"Could you please not be so cold to me? I just want to see you. I couldn't help myself just now. If you think it's not enough, I'll slap myself until you're satisfied. Please promise me not to hide from me, can you?"
The man's slap echoed throughout the bathroom. Rosie thought he must be crazy; otherwise, why would he do such a thing?
"Stop." The girl reached out and grabbed the man's hand. His hand was scalding hot, his face flushed red. He hadn't held back at all when slapping himself; he was simply crazy.
"I promise you, as long as you don't do something as strange as tonight, I won't hide from you. But Mr. Carey, you must understand that until I annul my engagement with Charles Anderson, it's impossible for us to be together. I also don't want you to do anything for me. If you agree to these, I can promise you what you asked earlier."
