CHAPTER 397: CHAPTER 397: I’LL STAY BY YOUR SIDE

"You’re a beginner, don’t ski too fast, take it slow. I’ll stay by your side."

Eleanor Hollis nodded, her expression indifferent.

Hugo Quinn still felt uneasy, unsure whether she was angry, and could only diligently do all kinds of things for her like a fool.

Eleanor didn’t pay much attention and skied out.

Hugo was almost scared out of his wits and hurriedly chased after her.

"Eleanor! Are you crazy, slow down! There are trees everywhere here, it’ll hurt if you crash, slow down!!"

He followed closely behind her, feeling as if Eleanor’s silhouette was radiating anger.

Eleanor was indeed very angry, especially after hearing that phone call just now, she couldn’t control her emotions at all.

She knew it was all orchestrated by Grace Wexler, who deliberately said those things, hoping she would misunderstand Hugo.

She really wanted to calm herself down, but simply couldn’t control the fury boiling inside her.

It was her first time skiing, and by a stroke of luck, she skied so far out.

"Eleanor! Watch out!!"

Hugo watched in horror as a big tree suddenly appeared in front of her.

Eleanor, being a beginner, didn’t know how to turn and skied straight towards the tree.

Without thinking, Hugo skied ahead of her, wrapped his arms around her, and collided with the tree back-first, scraping himself painfully.

The expected pain didn’t come. Eleanor finally opened her eyes and saw Hugo, pale-faced, holding her while gasping for breath.

"You scared me to death, Eleanor! What the hell were you thinking? Do you know how dangerous that was? What if you hit your head?!"

Hugo couldn’t comfort her, just kept shouting, but somehow this version of him made Eleanor feel a strange sense of warmth.

"Are you hurt?"

She suddenly reached out to touch Hugo’s back, and hearing him hiss in pain, felt a bit guilty.

"Let me take you back to get some ointment, let’s stop for today."

Hugo’s back was already a bloody mess from the collision.

"Okay."

He bent down to undo the bindings on Eleanor’s feet, his expression serious.

Looking down at him, Eleanor noticed how unexpectedly gentle his actions became, and couldn’t help but smile.

"I thought you forgot everything? Why are you suddenly so tender?"

Hugo looked up at her, the gentleness in his eyes undiminished.

"I did forget. I always thought I was a man without feelings. When I came back, Lan Yancy said I loved you deeply, more than anyone else, that I’d even give up my life for you. Honestly, I was skeptical. I didn’t think I could go that far for any woman. But just now, I have no doubts. Protecting you was an instinctive reaction, I didn’t even have time to think, I also didn’t consider any consequences, I just didn’t want you to get hurt. I think I do love you very much."

Eleanor’s smile widened. This man really had a way with words.

Back at the hotel, she had Hugo lie down on the bed and gently removed his shirt.

The twigs were sturdy, several had pierced his clothes, leaving bloody streaks on his skin.

Even the parts without open wounds were bruised and purple, looking rather frightening.

Eleanor brought disinfectant, using a cotton swab to carefully clean his wounds.

"Does it hurt?"

Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she gently massaged the bruised areas.

Hugo felt her tender touch, a strange feeling welling up inside him, indescribable and a bit unsettling.

"It doesn’t hurt. As long as you’re okay."

Eleanor treated his wounds more intently, trying not to think of anything else.

The room fell silent, so quiet that they could hear each other’s breathing.

Once she finished bandaging his wounds, Eleanor was putting away the bottle when Hugo spoke.

"Eleanor, this might actually be a good thing. Lan Yancy said I never really dated you. You were divorced, and so was I. After meeting you, I quickly got involved. Now, it sort of feels like we’re starting fresh, like those first dates when you’re nervous to make eye contact."

Eleanor’s previously gloomy mood cleared instantly.

They stayed in the room for a long time until a voice came through the loudspeaker outside.

"Guardian of Marcus Quinn, where are you? This child is lost and can’t remember his room number. Guardian, where are you?"

The sound from the ski resort was loud and clear since they had the window open.

Eleanor realized they had been so wrapped up with each other, they’d forgotten about Marcus.

"I’ll go get Marcus. You stay put and don’t move around for now."

Blushing, Eleanor rushed out the door.

At the ski grounds, Marcus was being led by a man with a red band on his arm, likely a staff member.

"Are you Marcus’s guardian?"

"Mommy!"

Seeing Eleanor, Marcus ran over and waved goodbye to the man.

"Thank you, Uncle. My mommy is here."

"Thank you."

Eleanor said apologetically, holding Marcus’s hand as they walked back to the hotel.

"Mommy, I was looking all over for you guys, I didn’t know where you’d gone."

Marcus was upset. They’d all gone skiing together, but halfway through, the two adults vanished.

"I’m sorry, Marcus. Your daddy got hurt."

Marcus calmed down after hearing that and quietly followed Eleanor back to the hotel.

Meanwhile, on the hotel bed, Hugo’s mind was in a haze, likely due to lack of rest over the past few days. As soon as Eleanor left, he fell asleep.

"You don’t love Eleanor Hollis. The one you love is Grace Wexler. You’ll forget everything that happened between you two."

The repeated voice echoed in Hugo’s mind, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as his head throbbed.

Eleanor returned with Marcus, finding Hugo turned over, startling her.

"Hugo?"

She gently shook his shoulder, but Hugo suddenly opened his eyes, filled with a red glare, looking unfamiliar and wary.

"You..."

After that single word, Eleanor didn’t know what to say and stood by feeling a bit lost.

"Dad."

Marcus wanted to run over and hug Hugo, but Hugo blocked him off.

Frowning, Hugo called the receptionist to change to two separate rooms, offering no explanation before heading to the next room.

"Mommy, what’s wrong with Daddy?"

Marcus asked fearfully, clutching Eleanor’s hand. Her lips tightened into a slight smile, as she ruffled his hair.

"It’s nothing, maybe because he’s injured and in a bad mood. Let’s not disturb him."

Marcus nodded, pouting slightly.