Chapter 6 But I Find You Disgusting!
924 Words
He had carried her on his back before, but not since she had hugged him.
Katherine remained silent. Seeing him finish the medicine, she wanted to leave, but he was still leaning against her shoulder, his weight pinning her in place. An ambiguous atmosphere suddenly filled the air. She pursed her lips and reminded him quietly, "Mr. Ye, I should go back to the hospital."
"I'll take you!"
"No need! You're not feeling well. Get some rest!"
Katherine refused softly, her face turned away.
"But it's so late. I'm worried about you being out alone as a girl!" Barnard said.
Katherine's gaze accidentally fell upon the divorce agreement on the table. She couldn't hold back any longer. "Why haven't you signed it yet?"
"Divorce requires household registration documents. Do you have yours?"
Years ago, when her family faced trouble, her father, fearing she might be implicated, had transferred her household registration to the Kottow family. So, she didn't have it.
"I don't. What should we do then?"
Barnard pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "There'll be a way." He paused, then groaned softly.
Katherine looked up at him with concern. "Does it hurt a lot?"
Her luggage was not yet packed. He asked, "Can we pack it tomorrow? It really hurts!"
"Then, alright..." she said. Nothing was more important than his life.
They hurriedly left, locking the door behind them. He remained pale the entire way.
Katherine's worry grew with each passing moment. She couldn't help but comfort him, "Bear with it a little longer. We'll be at the hospital soon."
Barnard lowered his gaze to the girl holding his arm. Feeling a kind of unprecedented intimacy, he couldn't help but steal a glance down her V-neck.
Katherine was too preoccupied to notice. It was only when they reached his car that she realized the problem. She asked with a troubled expression, "What do we do? I don't have a driver's license."
"I'll drive!"
Katherine felt guilty making him drive while he was in pain, but there was no other choice.
Just then, his phone rang. The two words "Elinor" shattered the harmonious atmosphere.
Katherine snapped back to reality and looked from the name on the screen to him.
Barnard's expression turned cold.
It was already past eleven at night. Was he worried about her? Afraid of Elinor misunderstanding? Barnard glanced at her, but Katherine was already answering the call with a cold smile. "You should answer it. I want to see what this woman is up to, calling so late."
A voice came from the phone, "Barnard, can you come over? I'm feeling very unwell right now!"
"It's too late!"
"But I'm really not feeling well. It feels like I'm dying!" Elinor started crying over the phone.
Hearing this, Katherine didn't feel pity, but rather found it pretentious. Of course, she couldn't say that out loud. "I'll call the doctor immediately. You lie down and don't move, okay?"
Barnard hung up after saying that and immediately dialed another number - Elinor's attending physician.
He knew everything about Elinor, yet he couldn't even remember the age of his own wife! Wasn't it ironic?
He was suffering from terrible stomach pain at home, asking for Katherine's help with medicine, yet he couldn't even tell Elinor.
Indeed, love and indifference were truly different!
How ironic!
The car fell into silence. Katherine felt awkward, thinking she was delaying Barnard from being with his precious Elinor. She tentatively asked, "If you're not in pain anymore, go see Elinor. You can just drop me off anywhere. It's easy to get a taxi here."
"You do know there have been several cases of indecent assault late at night in the city recently, right?" Barnard countered.
She really didn't know!
"I'll send you back and then go to her!" Barnard said, irritated.
Katherine shook her head with a cold smile. "No need. I'll get a taxi myself. Oh, and I forgot to tell you, you don't think I'm dirty, but I find you disgusting!" Without waiting for his response, she got out of the car, hailed a taxi, and sped away.
Barnard was left behind, plunged into a state of extreme agony. He watched the taxi until it disappeared from sight. He murmured, "What exactly do I feel for you? Why does it hurt so much?"
*****
Midnight. Barnard's car wasn't headed towards Elinor's, but to a club. By the time his friend, Anthony Lloyd, arrived, he had already downed several drinks. Anthony sat down opposite him. "Why are you out drinking alone so late? Don't you need to accompany Elinor?"
"How could I possibly go keep her company at this hour?" Barnard said softly, savoring the liquid in his glass.
Anthony chuckled. "Then who are you planning to accompany at this late hour?"
Barnard's eyes darkened, and he fell silent.
"Accompanying Katherine? But you seem to detest her. Could it be someone else?" Anthony mumbled, his curiosity piqued.
"Don't you dare touch her again." Barnard suddenly declared. He had seen Anthony bump into Katherine at the hospital entrance before, even putting his arm around her shoulder. Now that he thought about it, he felt extremely annoyed.
Anthony's eyes widened. "What's wrong with me giving her a hug? It was a brotherly gesture of care. Can't you see how lonely she is? How starved for love she is?"
"It shouldn't be you!" Barnard retorted before taking another gulp of his drink.
"Then who should it be? You? You are her legal husband. You can love her, but do you?"
- Writer
