Chapter 14 D Over the years , the constant pain had been like a relentless torturer , pushing Percival closer and closer to the edge of breaking down .
If it werent for his iron will and the meager support of medications , hed probably already be hanging by a thread .
Forget surviving , he wouldnt even have made it this far .
And yet , now , for the first time in a long while , he felt a wave of relief , both physical and mental , washing over him like he was being reborn .
It was as though the toxins inside him were quietly dissolving , his body and mind both rejuvenated in a way hed never felt before .
All set , Odalys said softly , pulling her hand back , turning , and walking over to the sink to wash her hands carefully .
After a moment , she faced him again , her stance now more commanding as she sized him up .
Her eyes locked with his dark , intense ones .
But her gaze slipped , falling onto his bare torso his strong abs and V line were obvious now , with only a towel barely covering the lower half of his body .
Odalys froze for a second, her face flushing bright red .
She quickly turned her gaze away , realizing the thick , charged atmosphere in the room .
She turned toward the door , her steps a little rushed , not quite as graceful as usual .
Its getting late , and I have to record a variety show tomorrow morning she said , her voice low .
Ill head back to my room to sleep .
Just as she reached the door , Percival : al Stewarts gravelly voice cut through the air , stopping her dead in her tracks .
Wait .
Huh ? She turned back , her brow furrowing in confusion .
Percival glanced at her briefly , then shifted his gaze to the coffee table across the room .
Dorian opened a safe at the bank this afternoon , he said in a quiet , serious tone .
Your wedding gifts are in there .
The key and your ID are on the table , he added , his voice rasping a little .
P Odalys followed his gaze and saw her ID and a key on the table .
She quickly walked over and grabbed the ID .
Take the key too , Percival said without looking at her , almost like he knew shed forget it .
Its yours Odalys hesitated .
She never planned on keeping the gifts .
She didnt want them she just didnt want the Bennett family getting their hands on them In a month , if Percival made le it through , shed sit down and talk with him about ending this arrangement .
Shed return everything to him then Alright .
Without saying much more , she grabbed the key and made her way to the door .
Inside the bathroom , Percivals eyes lowered to the marks on his neck and chest .
The impressions left by her fingers were still visible .
He couldnt help but feel the strange , almost electric sensa So this is acupressure ? he murmured to himself his voice low and hoarse .
He hadnt expected acupressure to actually do this to help with toxins , of all things Odalys wasnt at all what hed imagined .
He thought she was just some pawn sent by the Bennett family to get close to the Stewart fortune .
But shed kept her distance , treated him with cool professionalism , and never once flinched around him .
Interesting , he muttered , wiping the blood from his lips , pulling on his bathrobe , and stepping out of the tub .
As soon as he walked out , Leng Zimo arrived in a hurry , his eyes locking on Percivals neck as he caught sight of him .
He quickly approached , excitement written all over his face .
Damn , let me see that Onson said with a grin , practically rushing over to Percival .
He yanked at the bathrobe , revealing the claw marks on his chest that connected to those on his neck .
No way ! Youve gotta be kidding me ? Orson exclaimed , his hands shaking with excitement .
Percival grabbed his hand , pulling it away as he tightened his robe and shot Orson a sharp look .
So , this is acupressure ? * Hell yeah ! Im freaking amazed ! You start from the chest to suppress the toxins , then move down to the neck this is genius ! Wheres your wife ! I need to meet her right now , Orson said , practically bouncing on his heels , eager to run off and find Odalys .
Just as he was about to turn around and leave , Callum suddenly stepped in front of him , blocking his path .
Mr.
Lark Callum said , his voice low but serious , You just said it yourself shes Mrs.
Stewart .
Dont you think its a little off to go looking for another mans wife at this hour ! .
1/2 Chapter 14 Orson froze .
He quickly raised his hands in surrender , nodding .
Yeah , yeah , youre rightt Not the best timing .
Ill talk to him tomorrow .
But , uh .
could you have a word with her for me ! See if shell teach me a few things ? Onson was obsessed with medicine .
Coming from a long line of doctors , he couldnt resist the chance to learn new techniques , especially one as promising as this .
There was no way he was letting it slip away .
Shes not available right now , Percivals deep , gravelly voice interjected , shutting him down cold .
That was like a bucket of ice water over Orsons head .
He opened his mouth , trying to think of something to say , but no words came out .
Before he could react , Callum slapped a hand over his mouth and yanked him out of the room .
Once Orson was gone , Dorian stepped in , speaking in a low voice .
Sir , when Mrs.
Stewart went our earlier , the driver saw her stop by a pharmacy .
But after that , she got ..
tangled up with someone .
Percivals eyes narrowed slightly .
He looked up at Dorian , his expression unreadable .
Tangled up with someone ? he asked , his voice rough , with just a hint of suspicion .
Was someone harassing her ? Or did she run into some creep ? he wondered .
Well , it seems like … Dorian hesitated , lowering his voice even further , and gave a detailed report of what had happened .
He handed over an iPad with a video of the whole encounter .
Percival watched the footage , his gaze hardening when he saw the guys face , heard Odalys words .
His eyes grew colder than ever .
Sir , should we take care of this ? Dorian asked , his voice barely above a whisper .
Percival handed the iPad back , picked up his phone , and paused for a long moment .
When he spoke again , his voice was deep and calm , though the tension in the room was palpable .
No need .
She can handle it herself .
He added , with a deliberate pause , And from now on , tell the driver to stop tailing her .
Shes from the Bennett family , not some dama commodity ve bought .
This whole marriage thing was my grandfathers idea Shes part of the Stewart family now , and she gets treated with respect .
Shes got her own life .
Let her live it And make sure she gets everything she needs top tier , no exceptions .
When she comes back , arrange for her to have her own car .
Dorian blinked in surprise .
This was the first time Percival had given orders like this something more personal , not business related .
He nodded quickly , impressed by the shift .
Understood , sir , Dorian said quiedy , howing as he left the room with the iPad .
Meanwhile , in the next room , Odalys had returned to her space.
She grabbed a couple of pastries , washed up , and then settled down to rest … Surprisingly , she didnt feel restless despite being in a new place .
In fact , she drifted off to sleep almost instantly .
When her alarm went off , she uretched lazily , got ready , and slipped into a loose black T shirt and high waisted pants .
She tied her hair up in a ponytail , grabbed her bag and a small suitcase , and quickly made her way downstairs The house was eerily quiet , the servants moving about like shadows .
Odalys walked quickly , ordering a ride on her phone as she headed toward the door Mr.
Stewan , Dorian called , stepping forward as he saw her in a hurry .
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