CEO's Dumb Bride

Chapter 46 Applying The Ointment

Chapter 46 Applying the Ointment

At the outset, if Francis had acted as he did now, refraining from rescuing her, perhaps... Would she now be graced with even a fraction of happiness?

As Lilian abandoned all hope of survival, a beam of light pierced through the crevices of the leaves, casting its radiance into her eyes.

Lilian's eyelashes trembled as she laboriously lifted her head, glimpsing faintly through the evergreen leaves of the silhouette of a solitary figure.

Cradling her abdomen, she expended every ounce of her strength to inch her way out of the thicket.

That person stood at quite a distance over one hundred meters away.

Lilian was voiceless and forced to exert herself to the utmost in a bid to approach nearer. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

She sought to rescue her child...

The beam of light emanated from a flashlight wielded by a patrolling security guard. Alas, she remained prostrate on the ground, and the guard remained oblivious to her presence.

The flashlight swept briefly in her direction but quickly moved away, and the guard departed as well.

Lilian gazed at the departing guard with her fingers slackening and dropping with feebleness.

Consequently, the last vestige of light in her eyes dimmed.

--

"Hiss-"

Startled by a cry of pain, Julian, who had been half reclining on the sofa, abruptly sat up.

"Please, be gentle! It hurts me!"

Her injured leg rested in the grasp of Francis, the deep wound on her calf still unhealed, the scabbed-over gash oozing with congealed, viscous blood. The surrounding skin displayed a bruised hue, presenting a somewhat disconcerting sight.

Francis had just applied ointment to her wound with a cotton swab, inadvertently causing her considerable pain. She had almost burst into tears.

Francis glanced at the cotton swab in his hand and let out a distracted sigh. "Do refrain from moving."

"I'm not moving! You're so distracted even when you're applying ointment to me. Are you thinking about some vixen?" Julian's tone carried a touch of playful reproach, but it lacked any real bite.

Francis cast her a sidelong glance, a smirk playing on his lips. "Some vixen?"

"There are so many vixens out there vying for your attention. Who knows which one you're thinking about?" Julian rolled her eyes and added, "Be gentler, It hurts so much, and I can't stand the pain."

"Whom do you blame?"

"Myself, of course! Is it so difficult to have you accompany me for a meal?" Julian grumbled with a hint of irritation.

Francis fell silent, picking up the bottle of iodine. He meticulously continued applying the ointment this time with his head bowed.

Julian observed his earnestness with a sweet smile on her face.

Francis did indeed care for her, didn't he?

At the very least, his concern for her far exceeded that for the dummy (an offensive nickname that Julian made up for Lilian).

Midway through applying the ointment, the phone on the table rang. It was a call from Nelson Casey.

However, Francis did not answer it.

Nelson hung up the phone, feeling a headache coming on. Nelson was pretty confident that Francis had not been sleeping, and his decision not to answer the call was likely prompted by a guess regarding its content.

Mr. Landau comprehended everything but was excessively cold-blooded.

Seeing him remain silent, Julian picked up her phone and began playing with it. Suddenly, she thought about something and sat up again.

"Darling, do you remember my birthday?"

"November 25th." Francis's head remained lowered. Although his tone had no emotion, his response filled Julian with satisfaction.

Those who can be remembered by men of his ilk on their birthdays, must surely be a select few, right?

With a contented smile on her face, Julian complained, "You may not have forgotten, but please don't be so perfunctory this year."

"The ointment is applied. Take a rest earlier." Francis released her foot and stood up, "I'm leaving."

Julian's smile faded, replaced by an anxious expression as she hastily grabbed onto him. "You're leaving again?"