James chuckled. This girl was proving to be quite easy to handle, it seemed.
Tailsa placed James's hand on her shoulder, trying to help him up.
"Can you walk? Or should I call an ambulance?" she asked, concern in her voice.
Instead of getting up, James sat there and pulled her into his embrace.
"No need for an ambulance. Just stay here with me for a bit," he said softly.
"But your ankle is all swollen! Why are you being so stubborn?" Tailsa chided.
James chuckled lightly and said with a hint of mystery, "Haven't you heard the saying that a girl's true love's kiss can heal any man's pain?"
Tailsa playfully swatted him, her cheeks flushing. "You're thinking about that at a time like this?" she scolded.
"I meant a kiss on the lips. Where did your mind wander off to?" James asked, feigning innocence.
Tailsa pinched his arm in mock anger.
"Don't think that just because you jumped from the third floor for me, I'll forgive you," she warned.
"Then what do you want me to do?" James asked, enduring the pain without flinching. "When my injury heals, should I perform a jump from the fifth floor for you?"
"Don't you dare jump!"
Tailsa furrowed her brows, glaring at him playfully.
"Just kidding. I'm not that stupid," James laughed.
Tailsa struggled to get up, intending to grab her phone and call Jay Johnson to take him to the hospital.
But James wouldn't let her get up.
Instead, he scooped her up in his arms, bridal style, cradling her close.
To avoid putting pressure on his injured foot, Tailsa wrapped her arms around his neck, nestling closer into his embrace.
The warmth of his bare chest made her slightly flushed.
Trying to distract herself, she murmured, "Didn't you just tell me to leave and never come back?"
James, holding her securely, smiled. "How could I ever bear to let you go?"
"Hmph."
"Sweetheart, I wasn't trying to brush you off earlier. I really do want to marry you, but my family situation is... complicated," James said, starting to weave his web of lies.
"In my family, marriages are arranged by the parents. I need to achieve a certain level of success in my career before I have the right to say no."
"And right now, my career is on the rise. I plan to make my mark first, and then I'll come clean to my parents."
"But I'm worried that my career might not go as planned, and there's always the chance my parents will strongly object. That's why I said it might take two years."
Tailsa, nestled in his arms, listened to him pour his heart out, his tone full ofæ å¥.
She believed every word.
After all, wealthy families were known for their strong traditional values. It was a common trope in TV dramas.
The rich male lead, in order to marry a girl from an ordinary family, had to endure countless hardships, spanning forty episodes, before finally getting his parents' approval.
Tailsa felt a pang of guilt, realizing she was making things difficult for the man she loved.
She whispered, "I'm willing to wait, no matter how long it takes."
"I know. You're such a good girl, and I'm willing to work hard for you," James said, genuinely meaning it this time.
He did like this beautiful, delicate woman in his arms.
Most importantly, she was so easy to deceive.
What man could resist a girl who was gorgeous, passionate, and had zero IQ?
Seeing the hint of self-reproach in her eyes, James leaned in and kissed her.
Their sweet entanglement once again opened the doors to her heart.
She responded passionately, her beautiful face gradually flushing red.
Her body squirmed restlessly in his arms.
After a long, lingering kiss, they finally parted.
Tailsa instinctively reached out and touched James's stomach, only to notice something was off.
"Huh? Where are your abs?" she asked, puzzled.
James chuckled awkwardly and evaded the question. "They're tucked in," he mumbled.
"???"
Abs could be tucked in?
Tailsa was thoroughly confused, but she didn't know much about men's bodies, so she didn't press the issue.
On the lawn, the two simply held each other, gazing up at the starry sky without any further advances.
After all, the villa door was still in need of repair.
Neither of them noticed a van pulling up on the road not far away. Several people got out and began unloading numerous boxes.
The person in charge checked the time on his phone and nodded to the others.
Then, they all took out windproof lighters...
"Boom..."
A firework shot up into the sky, bursting into a spectacular display of light in the dark night.
Many more followed, each one soaring to its maximum height before exploding into a breathtaking spectacle.
The dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky and illuminated the girl's face.
"Is this part of your plan for today too?" she asked dreamily.
"Yeah, these few bursts cost me thirty thousand dollars," James bragged.
He used to hate buying fireworks. One roman candle cost $98 and was finisehd in less than a minute. It was really not worth it. But now it didn't matter, 3 cents could play for half an hour.
"Do you like it?"
"Yes, I love it," Tailsa replied, her eyes glued to the brilliant display.
Her dark pupils reflected the colorful patterns exploding above.
The summer night breeze was especially gentle.
Resting her head on James's arm, lying on the lawn that was now hers, she felt a pleasant sense of intoxication.
Women were emotional creatures, and her feelings intensified quickly.
She couldn't resist and said: "Big brother, can you repeat what you said in the afternoon?" James became excited, suppressing his excitement, and said softly: "Don't worry, I can say it to you for a lifetime if you want to hear it, I love you"
Tailsa was very fascinated by the man's sweet words. Amidst the popping fireworks, she faced James and closed her eyes. "You may kiss me now."
[System Notification: Tailsa's affection +5]
!!!
James was revitalized, his spirits soaring. He felt moved to tears.
This feeling of strength â no one who hadn't experienced it could truly understand.
He rotated his left ankle and found that even the pain had significantly lessened.
Looking at the blushing, inviting Tailsa, James didn't kiss her.
Instead, he carefully lifted her into his arms and started walking upstairs.
He needed to release this feeling of joyâthis feeling of regaining something he had lost.
"Ah!" Tailsa yelped in surprise, looking at James in disbelief. "Didn't you say your foot was swollen?"
"Didn't I tell you? The kiss of the woman I love can make me forget all pain," James said with a smile.
"Put me down. You won't be able to heal properly like this," Tailsa urged, concerned.
She loosened her grip around his neck, trying to get down.
Normally, it would be difficult for a man to carry a woman bridal style if she wasn't cooperating.
But when Tailsa released her hold, she was surprised to find that James's arms didn't budge.
His strong, steady embrace made her feel as light as a feather.
Tailsa, feeling an overwhelming sense of security, looked at him with a mix of awe and affection.
"Big brother, why do I feel like you've changed again?" she asked softly.
"You haven't experienced the real change yet," James said with a mischievous grin.
He entered the villa, used his heel to close the door behind them, and adjusted his hold on her.
Now, she was facing him, clinging to him like a koala on a tree.
He slowly climbed the stairs.
Each step was an effort, but with each step, she whispered words of encouragement in his ear.