Chapter 43
At that moment, Stephanie suddenly opened her eyes and grabbed Vincent’s arm.
“Stephie, you…” Vincent said.
“Why are you here?” Stephanie asked in a h o a r s e voice
With a serious expression, Vincent stated, “I came to check on you. I didn’t expect you to have a fever.
After adjusting her clothes, Stephanie leaned against the headboard of the bed with a mischievous smile. “You’re lying. Obviously, you’re here to look at me. Did you miss me? Can’t sleep without me?”
Yes, Vincent admitted directly. Suddenly, he rose from the wheelchair and settled on the edge of the bed, surprising the girl.
Stephanie didn’t expect that Vincent would suddenly stand up and expose himself. “What… What’s going on?” she asked.
Vincent pinched her chin. “You are Dr. Summer.”
It was an
affirmative. Vincent was certain about her identity.
“Stephanie, you took the bullet for me tonight. Let me see your wound,” he said again.
“How did you find out?” Stephanie pursed her lips.
“In the Fletcher residence, to avoid Douglas, you sat on my lap. I’m very familiar with your scent. At that moment, I had an illusion that you were Summer,” Vincent said.
Stephanie was rendered speechless.
“It’s the same tonight. When I held you, I sensed strongly that you’re Stephanie, Vincent explained as he held her hand. “You acted differently tonight. That kiss and the faint smell of blood and alcohol while you were close to me raised my suspicions about your identity. I was worried that you took the bullet for me, so I wanted to check on you.”
“The smell of blood? What if my period just came?” Stephanie asked.
Vincent looked down. Stephanie lifted his face and warned, “Don’t look down!”
Vincent held her warm hand with a smile. “You digress.”
“You still can’t!” Stephanie warned.
Vincent gently kissed her parched lips. “I’ll get you some anti-inflammatory and antipyretic medication and then help you treat your wound.”
“Okay,” Stephanie hummed,
Vincent took the anti-inflammatory medicine from the medical kit on the bedside table. “Wait a minute. I’ll get you some water.”
He went downstairs in his wheelchair and quickly returned with a bottle of warm water.
After taking the medicine, Stephanie sat on the edge of the bed and let Vincent bandage her wound,
Vincent asked, “Why do you hide your identity??
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“I wanted to tell you the truth that day, but you said you would tie me up and even broke my leg to have me there. I was a little scared,” Stephanie added.
Vincent didn’t anticipate that his intimidating words would inadvertently cause him to miss the truth.
“Sorry, I scared you,” he apologized,
“It’s okay. But I’m really sorry that I didn’t take your order before,” she said.
“Why didn’t you take my order before? I offered a high price,” Vincent asked.
“Should I tell the truth? S
Should I tell him that I didn’t accept the order because I thought I was going to treat his leg?’ she thought.
Stephanie cleared her throat and said, “I was very busy at that time.”
Vincent didn’t dwell on it much and nodded. “When did you learn medicine?”
After pondering for a moment, Stephanie replied, “Gunshots were common in Astoria due to the country’s lax firearms laws. Not long after I went to Astoria, I found Mr. Brando gravely injured in an alley one night after school and brought him home. I had no idea he was my mentor’s senior. Through him, I met my mentor, Denver York, known to many as “Dr. Mystique.””
“Why is he called ‘Dr. Mystique’?” Vincent asked.
“Because he always wears a hyper-realistic mask. No one has seen his true appearance, Stephanie said,
“Have you ever seen his face?” Vincent asked.
Stephanie nodded. “Yes. He’s an old geezer. By the way, how did your leg get hurt?”
She learned the truth about Vincent’s leg injury before her death in her previous life. It would seem odd if she revealed it directly then. She preferred to hear it from him personally.
Vincent pressed his lips together and took a deep breath. “If I tell you that I was the one who saved you in the bar, will you believe me?”
Stephanie held his hand and said, “I believe you.”
Upon hearing her firm answer, Vincent’s heart felt warm.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” Stephanie asked.
“Because there was no need to. Weren’t you interested in Douglas?” Vincent replied.
“No, it was not like that,” Stephanie said, gently cupping the man’s face. “Douglas claimed he saved me back then. But he didn’t really have anything that drew me to him, I mistook that gratitude for love. In reality, it wasn’t love.”
Vincent looked at her and said, “Stephie, you chose me at the engagement party. I know part of it was to get back at Douglas-oven marrying me. But it “doesn’t matter to me. I’m still happy. Because, in the end, you’re the girl I’ve always wanted.”
“Vincent, I chose you not only to take revenge on that s c u m b g, but I also genuinely wanted to marry you. But why am I the girl you have always wanted?” Stephanie asked.
“Stephanie, do you still remember when you were kidnapped back then?” Vincent suddenly asked.
*Kidnapped?” Stephanie pondered for a moment before responding, “I recall being abducted by one of Horace’s business rivals, along with a young man. But how did you know about that?”
Chapter 43
Stephanie looked at him and probed, “Are you that young man?”
Vincent nodded. “Yes.”
Stephanie found it ridiculous. “I thought he was already…”
“Dead?” Vincent asked.
Stephanie nodded in disbelief.
“At that time, I was rescued before you. The kidnapper claimed I was killed to scare you.” Vincent gently held Stephanie’s hand. “I suffered from claustrophobia back then. When we were trapped in that container, I struggled to breathe. But you were there, encouraging me, and because of you, I made it through. Stephie, you are the light of my life!”
Stephanie pondered and asked, “So, it wasn’t a coincidence that you saved me in the bar that year?”
Vincent nodded. “A classmate and I happened to pass by the bar. When I saw you get out of the taxi and go inside, I felt it wasn’t safe, so I decided to follow you. And then, there was a fire.”
Only then did Stephanie realize why Vincent was so obsessed with her. It turned out that their relationship went all the way back.
Stephanie thought that she owed him too much in her previous life.
She sniffed. “I love you, Vincent.”
The love confession shocked Vincent. He said in a low and h o a r s e voice, “Stephie, say it again.”
“Vincent, I love you,” Stephanie said.
Surprised and delighted, Vincent leaned in and kissed Stepha nie’s lips. Her warm mouth and tongue ignited a fire in his heart, causing his heartbeat to quicken.
Vincent pinned her under his body and kissed her hard as if trying to devour her.
Stephanie let out a m u f f l e d groan, and the sound pulled Vincent back to his senses.
Although he really wanted to have her, it was not the time. After all, she was injured.
“Sorry, I touched your wound,” Vincent apologized.
“Don’t apologize. You didn’t mean it,” Stephanie said.
Vincent tidied up her clothes and said, “Go to sleep. I’ll stay with you.”
He draped the thin quilt over her and repeated, “Go to sleep.”
“Lie next to me,” she said.
“Okay” Vincent turned off the wall lamp, lay beside Stephanie, and held her hand.
“Sleep with me tonight. Don’t leave, okay?” Stephanie said.
“Okay,” Vincent hummed,
Exhausted from her injury and fever, Stephanie quickly fell asleep..
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Chapter 43
Vincent finally felt relieved.
The reason why Stephanie liked Douglas was that she thought he had saved her.
Vincent was touched when he thought about how Stephanie had gone all out to take the bullet for
or him th
that night.
He pulled her into his arms and murmured. “Stephanie, I love you.”