Chapter 10

Noah had just gotten out of the bathroom. He was only wearing a loose robe, and the strap had been tied casually, showing off his muscular chest subtly. There were water droplets on his thick, dark hair and they dripped onto his neck before flowing down to his strong waist. Isla had never seen him like that. He was less cold. Sexier and wilder. The sight of him was extra seductive. As she was staring blankly at him, she could not help but gulp. She was gradually blushing too. The atmosphere was getting romantic. “Get up.” His cold voice instantly ruined the atmosphere. “Go back to your room.” She looked a little defeated. She sat up on the bed after falling silent for two seconds, showing him her hurt ankle. She said coquettishly while holding the ointment, “Can you help me with this, hubby?” Noah looked at her slightly swollen ankle, his eyes sparkling. He took the ointment from her quietly, put some on his palms, and rubbed it before applying it on her foot. He was gentle as he massaged the ointment into her skin. Isla could not hide the smile on her face as she watched him being so focused. The combination of the shower cream fragrance and the pungent ointment smelled extra nice to her. “Noah, are you still mad at me?” she asked carefully. Noah paused for a moment. She could not see what he was feeling because he was looking down. “Nothing happened at Henry’s birthday party at the bar the other day. Actually–” Noah suddenly stood up and looked at her fiercely. He said coldly, “You don’t have to explain anything to me.” He paused, and his voice became even colder with sarcasm. “You’ve never explained anything to me in the past anyway!” Isla suddenly recalled the many foolish things that she had done because of Henry, which had embarrassed Noah every single time. She was speechless. He looked at her for a second in silence before leaving. She quickly jumped up and hugged him from the back when she saw him leave. “Let go,” Noah said coldly. “I won’t.” Isla thought she should just be shameless. “Not unless you agree to move into the room with me.” Shock flashed through his eyes, and his face instantly paled. He clenched his fists and looked at her fiercely before he scoffed. “Isla, are you trying to humiliate me again? You dare treat this as a transaction between us?” He had merely locked up Henry for one more day, yet she was doing this out of panic? She was willing to exchange herself for his safety? “I…” She looked confused. What had she said wrong this time to make him react like that? Noah suppressed the rage in him and removed her hands. He then slammed the door and left. Isla froze where she was, not understanding what exactly had happened. Two minutes later, the noise of a car engine was heard outside the villa. He had left… Her eyes dimmed, and she felt an indescribable sadness inside her. She walked to the bed, feeling upset, and choked when she saw the ointment at the bedhead. She had thought Noah must still love her since he had been so caring tonight. She had thought he was worried about her since he had scolded her and gotten mad at her. However, now that she thought about it, had she read too much into it? Could he not like her at all? Had the image of him rushing into the fire to save her been just a figment of her imagination before dying? She bit her lip. The more she thought about it, the more upset she was. She buried her face into his pillow and sobbed. The next day, she woke up with eyes as swollen as walnuts. She looked around but did not see Noah. When she stretched her arm, the space next to her was cold. She was upset upon realizing that he had not come home. She had not expected him to hate her so much. He had not even come home so that they would not have to be together. She blew her nose and felt pain in her throat and nostrils, but even more pain in her eyes. She returned to her room to wash up. She was shocked when she lifted her head to see herself in the mirror. She was as pale as a sheet of paper. There was no color on her face at all. Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen, and there were dark circles beneath them. She looked like she had a terminal illness. Why did she look like that? She frowned and went downstairs after washing her face with water. “You’re up, madam.” Aunt May called out and walked over with breakfast. She was shocked when she saw her. “Madam, are you… sick?” She put down the breakfast, wiped her hands, and felt Isla’s forehead. “Oh my, you’re a little warm. You’ll have to take medicine.” Isla shook her head weakly. “Did he come back after leaving last night?” Aunt May froze a little bit before shaking her head. She said after seemingly recalling something, “Let me call him.” Isla pulled at her, looking down. “Forget it, I don’t think he cares.” Aunt May looked at her with pity, feeling worried about her. “Madam–” Isla waved and smiled at her sadly. She then turned around and went upstairs. Aunt May quickly gave Noah a call. He was in a meeting, and it was unusually tense. Everyone could tell that he was in a bad mood today. His phone suddenly rang. He looked down to check and his eyes lit up when he saw that it was a call from the villa. “Let’s pause the meeting.” He picked up his phone and walked to the other room to answer the call. “Speak.” “Bad news, sir. Madam is sick.” Aunt May’s worried voice came from the other side of the line. He grabbed his phone tightly, and his voice tensed up. “What’s wrong?” “I think she’s got a cold. She’s a little feverish. Her eyes are swollen, but I think it’s because she’s been crying a lot.” He pursed his lips coldly when he heard that she had been crying so much. “Got it.” One could not read his emotions based on his voice. “I’ll get Scott to drop by. Don’t tell her this. Tell her that you called Scott.” Aunt May paused before testing the waters. “Are you not coming back to check on her?” He fell silent for a second before saying no flatly. She released a long sigh after hanging up the call. Scott came quickly, and Aunt May knocked on Isla’s door. “Madam, Mr. Scott is here.” She was still sleeping, but she quickly got out of bed. She walked to the door after changing, stunned to see Scott at the door. “Why are you here?” Scott looked at her face and failed to hold back his laughter. “Did Noah hit you?” She stared at him and said flatly, “That’s not funny at all.” He scratched his nose awkwardly. “I just never expected you to cry for Noah to this extent one day.”