t get wet. So wrap your hands in plastic wrap when you shower. Or you could have Linda help you? Levi mbled
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Zoey shook her head and replied, “No, I can manage on my own.” She wasn’t comfortable with someone else being there for something as private as bathing.
Levi nodded in response and then added, “I’m taking you to the hospital tomorrow for a check–up”
“What? Why?” She remembered it wasn’t time for her follow–up appointment yet.
“You cried a lot today. The pressure on your eyes went up, and that’s not good for your recovery, Levi explained to her
Zoey bit her lip and rejected his idea in a low tone. “I didn’t cry that much. I’m sure it won’t affect anything”
Levi teased, “You wanna feel how wet my jacket is?” Zoey leaned against his chest to cry and soaked a good portion of his coat with her tears, yet abe claimed she hadn’t cried much.
Zoey’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she mumbled, “Sorry, I’ll wash it for you”
“Don’t bother. You… should just get some rest. Levi had been about to call her “blind girl, but he thought that she didn’t like that nickname to he swallowed the words before they came out
Zoey sat up from the couch, folded the blanket neatly, and placed it in the corner. Just as she was about to head for the bathroom, a thought
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Chapter 25
crossed her mind. She was in Levi’s arms before she fell asleep, so how did she come home?
The realization hit her, and without thinking, she blurted, “Mr. Horton, did you… carry me upstairs?”
Levi calmly replied, “Yeah. Who else would have?” The moment the words left his mouth, he saw Zoey’s eyes widen, her lips parting slightly, and her face growing increasingly red. She blinked rapidly, clearly flustered, like she wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
Her reaction was so intense that Levi couldn’t help but remind her. “I’m your husband, remember?” He thought to himself, ‘What’s the big deal? Isn’t it normal to carry my own wife?‘
Zoey’s voice was as soft as a whisper, and her tone had a gentle, almost bashful quality. “Yeah… I know. It’s just… I’m not used to it yet.” She wasn’t accustomed to being so close to a man, and that was all.
Levi’s gaze deepened as he looked at her, his tone firm, leaving no room for argument. “You’ll have to get used to it.”
Zoey puffed her cheeks and muttered a quick “Mm–hmm” before dashing into her bedroom and slamming the door. If Levi hadn’t had such sharp hearing, he might’ve missed that tiny little sound she made.
A slight smile tugged at his lips as he watched her figure. He couldn’t help but think, ‘When did it become so much fun to tease her? She’s so adorably innocent and cute. I just can’t help teasing her even more.
The next day, Zoey made a call and asked Abigail for a favor, “Gail, I have a check–up for my eyes today. Could you please ask the teacher for some time off?”
Abigail replied, “Sure. Are your eyes okay? When will you be back?”
Zoey continued, “I’m good. I’ll be back after the appointment. Thanks, sweetie.”
After the voice call, Zoey noticed a notification from her phone. “Your emergency contact sent you a message: I have something come make it to your school. I sent my assistant to pick you up at the east gate.”
up and can’t
Her only emergency contact was Levi–he’d set it up for her when he bought her the phone. She must have missed the message yesterday because her phone was on silent during class.
What a mix–up. If I’d seen the message earlier and waited at the east gate, I wouldn’t have been in trouble yesterday, Zoey thought.
Today, Jack was driving her to the hospital since Levi had business at the company. On the way, Jack explained, “Ms. Miller, we can’t park at the usual gate you used to leave, so I had to wait at the east gate yesterday.”
Zoey nodded and said, “Got it. I’ll wait at the east gate next time.”
At the hospital, Zoey went through a series of thorough tests. Once Levi wrapped up his business, he rushed to the hospital and asked, “What did the doctor say?”
Lying on a hospital bed with an IV drip, Zoey reassured him. “Mr. Horton, just relax. The doctor says I’m fine.”
“Really?” Levi asked.
“Yeah. Why don’t you confirm it with Jack?” Zoey replied in a light tone.
Levi hadn’t realized how tense he’d been until he felt a wave of relief wash over him. “Those people who hurt you will never show their faces around you again,” he added.
Zoey froze for a moment. Her first thought wasn’t of Aiden but of Levi. She realized that he hadn’t been with her this morning because he’d been busy handling that situation. A sudden warmth flooded through her as his words sank in.
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