Chapter 43

William wrapped the pieces of ice in the towel and pressed it on his face several times. After making sure that the ice pieces would not pierce out and hurt his skin, he went back to the living room.

Riley was not in the living room. The bathroom door was open. He walked over and saw Riley putting on a gloomy face. Her shoulder trembled, and she was trying to keep her weeping sound low as if someone had bullied her, and she did not dare to speak out her pain and humiliation.

The scene stung William.

She was neither strong enough to be invincible, nor she didn’t need to be taken care of. It was just her putting on a strong shield to protect and hide her fragile heart.

“Cry if you feel like crying. It will make you feel better. You can do anything you feel like doing here. Anything!”

William gently patted on her shoulder, suggesting that she could forget about her worries here. She needed not to have any burden and make herself feel at home.

Drops of tears started to drip from Riley’s face, who was trying to restrain her weep. She could not hold back anymore when William said that and began to cry.

William helped her out of the bathroom and took her to have a seat on the sofa. He pulled out a few sheets of tissue, “I won’t ask anything if you don’t want to talk about it. But don’t hurt yourself.”

Riley covered her face, and her shoulder trembled more violently. Her tears seemed to have accumulated for many years and had finally reached the limit. The tears seeped out and flowed profusely.

Riley was like a child in front of William. She could express her emotions as she wished without embarrassment or shame.

William silently accompanied her. His big warm hand gently caressed and patted her back, “It’s alright. Everything’s over. Don’t be afraid.”

Riley’s heart and dignity that was crushed into pieces were slowly healed in William’s quiet and gentle voice. She sobbed, “I’m so tired...I feel so tired...”

Every word from her pierced into his heart.

What kind of life did Riley experience? What in the past hurt her so much that she could endure it to this point?

“Have a good rest if you feel tired. Let your heart take a good rest. I’ll help you anytime if you need me.”

After crying for some time, she raised her head. Her tears smeared her face, and a wisp of wet hair stuck to her face on her chin.

She wiped off her last tears with a tissue. Not only her face was swollen, but her eyes were also swollen. The red eyelids wrapped around her bright eyes, making her look like a wounded rabbit.

She sniffled and threw the tissue she used to wipe off her tears and snot into the bin. It was a handful of tissue. “Sorry...did I scare you?”

It had been a long time since she had cried like that. She had almost forgotten the feeling of crying as she wished and had almost forgotten how to cry. Riley didn’t expect a person that was so strong like her would cry with all her might in front of William, who she did not know well.

“No. I’m very...happy that you can cry here. At least, you don’t reject me from within and were willing to show me your vulnerable side.”

It was trust and entrusting herself to him by willing to show him the vulnerable side of hers.

Riley rubbed her sore nose, “I...I’ll leave.”

William said with a smile, “Leave? Where are you going to go? Going out with a pair of redden eyes and an obviously swollen face because of a slap? Take a seat. I’ll give you a cold compress.”

He took the towel and rubbed it gently on her face. Then he carefully asked, “Does it hurt? I’ll be gentler if it hurts.”

Both of them sat too close. Riley felt uncomfortable and moved aside, “I...I’ll do it myself.”

William didn’t resist either, “Okay. Here you go. Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Or some hot water?”

Riley rubbed her face, “Anything would be fine.”

William got up, “Some hot water then. You haven’t slept all night. Drinking coffee would affect your sleep.”

Riley gazed at William’s back. She felt sad. She was not silly. She could see that William’s concern for her had gone beyond the ordinary relationship between a superior and his subordinate. But Riley couldn’t afford to enjoy the gentleness he was giving her.

They were not destined to be together.

William brought a cup of hot water, “I added some glucose in it. You need to replenish your energy. You can take a nap here after that. This is my private area. No one would disturb you.”

“Never mind. I’ll go back and take a rest.”

William chuckled. He raised his hand and wanted to help her to tidy up her hair. But he stopped the intention once he thought about their identity, “Don’t force yourself in front of me. Why should you go home? Won’t you be alone at home too? The bedding is new, and I seldom rest there.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Since that was not what you meant, then don’t worry about staying. Tell me what you want to eat if you feel hungry when you wake up. I’ll get something for you.”

Riley’s movement on her hand had stopped. She raised her head and looked at the tall William. The sun shone through the window, and on him, a golden beam was surrounding him, “Mr. Hardesty, why are you...”

“Why am I so nice to you?”

She was speechless for a moment when he saw through what she was about to ask.

William shrugged, “I’m a failure in my life. I have been trying to woo someone to this point, but that person is still unaware of it.”

Riley was stunned by his self-mocking words. She tried to speak, “Mr. Hardesty, thank...thank you. But let’s forget about it. It’s impossible between us. You don’t know me. You don’t even know me in person.”

William lowered his body and approached her. Riley thought he was trying to do something to her, and she quickly backed away. Unexpectedly, he smirked and laughed, then he touched the cup with his clean fingers, “You can drink the water now.”

Riley was speechless.

