Chapter 44 Well–Toned Body
Jennifer cleared her throat and rushed–over to help him, grabbing his arm. His muscles were as hard as rock.
She spotted the scrapes on his arm and couldn’t help but say, “You said you were fine! If you need help, you better call me, alright?”
Jennifer mused, “This man is stubbornly independent to a fault.”
“The floor was a bit slippery,” Timothy replied simply.
“Put your arm over my shoulder. I’ll help you up,” Jennifer offered.
1/6
Gathering all her strength, she managed to haul him upright and onto the edge of the bathtub.
Jennifer mused, “Standing on one foot is hard enough.
Timothy’s leg seems to be helping a bit. There’s no way I could’ve lifted him on my own!”
Timothy seemed to notice her struggle and said, “My right leg still has some feeling in it.”
“That’s good, then,” Jennifer replied automatically, immediately realizing how awkward her response sounded.
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2/6
She thought, “He probably doesn’t need that kind of comfort.”
“Do you usually bathe alone? Do you need someone to assist. you?” Jennifer asked, doubting her ability to handle it alone.
Timothy’s tone was calm. “Right now, there’s no one available to come in and help.”
Jennifer understood what he meant.
Angelina had done this on purpose.
To ease the awkwardness, Jennifer quickly stepped closer to him. “I’ll help you run the bath.”
But in her haste, she bumped into Timothy, sending both of them tumbling into the bathtub.
Jennifer landed awkwardly on his chest and flashed a guilty look. “Sorry! I was just trying to turn on the water. It wasn’t on purpose.”
She thought, “How embarrassing!
I almost pushed Timothy back onto the floor!”
Timothy noticed her mortified expression and a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.
His gaze then dropped to her collarbone, and he felt his throat tighten.
Chapter 44 Well–Toned Body
3/6
Jennifer’s loose neckline had shifted in the fall, and her boobs. were dangerously close to exposing themselves.
As she noticed where he was looking, Jennifer’s face flushed a deep red. She quickly pulled her collar up, covering herself.
Timothy turned his head away. “I didn’t mean to look.”
“Let’s change the subject. I’ll leave you to it,” Jennifer said, feeling even more flustered as she hopped out of the bathtub on one foot.
As she moved off him, she realized her cast had cracked.
The broken piece smelled faintly unpleasant.
Timothy noticed the damaged cast. “Is your foot healed?”
“Almost, I guess. I probably don’t need the cast anymore.”
Still hopping on one foot, Jennifer tossed the broken cast aside. “You go ahead and wash up. I’ll be outside.”
She couldn’t stand to be in the same room with him any longer. It was too awkward.
Jennifer left the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
Almost immediately, she heard the sound of water running from inside.
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4/6
Thinking back to Timothy’s well–toned body, Jennifer felt her face heat up again. “What’s wrong with me?”
Suddenly, her phone buzzed.
Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Asher calling.
She didn’t want to answer, but Asher’s message popped out: [Jennifer. If you don’t answer the phone, I will call the police.]
After a few seconds of hesitation, she swiped the call open, her tone cool and distant. “What is it?”
Asher said, “Jennifer, why haven’t you come back yet? Where are you?”
“Asher, I’m an adult now. I don’t need to report my whereabouts to you.”
“But I’m your brother! You’ve lived in the Hargreaves Villa your whole life. When have you ever left? Be a good girl and give me your location.”
Jennifer finally lost her patience. “I’m at the Clark Manor.”
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Asher spoke again, his voice tinged with surprise, “You went to see Madam Clark?”
“Yes. Madam Clark has us staying here, so I can’t go back.”
Asher was silent for a moment before he replied, “Next time you
Chapter 44 Well–Toned Body
go somewhere, you need to tell the family. Otherwise, we’re going to worry about you.”
5/6
“Asher, when have you ever worried about me? The only person you’ve ever worried about is Sarah. Can we stop pretending?”
Jennifer remembered the times she had stayed out late, and no one had even noticed she wasn’t home.
Not a single call. Not a single message.
Now, when she had no desire to return, Asher was suddenly concerned about her whereabouts.
Asher’s voice was heavy, as though he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “I was busy with work before, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t care about where you were.”
Jennifer interrupted him, her voice firm, “No, it’s because you feel like you’re losing control over me, and that’s why you’re suddenly paying attention to where I go.”
It wasn’t concern that drove Asher.
It was the need to keep her within his grasp, just like before.
“Jennifer, how can you think that of me? I care about you, I’m not trying to control you,” Asher argued.
But Jennifer had had enough. She hung up the phone, her patience worn thin.
Chapter 44 Well–Toned Body
Asher stared at his phone, and the call abruptly ended. He rubbed his temples, feeling a dull headache forming.
6/6
He hadn’t slept well the previous night, expecting Jennifer to come home.
Asher had even thought that maybe she’d make him some herbal medicine.
But Jennifer hadn’t returned.
And she hadn’t told anyone she was going to the Clark Manor.
There was a knock on the door, and before he could respond, Sarah walked in, carrying a bowl of steaming medicinal soup.
“Asher, I saw you were having a headache. This soup should help relieve it,” Sarah said, her voice soft and caring.
“You’re always so thoughtful, Sarah,” Asher replied, though in his heart, he knew this soup wouldn’t do much.
What really worked was the traditional medicine Jennifer used to make.
