Anneliese lowered her eyes and looked at the man in front of her. His handsome face showed clear concern. His lowered gaze stayed on her red hands. His longshes could not hide the soft light in his eyes. It felt like she was some rare treasure to him, like he could see only her.


    Anneliese could not find any trace of her old happiness. Every time she thought about the idea that Jonathan treated her well only because of another woman and that she might be nothing more than a recement for someone he could not have, her chest felt like it was stabbed full of needles.


    She pulled her hands out of his palm. "I''m fine."


    His palm felt empty. Jonathan lifted his eyes and saw that she had already turned away. She walked toward the bed with her back facing him.


    He froze for a second and then followed her.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Anneliese sat by the bed. She lifted her eyes and looked at him. She wanted to grab him and drag him to the doorway of the next room to demand an exnation.


    She could not speak. Her throat felt tight, like something bitter sat in it, and she could not get any words out.


    Her concussion symptoms seemed to get worse. Her head hurt and she felt dizzy. She did not even have the strength to question him.


    Her pale lips lifted a little. She asked one thing.


    "When can I go home?"


    She wanted to go home.


    Jonathan noticed that after she rested for a bit, her face did not improve. It looked


    even worse.


    Her pale little face looked weak. He stepped forward and sat beside her.


    "Do you still feel sick anywhere? I can call Carter to check on you."


    He reached for his phone. Anneliese grabbed him.


    "Don''t. I''m fine. I''m just worried about Grandma. I want to go home soon."


    Jonathan stared at her small hand on his arm. His chest eased a little.


    A moment ago, he even thought she was pushing him away. Now he felt it must have been his imagination.


    He took her hand again. "I''ll tell them to get the car ready and send you back to Oceaton."


    They had already agreed that he would take her back to Oceaton to spend New Year''s with her grandma.


    If Anneliese did not go home on New Year''s Eve, her grandma would ask questions.


    It could scare the old woman. If her health went downhill again, it would be bad.


    She wanted to leave so badly. Jonathan only thought she was worried about her grandma. He did not think more about it.


    Anneliese nodded. He made the call and told the driver to prepare.


    After he hung up, he stood and got her a winter coat.


    "I can do it myself."


    When she saw him walk over to help her put it on, she stood and stepped away without thinking.


    His movement paused. A momentter, he lifted his right hand and held her face with his palm.


    Her face tilted up. Her wet eyes met his searching gaze.


    Her eyes flickered. She looked away without thinking.


    She used to look into his eyes and feel that they were deep, focused and very handsome. Looking at him, used to give her a sense of safety. andfort.


    Now that things did not feel the


    same, she could not look into himet


    eyes She feared she would see


    want tosee,


    something she did not want to see,


    "Did something happen?"


    He saw her avoid his eyes and narrowed his own a little.


    He asked in a soft voice. His thumb brushed her cheek.


    She did not answer. He bent down and pressed his forehead to hers. His warm


    breath brushed the tip of her cool nose.


    "Baby, don''t scare me. Tell me. Okay?"


    His voice was low and steady. It held patience and care.


    Her nose stung. A bit of the emotion she held back slipped out.


    She lifted her head and leaned back a little, creating some space between them.


    She looked at him.


    "Are you hiding something from me?"


    Jonathan froze. His eyes darkened a little.


    "Why would you ask that?"


    ет


    He did not answer her question. Anneliese felt her heart sink. It felt like she was standing on something


    upreal, She could not find anything,


    solid under her feet.


    Her dizziness got worse. Her body swayed a little.


    "Baby!" Jonathan grabbed her in a panic.


    She closed her eyes and waited for the dizziness to ease.


    When she opened them, she saw him staring at her with the same tense look he always had when she was hurt.


    She moved her lips. Before she said anything, someone knocked lightly on the door.