CHAPTER 39: A LINE BETWEEN US

The next day, since Bianca had twisted her ankle and couldn’t walk, she and Adrian agreed to just stay at the hotel. Fortunately, they hadn’t made any plans to go out. Still, Bianca felt guilty and uncomfortable for troubling Adrian. The thought of him having to spend the entire day indoors because of her made her restless.

"I already told you, you don’t need to apologize. You’re not bothering me," Adrian said, sitting on the sofa in the bedroom, watching her closely with concern in his eyes.

Bianca sat propped up on the bed, her leg gently elevated with a pillow. She avoided looking at him, choosing instead to stare at her hands. Her fingers kept fidgeting with the blanket as guilt gnawed at her chest.

"But because of me—" she started, her voice low and unsure.

Adrian cut her off with a gentle but serious tone. "If you really don’t want to trouble me, then what you need to do now is sleep and get some rest."

His words weren’t harsh, but they carried enough weight to silence her. Bianca’s lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say more, but she gave up.

Bianca sighed inwardly. A part of her wanted to argue, to explain that this wasn’t just about being a burden, it was about how strangely kind he was, how confused it made her feel. But instead, she gave a small nod.

"Okay, okay. I’ll sleep," she murmured, turning her back to him. Her brows furrowed slightly as she closed her eyes, hoping the silence would drown out her racing thoughts.

Behind her, she could still feel Adrian’s eyes on her, filled with worry she couldn’t bring herself to face.

Five minutes later, Bianca opened her eyes again and turned to face him. "I can’t sleep," she admitted.

"Why not?" Adrian asked, his brows drawing together, concern softening his tone.

"I’m not sleepy. Besides, I just woke up not long ago. And my hair’s still wet," she murmured, glancing at Adrian from beneath her lashes, almost shyly.

Adrian frowned, then stood up from his chair and walked into the bathroom. A moment later, he returned with a dry towel in hand.

"Can you sit up, or do you need help?" he asked, now standing beside the bed where Bianca was lying. His voice was patient, unhurried.

"I can do it myself," she replied quickly.

Once Bianca managed to sit up, Adrian began drying her hair with the towel. She had tried to protest at first, but Adrian insisted with a quiet look that left no room for argument. In the end, she could only let out a quiet sigh and allow him to do as he pleased.

"I’ve already troubled you so much," Bianca whispered, her voice filled with guilt and embarrassment. Her eyes lowered, avoiding his gaze.

Adrian, still gently rubbing the towel through her hair, gave a small, teasing smile at her words—almost amused.

"Why are you being so kind to me?" Bianca asked again, confused by Adrian’s constant care and gentleness.

The truth was, his kindness was doing something to her. It softened her heart in ways she wasn’t ready for. It made her feel warm, even happy. And that terrified her. She was scared of getting used to it, scared of wanting more, scared of needing him.

"What should I do to repay all your kindness?" she mumbled, pressing her teeth gently against the inside of her lower lip.

Her question made Adrian pause for a brief second. Then he resumed drying her hair and replied in a calm tone, "Just one thing. Be a good wife until our agreement ends."

In that instant, Bianca silently cursed herself. For feeling too much. For letting her heart wander where it shouldn’t. For forgetting what this was all about.

"Of course. I’ll do my best. You don’t need to remind me," she said quickly, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"I see."

Adrian didn’t realize how much his words had hurt her. How clearly he had drawn the line between them. Maybe he didn’t mean to. But for Bianca, it was enough. Enough to remind her not to expect anything more.

She would be Adrian Williams’ wife. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Once he finished drying her hair, Adrian set the towel aside. He looked at her for a second, like he was thinking about saying something else, but he just said, "Get some rest," and left the room.

The door closed behind him.

Bianca stayed on the bed, staring into space. Her heart felt heavy with all the things she couldn’t say.

Even after applying the ointment to Bianca’s swollen ankle after her shower, Adrian still couldn’t shake his worry. Sitting in front of the TV in the living room, he pulled out his phone and began searching online.

He read every article he could find about ankle sprains, his eyes scanning the screen without blinking. His brows slowly furrowed when he came across something important—things to avoid after an ankle injury. One line stood out: Do not massage the injured area within the first 48 hours, as it could cause more bleeding and swelling.

"Dammit..." Adrian muttered under his breath, frustrated with himself for not knowing better. He kept scrolling, trying to find more details, until his jaw clenched again at what he read next.

"Goddamnit... one or two weeks?" he whispered in disbelief. "Fucking shit..."

He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands, elbows resting on his knees. For a while, he just sat there, whispering a few more curses under his breath. Then he let out a long sigh and slowly sat up straight again.

Behind him was a closed door, the one that led to their master bedroom. Unlike most modern suites with open layouts, this one was different. The bedroom had its own separate space, divided by a proper door. At least it gave them some privacy.

Adrian glanced toward the door, then stood up and walked out of the hotel room.

An hour later, he came back with a few things in his hands. He had just gone out to buy a pain relief spray, an elastic bandage, and a lightweight crutch—everything based on the advice he’d read earlier. He walked straight to the bedroom and knocked softly on the door.

"Bianca?"

Inside the room, Bianca looked up from her phone. She hadn’t been able to sleep and had just been scrolling aimlessly, trying to keep her mind busy.

"Yes?"

"Can I come in?"

There was a short pause before she answered. "Come in," she said quickly turning off her phone and setting it beside her pillow.

***