Chapter 370



Lucas quickly stood to assist her, but Belinda pushed his hand away without a second thought. She managed to sit up on her own, leaning back against the headboard. Throughout it all, she didn’t look at him once.

Lucas’ hand lingered awkwardly in midair, unsure of how to proceed.

Belinda reached for the glass of water on the bedside table and drank eagerly. Parched, she drained the glass swiftly.

Lucas watched her intently, his lips parting slightly as he began, “I’m sorry about yesterday. I—”

But before he could finish speaking, Belinda cut him off, saying, “Mr. Clark, there’s no need for apologies. From your perspective, you did nothing wrong.”

Her tone was eerily calm, as if she were discussing something that didn’t concern her at all. This made Lucas feel distinctly uneasy.

After she spoke, Belinda lay back down and turned her back to him, her voice growing cold. “I’m going back to sleep. You can leave now, Mr. Clark.”

Lucas looked at her back, feeling the full weight of her indifference. His gaze faltered, and his expression darkened. He furrowed his brow slightly, troubled by the emotional distance between them.

After a moment’s hesitation, he turned and left the room. Only after the door clicked shut did Belinda slowly reopen her eyes. Tears rimmed her eyes, and her nose burned with a sharp ache. She couldn’t understand why she felt this way. Yesterday, she hadn’t cried when she had nearly drowned in the pool, nor during the night when the high fever had racked her body and pain had gripped her tightly. But just now, as she had watched Lucas sitting by her bed, a tide of bitterness and grievance had washed over her. At that moment, she had truly wanted to cry. But she had held back the tears.

She resolved not to cry, especially not in front of Lucas. Her tears weren’t meant for someone who was indifferent to her. So, she had suppressed her emotions, feigning indifference. Until now… Her tears trickled silently, dampening the pillow. She convinced herself that she was crying solely because the previous day’s events had been too frightening and unsettling. It had nothing to do with anyone—especially Lucas.

Just then, the door opened with a soft click. Hearing that, Belinda quickly wiped her tears away, took a deep breath, and steadied her emotions. A moment later, a low, hoarse voice whispered near her ear, “Get up and have some breakfast first. Then take your medicine. You can go back to sleep afterward.”

Hearing Lucas’ voice, Belinda tensed slightly. She hadn’t anticipated Lucas would return. After a brief silence, she sat up.

Her stomach growled with hunger. Accepting the food from Lucas, Belinda ate mechanically, spoonful by spoonful. Lucas watched her, continuing to speak, not caring whether she wanted to listen or not. “Yesterday, Verena was kidnapped by a former business rival of mine. He had sent people to abduct her, intending to rape her. Thankfully, my team intervened in time and rescued her. While she wasn’t physically injured, the experience has left her deeply shaken. Yesterday’s events have caused her significant psychological trauma.”

He paused for a moment, his voice heavy with emotion. “I’m the reason she was targeted. So, in a situation like that, I couldn’t simply abandon her.”

When Belinda heard Lucas’ explanation, her expression remained composed, but beneath the surface, her emotions churned. So, yesterday’s kidnapping had been because of Lucas. The revelation only complicated their already tangled relationship. The thought made Belinda chuckle inwardly, a bitter laugh at her own misfortune.

She met Lucas’ gaze and gave a slight nod. “Thank you for explaining, Mr. Clark. Now that I am eating breakfast, you may leave.”

Her detached tone and calm demeanor left Lucas frowning. He believed she still blamed him for everything, but he misunderstood her entirely. Belinda wasn’t blaming him—she was disappointed. Disappointed in him, in herself, and in whatever semblance of a relationship they shared.

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