chapter539

Chapter 539

Every time Dorothy tried to close her eyes, Everett would deliberately ease his grip, jolting her back to alertness and insisting she keep her eyes open to look at him.

Several times, Dorothy bit his shoulder in frustration, but he seemed impervious to the sting, even letting out a low chuckle in response.

With a mock glare, Dorothy huffed and got up to run a bath for him. Knowing Everett was a bit of a neat freak, she took extra care to clean the bathtub thoroughly, wiping everything down before finally turning on the taps.

Before she could finish, she felt a pair of strong arms envelop her from behind. She paused for a second, then with a soft sigh, she turned around in his embrace.

“What now?” she asked.

“Help me with my shirt, will you?”

Dorothy pushed him gently against the chest. “Your hands aren't broken, Everett.”

“But I want you to do it.” He stretched out his arms slightly. His loosely worn shirt gaped open, offering a glimpse of his lean, sculpted physique.

Everett’s lips curved into a sly smile, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he watched her. No matter how many times Dorothy saw him like this, her heart would still race, and a faint flush would creep up her cheeks.

“Can you stop fooling around? I’m leaving!”

“No way.” With one swift motion, Everett pulled her closer, breathing softly near her ear. “Where are you running off to? I’m just taking a bath.”

Dorothy didn't buy it for a second. Especially when it came to these moments, he was full of sweet lies—with “just one last time” being the phrase she heard most often.

“The water’s ready. You can manage on your own.” How old was he to still need company? Clearly, he had other things on his mind.

“What if I feel faint from the steam?” he countered playfully.

“Doubtful, but okay.”

“I’m serious, just a bath.” Everett caught her hand and placed it on the buttons of his shirt. “Unbutton this for me.”

This man, really! Dorothy rolled her eyes but eventually helped him with the remaining buttons and eased the shirt off his shoulders.

His wounds were still visible—marks of the through-and-through injury he had sustained. Unconsciously, her hand reached out to hover over the healing skin. “It must have hurt... Did it hurt a lot that day?”

“Not really. It just felt a bit cold.”

“You’re lying to me!”

Everett lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his intense gaze. “I’m not lying; at the moment, I didn't feel the pain.”

Dorothy’s lips pouted, and tears threatened to spill. Lately, her emotions had been on a hair-trigger, always on the verge of overflowing. “I don’t believe you. Even a paper cut hurts, and you had a blade in you!”

With the pad of his thumb, Everett gently wiped away her falling tears. When they kept coming, he leaned in to kiss them away, the salty taste lingering on his lips.

“You’re not allowed to cry, Dorothy.”

“Then you’re not allowed to do such dangerous things again! Everett, you carry so much on your shoulders. The whole Lopez Corporation is counting on you. My life isn’t worth such a risk!”

Everett’s brow furrowed slightly. “Whether it’s worth it or not is for me to decide.”

“Do you realize how afraid I am of losing you?” Since the incident, Dorothy had developed a deep-seated fear of anything related to tragedy. Even the thought of that day made her tremble. She would never forget arriving in Swevia Country and witnessing the raw grief of those around her. She had truly thought he was gone.

Everett smirked, trying to lighten the mood. “You have so many admirers, Dorothy. If I were gone, it would only make things easier for them.”

Annoyed by his deflection, Dorothy snapped, “Oh, shut up!”