The Black Widow and Alpha Landlord

Chapter 2: Tragic Accident

After a moment of panic, she was able to calm down and get back on her feet. It was a good thing the pond water wasn't too deep as it would have been much worse if she had fallen all the way in. Even though she was relieved, the situation made her feel humiliated and ashamed.

When she looked up and saw the guy reluctantly offering to help her get up, her eyes narrowed as they took in his handsome face. Seeing the gorgeous man standing in front of her made her heart skip a beat.

He was a tall, intimidating figure with wide shoulders and a muscular frame. Although he was wearing simple clothes, the guy seemed rich and powerful. It was impossible to miss the authoritative air he gave off. The light that seemed to radiate from him made his chiseled features stand out even more.

Despite feeling embarrassed by the situation, she couldn't take her eyes off of his piercing blue eyes. It seemed like she saw a king of the fairies for a split second.

She hesitated for a moment before accepting his hand and allowing him to help her out of the water. He showed impatience in his tone as he reluctantly urged, “Come on. Quick! I don't have time for this," he grumbled, glancing over his shoulder. "What a hassle! Now I have to waste my time helping you."

Jasmine was shocked by how cold he was. While she was struggling to get out of the water, she could feel the man watching her. When he looked down at her, his face was twisted with anger, and she could see it in his eyes as he mumbled something over his shoulder.

His tone didn't reflect regret or apologies; it was only irritability and anger. Feeling hurt and angry, she wondered why he was taking out his anger on her when it was clearly his fault.

They stood there in awkward silence for a moment, both unsure of what to say or do. The stranger looked at her with a sense of cruelty, his gaze fixed firmly on hers. But then, as he drew closer, she felt a surge of courage rising within her.

It was hard for Jasmine to get back on her feet because the water was so cold and she was shocked. The guy who caused the accident didn't even check on her; he just ignored her and spoke in a cold, dismissive way.

Her clothes got soaked from the fall, and water streamed from her hair down her face. Getting to her feet, she confronted the stranger, her frustration reaching its peak. "Seriously, what's your deal? Can't you pay attention to where you're walking, sir?"

Instead of receiving any comforting words, she was met with his harsh and callous response. "I didn't do it on purpose, but you really shouldn't have been standing there like a fool."

Caught off guard by the stranger's abrupt words, she involuntarily took a step back in surprise. "I'm not the one who caused this. You ran into me."

He scoffed, a clear expression of disdain appearing on his face. "You definitely did, and now you're all wet," he said with an icy tone. "You're not injured, are you? Please, step aside! I can't deal with more drama right now."

She pulled back, taken aback by his dismissive words. "You can't speak to me that way!" she exclaimed, her voice quivering with anger. "Sure, I fell into the pond, but that doesn't mean you can act badly around me. And just so you know, I’m hurt—both physically and emotionally."

"Do you usually create a fuss like this when someone bumps into you by accident? You should consider yourself lucky that I did take the time to stop and offer help."

Her anger made her face flush. "You could have at least apologized for running into me," she shot back, her voice trembling with fury.

He said as he walked away, "Don't expect me to say sorry for your carelessness! I have more important things to do. I don't have time to deal with your little accident." He just gave a shrug and turned his head.

Jasmine couldn't help but roll her eyes in irritation as she watched his figure retreating. She was bothered by his lack of understanding and kindness, and his rude behavior had made her furious.

She couldn't simply let him walk away. His words felt like a harsh slap in the face, fueling her anger even further. She took a determined step forward, ready to chase after him and unleash her frustration, but he effortlessly turned and seemed prepared to continue on his way, unfazed by her intentions.

She had to fight the excruciating pain in her limping feet as she tried to catch up to him. Every step was a struggle for her, and the agony jolted through her body every time she moved. Her resolve to face him pushed her forward, but the pain kept reminding her of how hard it was for her body.

Without much thought, she called out hesitantly, "Um, excuse me, sir. Is there something I can do to help you?"

