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Chapter 2

ROSEANA

While I sat in the front seat, my hands were trembling. I can feel my eyes watering from the fear. I shut my eyes tightly to stop my tears from falling.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked. It took me a bit to muster the courage to talk to him.

I am still with the man who helped me earlier. I'm currently in his car. He'd been driving for a while but hadn't mentioned where we were heading. His brows furrowed, and his lips pursed. His attention was solely on the road. He didn't even bother to look at me.

He let me ride in his car after he helped me. I didn't ask any further questions before getting into his car. I didn't even notice I was going with someone I didn't know since I was so desperate to get away from that area.

He abruptly speaks and I almost leap out of my seat. "I'm taking you to the hospital," he said, looking at me.

When I hear his voice, I shiver. Because of his voice, the inside of the car felt colder. It sounded manly and domineering, yet it was also frigid.

"You don't have to. I'm fine," I simply replied, averting my gaze when he looked in my direction, his gaze piercing deep into my soul.

His gaze was drawn to my swollen elbow. I noticed how his brows knitted.

I pulled my shirt sleeve down slightly to cover the bruise on my elbow but to no avail.

I nibbled on the inside of my cheeks. I clenched my teeth to come up with an explanation for him. "I despise hospitals," I said.

The truth is that I don't want to go because Cedrick might be there waiting for me. Kevin witnessed what happened earlier. He wasn't able to get close to me not only because of the man I was with now but also because there were so many others around. Knowing what happened, I know Cedrick will go to hospitals to look for me.

I expected him to insist on driving me to the hospital, but instead he reached into the glove box and get something from there. My gaze followed his every move, from the delicate brushing of his fingers against the papers inside to him grabbing a tissue paper. He had incredibly large hands that could snap your wrist in two if you had weak bones. He quickly got a tissue roll from there and handed it to me. His fingers unintentionally bumped into a brown envelope, and it dropped out just as he was about to close it.

I quickly took it, bending over on my seat and reaching for the brown envelope's scattered papers. My attention was drawn to the last piece of paper I saw; it appeared to be a resume or more information about someone. I was about to read it when he interrupted me.

"Put it inside the envelope."

His voice is commanding. His face is void of emotion when I look at him. His teeth clenched. He's gripping the steering wheel so fiercely that his knuckles are almost white.

I mumble, "I'm sorry." I know I shouldn't have messed with his stuff.

I could hear him sigh. Based on his reaction, I understood that he did not want his belongings interfered with. Even I would be annoyed if someone touched my belongings, especially if I didn't know that person.

I remained silent and did not ask any further questions. I'll just let him take me anywhere he wants. Besides, I have no idea where I am going with my current situation. I can't go home to my flat since I'm sure those who are looking for me have discovered where I live by now.

I believe he will not harm me. I know we just met for the first time, and I don't even know what his name is, but I feel safe with him. Maybe it's because of how he once defended me that I say he was a wonderful person. But, well, he was the only one who helped me. He could have let me get hit by a car, despite the risk, he opted to save me.

We had a long trip. I hadn't even realized I'd taken a nap. Perhaps it was because I was so exhausted that I couldn't resist the sleepiness any longer.

His gruff voice invaded my ears as he said, "Hey, we're here."

I felt a light tap on my cheeks, gentle and tickling, like a feather touching my cheeks. I sighed and yanked his hand away from my face. I'm exhausted. I couldn't open my eyes even if I wanted to. My body is too exhausted to move a single muscle.

The driver's seat opened and closed. Only now did I realize the car had come to a complete halt. I wanted to see where he drove me, but weariness prevented me from doing so. I'm so tired that I don't notice what's going on around me.

I believed he was going to leave me in the car, but I was surprised when the front seat door opened after a few minutes. My eyes stayed shut. I panicked for a split second. I thought Cedrick had followed me, but his scent invaded my nostrils, calming me.

I just felt myself being lifted into the air. Like a groom holding his wife, he carried me in his arms, one arm under my knees and the other hand supporting my back. I curled up in his arms. I could smell his perfume more strongly because of our closeness. He has a clean, minty scent.

His scent is enticing. I'm not sure if it's because I'm half asleep that I want to sniff him or because he smelled so lovely, like a cool, fresh-from-the-bath smell. I gradually fulfilled my thought. I buried my face in his neck. I cracked a smile.

This part of his body smelled amazing. His perfume blended with his natural fragrance. It's both addictive and comforting.

"Don't move. Wrap your hands around my neck." When he spoke, I felt his chest vibrate, and I leaned in to hear his heartbeat.

I purred like a kitten in his arms and told him quietly, "Okay."

One after the other, he sighed. I also hear him say curses and words that my mind is unable to understand because I am too obsessed with smelling him.

I heard him murmur, "Just try to stay still, little one."

I couldn't concentrate on my surroundings any longer. I feel cradled in his arms, like a baby. I could hear people shouting and loud music in the background. I have no idea where we are. I guess I trust him enough to believe he will not harm me.

When naughty lights hit my closed eyes, I scrunched my nose. My brows furrowed in annoyance. I hid my face in his neck to keep the light from hitting my closed eyes. My nose is practically brushing his neck, as are my lips.

He whispered beneath his breath, "Fuck!" I felt his grip on me tighten slightly, but not painfully.

"Good evening, sir."

"Do you want us to help you carry her?"

When I heard that, I pressed myself closer to him and tightened my grip on him. I'm hoping that by doing so, he'll grasp what I'm saying. I don't want to be carried in this manner by any man other than him.

