Chapter 169

After the drip was done, Ronan was still hanging out in my room.

“Uhm, I’m about to leave the hospital. You should go ahead.” I was touched by his willingness to accompany me, but I still felt uncomfortable around him. Being taken care of by him like that made us looked like we’re close, even though we weren’t.

“I’ll send you back. It’s best not to overexert yourself.” Ronan spoke plainly.

“There’s no need for that. I’ll just take the subway. I’ve been giving you a lot of trouble for the past two days,” I swiftly rejected his offer as I was living in Michael’s mansion.

I couldn’t let Ronan know about my relationship with Michael because Michael would get angry.

“This is the second time you have rejected me. Why are you so afraid if I know where you live?” Ronan’s tone and eyebrows reflected his disappointment.

“Of course not. I just thought I don’t want to cause you any more trouble after taking care of me. I’m grateful for your help, but I felt like we’re getting a little too close as friends,” I timidly explained.

“You’re not troubling me. I’m just worried that you might’ve not fully recovered yet, which is why I wanted to send you back-” The ringing on Ronan’s cellphone interrupted him before he could finish his sentence.

He took out his phone and answered the call.

Moments later, his expression turned serious. “Got it. I’ll be there soon.”

Ronan’s goofy expression faded away as he turned toward me. “I’m sorry, Anna. I can’t send you back now. Something just came up.”

“It’s fine. You should go. I can go home on my own.” I let out a sigh of relief in my mind.

“I’ll be going now. If I have time later on, I’ll give you a call.” He then put on his coat and left.

Soon after, I left the room as well.

Once I dealt with the discharge procedures, I visited Steven’s room.

I simply stood outside his room like a stranger and watched a heartwarming scene unfolding within.

After I walked out of the hospital, I received a call from Natalie. It had been a while since we last met, so I agreed to her invitation to go shopping.

Initially, I thought about declining it because I was supposed to rest, even though my fever had faded. In the end, I couldn’t win against her pleas and headed toward a nearby mall.

When we met up at the mall, Natalie was excitedly trying out new clothes as I barely kept up with her with disinterest.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to buy new clothes, I just didn’t have the money for it. I had to save up and repay my debts to Michael for helping Steven. It might take years, but I didn’t want to owe him anything.

“Anna, what do you think? Do I look good in this dress?” She walked out of the changing room in a light-green dress.

“You look good in any clothes, Natalie.” She had a slim and sexy figure, so no matter what she wore, she would look great in it.

Nevertheless, even if Natalie wanted to buy those clothes, I doubted she even had the money to do so, since we were in an expensive brand store. All she could do was trying out the clothes.

I expected her to be smiling after I praised her, yet her expression turned angry.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” I asked curiously before following her gaze.

When I noticed what she saw, my body froze, and my heart shattered.

Not too far away was a fashionable woman holding Michael’s arm. She was smiling with her pretty face, unlike him.

Michael hates women whom he doesn’t like touching him, but he has allowed this woman to cling to him. I wonder what is their relationship? I was getting flustered and heartbroken.

“Anna, are you alright?” Natalie approached me when I wasn’t paying attention and held my hand.

I kept staring at Michael and the woman next to him instead of answering Natalie. Tears welled up in my eyes as they walked toward us.

“I’m fine… Change your clothes back, Natalie. Let’s leave,” I pleaded as I looked away in a panic.

“I’ll go and change now.” Natalie promptly stepped back into the changing room.

I turned my back against Michael and the woman next to him. I didn’t want him to see me here, because if he did, I think I wouldn’t be able to control my emotions.

“Michael, how about we go to this store? I think I saw some nice dresses inside,” the woman said sweetly. I tried searching through my memory, but her voice was unfamiliar to me.

From her volume, I could tell the two of them were about to step into the shop. Please don’t let him see me. Please don’t let him see me. Please. Please. Please.

“Let’s go inside and take a look, then.” Michael’s voice sounded emotionless, but my heart still ached.

I could hear their footsteps right behind me. I had a feeling Michael was looking at my back, yet I wasn’t brave enough to turn and face him.