The stranger turned over his shoulder, and his gaze bore into hers, leaving her with the unsettling feeling that he could peer directly into her soul. "No, I don't need any help," he responded in a commanding tone. There was a trace of annoyance in his voice as he continued, "This doesn't concern you. I must be on my way."

"What was so pressing that you couldn't watch where you were headed, sir?" she pressed on, her curiosity getting the better of her despite her earlier frustration.

He stopped suddenly and looked her straight in the eye. "You're blocking my way," he said directly, his eyes showing his impatience. "I need to take care of important things right away, and I can't afford to be held up by trivial mishaps like this."

Her voice quivered with seething rage as she declared, "Sir, before you go any further, I must be aware of anyone who passes through this area since I'm in charge of this place."

He pivoted around, taken aback by the sudden outburst. "I'm simply passing through," he responded casually. "I have no particular business here, except to take a break before continuing my journey."

She regarded him with a suspicious narrowing of her eyes. "And what exactly is this journey you're on?"

"That's not your concern," he replied with a little irritated voice. "If you'll pardon me, I need to keep going."

Jasmine refused to give up and stood her ground. "I'm determined to find out who you are and your purpose here," she said with a firm voice. "I'm in charge of this land, and I won't let anyone come and go as they please."

With a look of surprise on his face, he raised an eyebrow and turned to face her. "Under your responsibility, you say?" he asked, his voice a little cynical. "Who are you to claim this land?"

Jasmine stood tall, refusing to be intimidated. "I don't own this place, but I'm responsible for the sheep," she asserted, her voice brimming with confidence. "I won't allow anyone to wander around here without a good reason."

The stranger observed her with a brief pause, his eyes taking in her determined expression. "Alright then," he said finally, his tone softening. "I am just a humble worker and I’ve got some business in this village. Is that a valid enough reason for you?"

Jasmine remained cautious, her arms folded across her chest as she examined him. "What sort of business are we talking about?" she inquired, her voice laced with suspicion.

He paused briefly before responding, "I'm a traveling merchant. I've got some goods to offer to the folks in this village."

Her tension eased a bit as her suspicion lessened. "I get it. You're free to proceed with your business, but if I hear of any trouble, I won't hesitate to notify the authorities."

"I assure you, I have no intentions of causing any trouble here."

"By the way, I'm Jasmine Goddard," she introduced herself, her tone friendly but curious. She gazed at him expectantly and added, "And what should I call you, sir?"

His eyes flickered with recognition at her name, but he quickly masked it. "I’m just a traveler passing through. My name doesn't really matter," he replied cryptically, his voice guarded. "You're lucky I'm in a hurry, or I'd give you a piece of my mind."

With that, he went on his way, leaving Jasmine to watch his departure with a watchful eye.

She observed him as he strolled away, a sense of uneasiness taking root in the depths of her stomach. There was something about this stranger that didn't sit well with her, and she couldn't rid of the feeling that he was hiding something.

Her eyes squinted as she kept her gaze on the man walking away. "What an arrogant and selfish person," she mumbled to herself. "I really hope that we don't run into each other again."

Now she found herself standing alone, soaked, and feeling very embarrassed and ashamed. She couldn't understand how someone could be so callous and heartless of other's feelings. The encounter had left her feeling not only physically uncomfortable but also deeply wounded emotionally.

She shook her head in an attempt to clear her mind of the distressing incident, but the unsettling feeling still lingered.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted as she remembered something horrifying.

The man kept walking towards a spot that was known to be very dangerous as if he didn't care about the risks. But of course, he didn’t know the danger was coming. He had no idea what was coming. He was a stranger and was completely oblivious of the area.

She felt an urgent desire to warn him, but by the time she realized it, he had gone too far ahead. Thus, she found herself standing there in stunned silence for a moment with her racing thoughts.

It was just about time for her to turn around when there was a sudden loud thud that spun her around.

What she saw was dreadful—the stranger had been in a tragic accident.