CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 64: CHAOTIC, COMPLETELY CHAOTIC

Zane Thorne was always in good health, this sudden fever was just from exhaustion after running around in Altara, then rushing back home without adjusting to the time difference, and dealing with Natalie Vaughn’s matters, all while sleeping half the night on the couch.

Any iron man wouldn’t withstand such a toss.

The illness came quickly and left just as fast; almost as soon as Natalie helped him with physical cooling, he became a lot clearer.

He was completely awakened by the cold.

Zane lifted his eyelids and saw Natalie sleeping beside him, very close, so close he could feel her breath.

Because her face was resting on his hand, and the ’culprit’ that woke him up, a half-melted ice cube, was in his hand.

Zane: ...

He closed his eyes and rested for a while; after suppressing the remaining bit of dizziness, he opened his eyes again.

What a little heartless one.

The ice water had already soaked the carpet, Zane moved his completely numb hand, awkwardly shifting Natalie’s head to the side, only he didn’t expect her to wake up so quickly.

Eyes met, the air froze.

Natalie blinked, yawned contentedly, her voice muffled.

"You’re awake."

The man glanced at her.

"Thanks to you."

Natalie didn’t catch the undertone in Zane’s words, nodded.

"You should thank me, without my care, you’d have burnt out your brain."

"Yes, not only would my brain be fried, but my wife would be gone too."

"..."

Natalie suppressed her second yawn halfway upon hearing Zane’s words.

That dog man Zane actually overheard what she said.

"Such a grown man, doesn’t even know when he’s got a cold."

Not only that, but he gave her a scare too.

Thinking of the angry Zane before she dozed off, Natalie instinctively pulled her clothes tight.

Zane hadn’t forgotten what happened in the morning, seeing Natalie’s small gesture, he curled his lips.

Even a proud little girl has things she’s afraid of.

Naturally, Zane also didn’t forget that Natalie tried to please him, comfort him, admitted her mistake, and kissed him voluntarily.

Looks like he still needs to show his true colors from time to time, otherwise his future Mrs. Thorne might just climb over his head and dance.

His arm and half his body were numb, Zane wasn’t in a hurry to get up, his gaze fell on the script beside him. Then he recalled Natalie was going to film a movie.

He wasn’t interested in the filming, nor did he plan to interfere. But seeing Natalie’s effort and dedication, he asked more.

"When are you joining the cast?"

Natalie picked up the script, only to find a corner soaked by the ice water.

"In a few days."

She said while putting the script aside, her attention fell on the mostly melted ice cubes, naturally noticing Zane’s stiffness too.

Half of her face was still cold and numb, so the hand of Zane under her face couldn’t be any better off.

Rarely, a bit of guilt arose in Natalie’s heart.

As if to cover up her ’crime’, she unnecessarily hid the ice cube behind her.

The man squeezed out a laugh from his chest.

"The future Mrs. Thorne really has a knack for taking care of the sick."

Natalie: ...

Might as well not hide, might as well not feel guilty.

Righteously.

She raised her hand, pointing at the equipment yet to be put back.

"Do you know how much effort it took to move you here?"

Such a big guy, even for her it was challenging.

Zane glanced over, then his gaze fell on Natalie’s slightly red face, chuckling lightly.

"I didn’t blame you."

On the contrary, he was somewhat gratified by Natalie’s self-awareness.

Call him traditional, call him a chauvinist, but in his belief, a man should naturally protect his woman.

With Natalie’s tender hands, how could they withstand the ice cubes?

Natalie felt somewhat uneasy.

Because she detected a hint of indulgence from Zane’s previous laugh.

How strange, shouldn’t Zane, that dog man, be angry at what she’d done?

Thump, thump, thump—

Her heartbeat was somewhat abnormal.

Too strange.

Natalie suddenly stood up, walking out without looking back, but stopped abruptly at the door.

The tips of her ears were flushed red, her voice a bit tight.

"Auntie has already made dinner."

After saying this, she escaped downstairs like a little rabbit.

Different from how she felt on the hilltop that day.

That time she couldn’t tell how much of the chaos in her heartbeat was due to excitement, or if it was indeed excitement.

But at this moment, without racing cars, no thrilling stimuli, just that one laugh from Zane.

Such strange emotions made Natalie instinctively wary.

Zane once questioned why she was so certain he’d indulge her.

At that time, she hadn’t thought much about it, just always felt that it didn’t matter if she was a little more wanton, since she was pampered by family and friends from a young age. But she also knew she needed to strike a good balance with Zane,

Zane clearly said he wouldn’t spoil her.

But...

Thinking back on it now, it wasn’t her problem at all!

Clearly, certain actions by Zane led her to misunderstand!

For example, putting ice on Zane’s hand so boldly was because yesterday, before hot pot, Zane personally applied a face mask for her and didn’t let her touch any ice.

Who exactly is messing with whom?

If Zane didn’t want to spoil her, why would he do things that are easy to misunderstand?

Or is it because his nature is to be indulgent in small matters?

No, that’s not it.

Zane isn’t that kind of person.

She was sure it was because of their engagement.

His attitude towards the one from The Blackwood Family at the archery club that day was a very good example.

Natalie suddenly felt a bit lost.

So, is Zane’s indulgence towards her simply because she’s his future wife?

This explanation seems to clarify everything, but...

Why doesn’t she feel particularly happy about it?

She shouldn’t be like this.

From the start, didn’t she act wantonly in front of Zane because of this identity? She even tacitly used this identity as a key to pass the game with Zane.

It’s a complete mess.

Natalie took a deep breath, ran into the bathroom, and frantically splashed water on her face, trying to clear her mind and sort out these complicated emotions.

How could she possibly clear them?

Click-clack, click-clack—

Zane had already started downstairs.

Natalie wiped her face, looked at the unfamiliar self in the mirror, shook her head, and shook away all the messy thoughts.

At the moment, Natalie didn’t know that her appearance was a typical case of being lovesick.

The two ate in silence, the awkwardness absent yesterday appeared at today’s dining table.

More precisely, it was Natalie’s awkwardness alone.

Zane had a good appetite, eating more than half of the dishes on the table.

He watched Natalie’s slow movements, thinking it was due to the injury on her face.

"After dinner, I’ll take you to the hospital."

Natalie looked up blankly.

"Why go to the hospital?"

Zane raised an eyebrow.

"Doesn’t your face hurt?"

"It’s okay, a couple more ice packs should do."

She still needed to familiarize herself with the script, plus...

Right now, she didn’t really want to go out with Zane; she needed to leave some time to sort out her thoughts.

Zane nodded, saying no more.

He was out for a while, needed to visit the club once.