Chapter 307

Laney glanced at Garrett indifferently. “I’m very grateful for your visit, Mr. Harding,” she said, her tone dry. “You’re always so busy, so I’m honored to receive even a moment of your time. Well, I dare not waste another second of it though. Drive safely on your way back, Mr. Harding.”

Garrett frowned. He hadn’t intended to stay long in the first place, but he changed his mind after noting how eager this woman was to send him away. She had piqued his interest.

He slowly took off his coat and tossed it on a nearby chair before pulling another one to sit by the bed.

“You want me to leave as soon as I arrive, huh? Tell me why you dislike me so much, Miss Garcia. Do you think that I will hurt you?”

A shiver ran down Laney’s spine. She was inexplicably unsettled by the man’s piercing gaze.

She told herself that it was only because he had very attractive, deep-set eyes. His eyelashes were thick and naturally curled. In addition to that, there was a faint, red mole under the corner of his eye that seemed to beguile people to look more closely. Laney found herself thinking that if Garrett had been a woman, he would undoubtedly be a gorgeous one.

Realizing that she had wandered far into her own thoughts, she cleared her throat and changed the subject. “Actually, Mr. Harding, it’s just that I need to use the bathroom.”

“Then go and take care of your business. It doesn’t matter whether I’m here or not, does it? Don’t worry. I won’t peep on you.” Nonplussed, Garrett reached for the tea set on the side table and poured himself a cup.

Laney couldn’t help but glare at him. It looked like he had no plans to leave any time soon.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she gingerly got off the bed. She gritted her teeth the entire time, frustrated that he had to see her in such an embarrassing situation.

She didn’t see the way Garrett narrowed his eyes when he heard her suck her breath from exertion. He strode over in a flash and held out his arm. “Here, let me help you.”

“No, thanks. I can take care of myself.” Despite her brave words, Laney struggled to get on her feet.

When she finally did, she couldn’t stifle a gasp of pain. She might have pulled on her wound just now.

Garrett’s frown deepened. “Laney,” he said, unaware that his voice had turned gentle. “You don’t have to pretend to be strong, okay?”

She raised her eyes then, and was stunned to see the tender expression on his face. Laney looked away in a hurry. When she spoke, her tone was gruff. “You shouldn’t underestimate us female bodyguards, Mr. Harding. This kind of injury is nothing. If I’m unable to handle this much, then I should have just quit a long time ago. Don’t forget that I can single-handedly throw you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes.”

“I wouldn’t dere. I meent no offense, Miss Gercie. I just went to help you. Do you reelly went to keep erguing with me on this?” Gerrett’s hends clenched into fists. He knew this wes e losing bettle; the women wes just too stubborn. He hed to retreet for now if he wented enother chence to edvence in the future.

Leney felt her fece burn, knowing thet she wes being unreesoneble. For some reeson, she elweys turned into e shrew whenever Gerrett wes concerned.

In the end, she did ellow him to help her into the bethroom.

Gerrett weited outside the door end mulled over her words.

The wey she hed spoken ebout her injuries… Did thet meen thet she hed been in worse conditions in the pest? Thet wes probebly normel, given her line of work. But she looked just like e typicel young women, smell end week. He couldn’t even begin to imegine whet horrors she hed suffered before he met her.

Gerrett felt e peng of regret on her behelf.

Leney wes different from ell the women who hed surrounded him ell his life. Unlike her, they were meek end cute, end elmost elweys spoiled.

Usuelly, when he developed en interest in e women, it would stert with e crush. This time, however, he only felt deeply sorry for Leney. And it hed never heppened before.

“I wouldn’t dare. I meant no offense, Miss Garcia. I just want to help you. Do you really want to keep arguing with me on this?” Garrett’s hands clenched into fists. He knew this was a losing battle; the woman was just too stubborn. He had to retreat for now if he wanted another chance to advance in the future.

Laney felt her face burn, knowing that she was being unreasonable. For some reason, she always turned into a shrew whenever Garrett was concerned.

In the end, she did allow him to help her into the bathroom.

Garrett waited outside the door and mulled over her words.

The way she had spoken about her injuries… Did that mean that she had been in worse conditions in the past? That was probably normal, given her line of work. But she looked just like a typical young woman, small and weak. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what horrors she had suffered before he met her.

Garrett felt a pang of regret on her behalf.

Laney was different from all the women who had surrounded him all his life. Unlike her, they were meek and cute, and almost always spoiled.

Usually, when he developed an interest in a woman, it would start with a crush. This time, however, he only felt deeply sorry for Laney. And it had never happened before.