I waited for him to hand me over to the man who greeted him, but he didn't. He simply kept walking. I let out a sigh of relief.

He is, in fact, trustworthy. I'm feeling warm inside because this is a new experience for me. Someone is willing to carry me. It's not every day that I get to have an experience like this. Most of the time, I’ll be referred to as a burden. As a result, I try to avoid becoming an inconvenience to anyone. I deal with my difficulties on my own. But tonight, I felt as if I could let go of everything and rely on him.

I'm going to let go of all my problems just this once.

I heard the elevator start up, followed by the sound of the door opening. As he carefully put me in bed, he entwined my arms around his neck.

I could feel the smooth bed on my back. As my body misses the soothing feeling of his embrace, I nestle on the soft mattress. The chill of the room pricked my skin. Suddenly, my body craves the warmth that his body exudes. I had no idea this room could get any colder without him holding me.

"Rest first, little one, and we'll talk after you wake up," he says softly.

My brows knitted in bewilderment. His tone is gentle, as if he were speaking to a child. Is he the person I am speaking with earlier? Why is he acting nice now that I'm asleep? I mean, he was polite earlier, but the way he talks now is different from how he talked to me before. I can't even make out the coldness in his voice anymore. He's not the same man I was with before.

I can hear his footsteps as he walks away from me. I forced myself to open my eyes against my will to sleep. More than anything, I want to talk to him.

I noticed him a few steps away from the door. I stopped him as he was about to exit the room. When I spoke, my voice was hoarse. "Where are you going?" I asked almost in hushed tones. I sat down on the bed carefully. I also observed the blanket that was wrapped around my torso.

I took a peek around the room. The room is completely white. Everything is white, from the bed to the wall color. The furniture is also white. The drape that covers the large window is also white. Because of the design and color of the room, you will initially believe you are in a hospital. I run my palm on the soft mattress. This is his room. I can tell by the scent left on the pillow. It smelled exactly like him.

For a little while, I forgot about the man standing near the door, staring at me. When he purposefully cleared his throat, my gaze shifted to him.

I caught my breath when my eyes landed on him. His hands are in his pockets as he stands tall and formidable. He folded his long sleeve up to his elbow, exposing his veiny hands. He reminded me of one of those hunk characters from an adult anime that Macy was reading. He was no longer wearing his coat, which showed his muscled arms to my sight, which were not concealed by his long sleeves.

"You are awake."

My entire face flushed. I'm sure he didn't mean anything else by what he said, but my paranoid mind kept telling me that maybe he thinks I'm simply pretending to be asleep earlier so he could carry me. The slight rise of his lips, forming a grin, adds to my shame. I'm not sure if it was just my imagination, but he wasn't smiling when I blinked.

His midnight-black orbs stare at me. "I’ll just get the medicine kit from my office. We must clean your wounds before they become infected. I'll be right back," he uttered to which I instinctively nodded. I let out a oud breathe as soon as he leave the room. With my palms, I fan my hot cheeks.

I glanced at my hands when I had calmed down. My hand ached from the scratch I got when it hit the paved road. My entire body is in pain. Now that I can think straight, I see how insane I was to consider ending my life. I'm not even sure why I thought of crossing the street carelessly and hoping for an accident. Perhaps I did it out of fear and exhaustion. The worry of living the same life I lived before arriving in the city. Being trapped in that situation is what worries me the most.

Cedrick, you are a dangerous man. That's something I've known for a long time, but now I've proven it even more. When I left our province, I assumed he wouldn't be able to find me. His family is quite influential in our province. His father is the mayor of our town. His father has several connections, allowing him to do whatever he wants in our province. But I never anticipated that they would still follow me here. Cedrick, how powerful are you?

When the door opened and the man who had helped me entered, my thoughts were interrupted. He has the medicine kit in his right hand. He was also carrying paper bags. My eyes followed his every motion as he approached me, studying him. My mouth was tightly shut. I'm afraid my jaw will drop as I watch him.

Each step he takes is measured and done with grace. His expression is somber. His mesmerizing gaze was fixed on me. The way he looked at me felt like he was reading the depths of my soul.

He came to a stop a few steps away from me. To calm my racing heart, I took a deep breath. My heart was thumping so loudly that I was frightened he could hear it.

Nobody tried to speak to either of us. "Come here, Roseana," he said, his baritone voice stirring my thoughts.

I looked at him, perplexed. I'm at a loss for words. I heard what he said, but my mind couldn't process it. My mind repeated him calling my name over and over.

He addressed me by name. Even yet, I don't recall someone ever affecting me in this way simply by calling my name. People frequently address me by name, and it does not affect me. He speaks my name in a calm tone; his voice is soothing. I resist the urge to close my eyes as the way he called me by name repeats itself like a broken record.

I repeatedly blink my eyes open. "Huh?" was all I could think of.

He looked down, dropped what he was holding, and laughed as his shoulders shook. His cheeks are flushed as he struggles to hold back his laughter. When he took a step between us, my breathing became labored. My heart instantly dropped when he grabbed me by my waist. He managed to get me to stand up with just one of his hands. I feel like a baby scooped up in his arms.

I remained motionless, eyeing him like a terrified crow. My mouth is gaping, and I seem to forget to breathe as I try to comprehend what has just occurred.

I stopped myself from shivering when his warm breath fanned the skin on my collarbone. The constant contact of his breath on my exposed skin tickled me like a feather.

"What will I do with you? You are so adorable that I just want to keep you to myself."

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