?Chapter 143:


    As she was lifted off the ground, Belinda instinctively cried out in surprise and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. “Don’t!” She had been pushed down the stairs in the morning and kicked by Cathy at noon, leaving her body riddled with injuries.


    If Kristopher dropped her and she fell again, she would end up even more battered.


    The moment her arms encircled his neck, the distinct fragrance of orange blossoms from her skin,bined with the softness of her body,pletely enveloped him.


    Kristopher paused, his heart unexpectedly skipping a beat.


    He gazed at her face, a smile slowly forming at the corners of his mouth.<fn3dba> Newest update provided by Find?Novel</fn3dba>


    It seemed she could feel fear and vulnerability too.


    Belinda clung to his neck a moment longer before she realized the moment had taken a decidedly intimate turn.


    She instinctively looked up and met Kristopher’s smile.


    His eyes were captivating, deep, and luminous like obsidian—unreadable.


    This was a look Belinda had never seen directed at her before.


    Lost in his gaze, she felt momentarily entranced.


    The hospital corridor was bustling with noise.


    Yet, at that moment, all the noise seemed to vanish for Belinda. She and Kristopher locked eyes, and the air around them was charged with unspoken tension.


    That was until a woman’s voice shattered the moment. “What are you doing?”


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    Cathy, looking frail in her wheelchair, was being wheeled towards them by a young nurse.


    Her eyes showed pain and confusion. “Didn’t you say you were just taking Miss Nelson to the trauma department? But…” Tears started to fill Cathy’s eyes. “Kristopher, you lied to me!”


    Her usation snapped Kristopher back to the present.


    He frowned and hastily set Belinda down.


    Perhaps because he acted too quickly, he let go before Belinda was steady on her feet.


    Belinda stumbled, nearly hitting the floor.


    Luckily, she managed to grab the handrail along the corridor wall.


    “Cathy, don’t cry.”


    Belinda listened to Kristopher’s soothing voice as she leaned against the wall, catching her breath. “Crying makes your stomach hurt again.”


    He approached Cathy, offering her a packet of tissues. “Didn’t I ask you to stay in your room and rest?”


    Cathy clung to Kristopher’s sturdy waist, sobbing. “I waited for you for ten minutes, and you didn’t return. I got worried, so…”


    Tears streamed down her face as she rested her head against Kristopher’s stomach, ncing at Belinda with a challenging sparkle in her eyes. “Kristopher, I trust you so deeply… If you had told me earlier that you were bringing Miss Nelson here, I wouldn’t have minded… Why did you deceive me? Didn’t you once promise you’d never lie to your good girl?”


    Kristopher sighed. “Cathy, this was my mistake. I simply didn’t want to cause you any worry.”


    Belinda leaned against the wall, gathering her strength, while inwardly scoffing at their exchange.


    “Never lie to his good girl…”


    Those were the words Kristopher had once spoken to her five years ago. Back then, Kristopher was a vulnerable young man with bandages over his eyes, and she was the humble caregiver tasked with looking after him.


    Kristopher had vowed that once he recovered, he would find her, repay her kindness, and stay with her forever.


    But in reality… she waited tirelessly for him to recover and return, only to find him two yearster, perfectly paired with Cathy and admired by her.


    Belinda had thought it was just a typical case of men not keeping their promises, and that Kristopher had simply forgotten his words to her. She hadn’t realized he selectively remembered his promises — those made to her were forgotten.


    He remembered every word he ever told Cathy and responded to each one with rity.


    Perhaps this was the stark contrast between love and neglect.


    “Miss Nelson.”


    Cathy’s voice drew Belinda out of her reverie.


    She instinctively turned to Cathy.


    The woman, offering a sweet smile, reclined in her wheelchair. “Why did you have Kristopher carry you like that? Are you unable to walk?” As she spoke, she rose from the wheelchair. “You should have mentioned it sooner. I would have let you use this. Don’t you realize that, with your current rtionship status with Kristopher, it’s necessary to keep your distance now?”


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