“You do not have to reject me so quickly. I’m very patient. Doctor Watson, it takes more than ten hours for a heart operation to end. This is about the happiness of my life. You don’t have to give me a rejection so soon?”

Riley was feeling awkward a moment ago, and he made the atmosphere relaxed again with a few words. That moment, Riley had a thought that it would be nice if she had met William first.

But the matter about the relationship was always about who came first. Her heart was too small to have space for others when Euan was already in it.

“You may go to work. Thank you for your personal space.”

“Well, I’ll go ahead, but promise me one thing. Don’t sneak away when you wake up.”

God, he saw through her thoughts. She wanted to slip away while he was away.

Riley was back to herself, “Mr. Hardesty, you must be thinking too much. I’ll be waiting for you to treat me a meal and send me home.”

He chuckled. His chuckle was gentle and elegant, like the breeze of spring, “Wait for me. Please do.”

William left and closed the door. Riley was exhausted. She lay on the bed with her eyes closed. The messy thoughts in her mind did not prevent her from dozing off.

At that time, in the VIP ward...

Anika just left, and Jeanne came in.

“Lydia, how do you feel?”

Lydia sat on the sofa, fiddling with the jewellery Anika had just given her. “I’m fine. Just suffocated due to anger. Riley the bitch was lucky and had survived again.”

Jeanne sneered. She tidied her doctor robe and sat down, “A bad thing would never die. How would she be gone so easily? But don’t worry. She would not have a better life in the future either.”

“Jeanne, which man was Riley with last night? Did you take a clear photo of it?” Lydia looked into her eyes.

Jeanne was a smart woman. She would not show her bottom card even in front of Lydia, “I did not see clearly. I was afraid that I would be noticed and quickly took a photo and left. We will put the matter today aside. I’ll deal with her slowly in the future.”

“Jeanne, I can’t wait anymore! Make it quick! Finish her as soon as possible!”

Jeanne frowned, “Lydia, do you know why you couldn’t fight against her all these years? You are just too anxious and not calm enough. You have to deal with Riley step by step. If you are not careful enough, you’ll be strangled by her instead. Do you think she had been living for three years for nothing?”

Lydia clenched her teeth, “I hate her! I want her to die!”

“What you must do now was not to deal with her. But to find a way to get the heart of Euan. You shouldn’t be wilful in front of Euan. Riley is strong, and you must be gentle. Why should you be afraid of Riley if you can catch Euan’s heart?”

Lydia tugged on Jeanne’s arm and said with a grin, “Jeanne, it’s good to have you back and give some advice to me. You have great ideas. Here, take this. Euan’s mother gave this to me just now. It’s a limited edition.”

Jeanne pointed to Lydia’s head with her finger, “Are you silly? Euan’s mother had given you a gift. You must choose all occasions to wear it and tell others who gave you this. At that time, everyone will regard you as the daughter-in-law of the George family.”

“Jeanne, you’re right! It’s good to have you here!”

Riley, who was lying on the bed, was having a nightmare. Droplets of sweat drenched her forehead. In the dream, she was standing in the endless corridor in the hospital. She was running with all her might. But a black tornado rolled up her father and took him away faster than she could run!”

“Dad...Dad!”

She woke up with a start, holding the blanket, and her body was drenched in sweat.

The nightmare. She hadn’t had it for a long time and didn’t expect to dream it again.

Riley got out of the blanket and walked to the window. It was already 5 pm. She didn’t expect that she had been sleeping for so long. As she rubbed her swollen temples, she went back to the mirror. Her face was still swollen.

After washing her hands and cleaning up her face. Her phone began to vibrate rapidly on the sofa.

Hendrix?

Why was he calling?

Riley wiped the water off her hands on her clothes, “Hello.”

“Riley, you finally answered the phone. I’ve been calling from morning till now. Where are you?”

Riley thought for a while and chose to speak the truth, “I’m in the restroom in the hospital.”

“Riley, did you cry?” Hendrix felt that Riley’s voice was not quite right.

“No! Hendrix, I’ll hang up if you have nothing to say.”

“Don’t hang up, Riley. I saw the news. Lydia was bullying you again, am I right?”

The brat, Hendrix, was he thinking that the situation was not chaotic enough?

“This is my matter. It has nothing to do with you. Don’t interfere.” Riley was afraid that something would happen to Hendrix. Then she would suffer more in George’s residence.

Mr George, Don't Be So Arrogant Chapter 42 Slap in the Face without Letting the Master Know Mistaken Identity Chapter 73: Empire State Building Shouldn't Have Kissed You Chapter 51: Epilogue “How can you say it had nothing to do with me? You are my sister-in-law! I’m going to find Lydia now!”

“Hendrix! Don’t rush into things, Hendrix! What are you doing!”

“Going to the hospital. Teach Lydia a lesson and take you home!”

“Hendrix! Get back here! Fuck, get back here!”

Unfortunately, Hendrix had hung up the call.

Damn! Hendrix, don’t be a fool!

Mr George, Don't Be So Arrogant Mistaken Identity Shouldn't Have Kissed You