"Good morning."
Janelle felt a bit awkward. After all, the man's physical reaction was far too intense.
She wanted to scoot back, not wanting to be pressed so close to him.
However, moving backwards almost made her fall off the bed. He pulled her back again.
"Running away? It's a normal reaction! Relax, I won't do anything to you."
Being pressed against like that, how could Janelle possibly remain unaffected?
"Erik, let go of me."
Erik released her.
Seeing her flushed, healthy-looking face, his mood improved considerably. He hated seeing her weak; it made his heart ache.
Janelle got down from the hospital bed. How did she end up on the bed? She distinctly remembered falling asleep on the sofa!
"How did I get on the bed?" she asked, displeased. The bed was so small; sleeping two people was incredibly cramped, their bodies pressed tightly together.
"I don't know either! When I woke up this morning, you were already in my arms," Erik said, looking utterly innocent.
"Really?"
She found it hard to believe. Did she sleepwalk? She had no idea she did that!
"Really."
Erik also got out of bed. His morning reaction, combined with the underwear she'd bought being too small, meant he felt like he was about to explode.
Right in front of her, he went straight back into the bathroom and took another cold shower.
It was too much.
If this continued, he was afraid he really would explode.
After Erik came out of the bathroom, Janelle went in to wash her face. Inside, there was a strong, unmistakably masculine scent.
This man... what had he been doing in here?
The smell was overwhelming.
Janelle quickly washed up and came out.
"What do you want for breakfast? I'll go buy it for you," Janelle offered, planning to go to Blue Whale after the doctor checked on him.
"No need. Bryan will bring breakfast soon. After we eat, I'll take you to Blue Whale."
Knowing what Blue Whale meant to her, he wouldn't stop her from doing what she wanted.
Sure enough, just as he finished speaking, Bryan arrived with breakfast.
The breakfast was lavish, prepared by the family nutritionist, and consisted of all Janelle's favorite foods.
"Erik, Sis-in-law, I'm really sorry! I was tied up all last night and couldn't come back," Bryan apologized.
Erik ignored him, gesturing for Janelle to come eat.
Early in the morning, Janelle really had no appetite.
Didn't people eat just to survive? Since she wasn't hungry, she didn't want to eat.
"You eat. I don't want anything," she said honestly.
"Eat a little. You must treat all three meals seriously," Erik insisted. Her stomach was too fragile to neglect.
"Yeah, Sis-in-law, eat a little. Health is the most important thing," Bryan chimed in. If she wasn't healthy, how could she withstand Erik's... stamina? Of course, he didn't voice that last thought. Saying it out loud would probably be a death sentence.
Janelle picked at her food, eating only a few bites.
Seeing her eat so little, Erik frowned but didn't want to force her.
As he ate, he tried to feed her a bite.
She refused.
"Erik, I'm really full. Eat by yourself. Don't worry about me."
"Just one more bite," he coaxed.
Janelle refused decisively, absolutely unwilling to eat another bite.
Erik knew better than to push further. With her personality, persisting would only make her snap.
After breakfast, the doctor came for rounds.
He asked Erik about his condition and confirmed he was fine.
"You can be discharged. Rest well at home. If you feel any discomfort, come back for another check-up."
"Mm," Erik acknowledged. He disliked hospitals too; they were inconvenient.
"Go handle the discharge paperwork. I'll take Miss Rovella to the company first," Erik instructed Bryan immediately after the doctor left.
"No need to take me. I can go myself. You should go home and rest," Janelle insisted. Regardless, he had been hit by a car; he should be careful.
"Haven't I told you? I'm really fine. It was just a graze."
"Alright then."
If he insisted he was fine, what could she do? The two left the room together.
In the hallway, they ran into Westin and Amber.
Seeing Janelle, Westin charged over.
"Janelle! Do you know what you've done? How dare you?!"
Nelson's nasal bone was broken, along with two ribs. How could she be so vicious?
Looking at the furious Westin, Janelle found it laughable.
"He was the one driving to hit people! All I did was break two of his ribs. What's so terrible about that?" Facing someone like Nelson, there was no need for courtesy.
"You—!" Westin sputtered. How had his daughter become so utterly lawless?!
"You've become as crazy as your mother! Don't you realize you've completely offended the Hills?"
With the Hills' current status in Graham City, plus their connection to the Lorenz family in Imperial Capital, angering them would mean total ruin for the Rovellas. What would happen to his Blue Whale Co., Ltd. then?
"Rather than letting you continue to bring disaster on the Rovellas, I'll beat you to death today!"
Westin raised his hand.
However, his slap never landed. Erik caught his wrist.
Westin struggled, but couldn't break free. His face flushed red with anger.
"What are you?! I'm disciplining my own daughter! What business is it of yours?"
"Let go of me, or I'll hit you too!" Westin roared foolishly.
Erik tightened his grip. Westin felt like his old bones were about to be crushed.
"Ahhhh! Let go!"
Amber moved to help, but Janelle blocked her path.
"Janelle! No matter what, he is your father! How can you let an outsider bully him like this?! Don't you think you're being too much?"
"Too much? I haven't even done anything yet," Janelle replied, a cold smile on her face. "There will be much worse to come."
Seeing them suffer brought her satisfaction.
"Let's go," Janelle called to Erik.
Erik shoved Westin hard into Amber.
"If I ever see you lay a hand on her again, you won't need this hand anymore," Erik stated with deadly coldness.
He then followed Janelle as they walked away.
"That man... he's not simple," Westin murmured, a flicker of worry crossing his face. What was his background? Why couldn't they find anything on him?
"Hmm," Amber nodded. They hadn't paid much attention to the man before. But after several encounters, it was clear he was a formidable presence. Nelson had clashed with him a few times, and each time, Nelson ended up the miserable one.
Meanwhile, Nelson had finally woken up.
Seeing him conscious, Lillie immediately rushed over, concerned.
Nelson shoved her away violently, almost sending her crashing to the floor.
Lillie was furious. What the hell was his problem?