Delayed Regrets: He Regretted Only After Her Death-Chapter 157: Did You Help Me Take Off My Clothes?
The burning sensation in her palm made Tiana Linden instinctively shrink her hand back.
But Hector Chaucer held on to her hand, not letting go.
He pressed her palm back against his firm, powerful chest.
That heart, thumping fiercely.
Like a drumbeat.
Through the layers of his shirt, through his chest, vigorous and powerful, as if it wanted to leap into Tiana’s palm.
Such strength and warmth threw Tiana’s heartbeat into disarray as well.
"Tiana, can you feel it?"
Tiana didn’t know how to answer him, "..."
She felt the most sincere heartbeat of this man and his intense, lingering gaze.
Morning light crept into the bedroom.
She looked at the man in the morning light, with features sharp as if carved, rugged yet tender.
She was about to respond to him.
But her tongue seemed to be tied.
Such tumultuous feelings, as if during her high school years when Aiden Grant confessed to her, she never experienced such a state of mind.
Why her?
She had such a terrible past, having slept with his best friend Aiden Grant for three years and even having a daughter for him.
Why was Hector Chaucer’s heartbeat so sincere and strong for her?
Without getting an answer, Hector’s chest tightened a bit.
He didn’t want to be rejected by the woman he loved so much.
His assertive kiss landed on her lips once more.
The kiss was still awkward and unskilled, even clumsy.
Yet the man’s intense aura made Tiana lift her hands slowly, wrapping them around Hector Chaucer’s neck.
This subtle act made Hector pause.
A satisfied smile curled on his lips.
In the thin morning sunlight, that smile had a mesmerizing impact.
The spring snow would melt within his smile.
Everything would awaken along with his smile.
Even Tiana was enchanted by that smile.
Only then did Hector’s tense heart settle down considerably.
He raised his hand and gently touched Tiana’s fair, jade-like nose, "I like how you wrap your arms around my neck."
She didn’t reject him when he kissed her.
She even entwined her fair, slender arms around him.
Did this mean she actually felt something for him?
Did she accept him?
Hector felt very happy.
Upon hearing his words, Tiana quickly pulled her arms back and laughed shyly and mischievously, "Hector Chaucer, I didn’t expect you to be thirty-three years old and still kiss so poorly."
Just now he was like biting.
Turns out he didn’t lie to her.
It was his first kiss.
She hadn’t been this happy in a long time.
Though she came alive again half a year ago, feeling like a phoenix reborn.
But it was only her body that came alive.
Her soul still carried the heavy and painful shadows of the past.
At this moment, she felt as if even her soul had come alive.
"What, do you want to teach me?"
Hector tightened her waist, about to kiss her again.
Tiana playfully dodged, "You’re still burning with fever, be good and lie down, I’ll take your temperature now."
Hector wasn’t willing to listen to her.
Once a man tastes a woman, he becomes like an arrow pulled back on a bow.
With the arrow ready to fly, impossible to stop.
His fiery lips approached Tiana’s soft lips once more.
In that scorching breath, there’s his cautiousness, his insatiable desire.
Tiana’s body softened, her eyes slowly closing.
A click!
The bedroom door was hastily pushed open.
Gordon Lowell rushed in, holding a mercury thermometer.
Worried about the family head’s health, fearing the high fever would harm him, he rushed in urgently.
Unable to stop his steps, "Miss Linden, the thermometer..."
Seeing the two embracing and kissing, he quickly slammed on the brakes.
But it was already too late.
Gordon Lowell was so embarrassed, he scratched his toes, "Sorry for the intrusion, I’ll, I’ll leave now."
Covering his eyes, he backed out step by step.
He bumped into the door, pulling it to quickly leave.
At that moment, Tiana grabbed the mercury thermometer from Gordon Lowell’s hand.
Gordon then uncovered his eyes, smiling awkwardly at Tiana, "Miss Linden, sorry for the disturbance."
Tiana holding the mercury thermometer, "If you know you’re disturbing, why aren’t you leaving?"
"I’m leaving, right away."
Gordon Lowell closed the door, hiding outside, unable to hold back his laughter.
Unexpectedly, last night, the family head didn’t do that thing with Miss Linden, yet it deepened their feelings significantly.
Just now, the two embraced and kissed, clearly showing Miss Linden was willing.
Indeed, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Finally, the family head’s wishes will come true.
In the bedroom.
Tiana returned to the bedside.
She touched his forehead, still frighteningly hot.
She handed the mercury thermometer to Hector Chaucer.
"Hector Chaucer, check your temperature. I’ll buy you some medicine later."
Hector didn’t take the thermometer.
He deliberately leaned wearily against the headboard, blinking lethargically, "I’m too weak, help me."
Tiana knows he’s being deliberate.
She placed the mercury thermometer in his hand, muttering softly, "You clearly had strength earlier."
"Really no strength left."
The supposedly weak man, at this moment, already wrapped his arms around Tiana’s slender waist.
The distance closed in.
Tiana fell into his embrace.
She felt both annoyed and shy, "Let go of me first."
Hector had longed for this embrace for over twenty years.
How could he let go easily?
"If you don’t let go, how will I take your temperature?"
Hector said nothing, placing the thermometer under his arm.
The other hand still held her waist firmly.
Embracing her, he buried his head on her shoulder, using a justified excuse, "A sick person needs warmth. Hold me, don’t leave."
This voice carried his raspy tone from illness, along with his pleading.
Tiana’s heart softened in an instant.
Yes, Hector Chaucer needed warmth.
Since he was a child, he lived in a cold and cruel world, unloved by his parents, surrounded by nothing but predators.
Suddenly her hands rose, and with concern, landed on Hector Chaucer’s strong back.
Tightly embracing him.
Hector had never felt such a warm embrace.
His arms tightened, pulling her deep into his embrace.
Afraid such a hug was just a dream.
"Hector, you’re hugging me too tight!"
She muttered in frustration.
His arms didn’t move, but the force lightened considerably, "From today on, you’re mine."
She lifted her head, showing protest, "When did I agree to be yours?"
Hector Chaucer: "I don’t care, you’re mine now."
Perhaps Hector’s burning fever was too intense.
Holding her like this, he unknowingly fell into a deep sleep.
Once Tiana realized, she hurriedly took the thermometer he had, checking it.
My goodness, the fever rose to nearly forty-one degrees.
Being a medical student, she knew it was time to quickly take fever-reducing medication.
She promptly asked Gordon Lowell to buy ibuprofen tablets.
Before that, she used ice packs and cool water to physically reduce Hector’s fever.
In no time, Gordon Lowell returned with the ibuprofen.
Tiana was still worried.
Because he fed Hector Chaucer water and medicine, but nothing went in.
She was so worried and anxious, she gently shook Hector Chaucer, "Hector Chaucer, wake up?"
Hector, with a severe fever, raised his heavy eyelids a little.
He glanced at Tiana Linden, then closed his eyes again.
No matter how much Tiana called to him, he did not respond anymore.
Gordon Lowell was in a panic beside her, "Miss Linden, why don’t you feed the Family Head mouth-to-mouth?"
This was indeed a solution.
She glanced at Gordon, who wisely walked to the door and closed it without saying a word.
Tiana was very satisfied.
Gordon had been by Hector’s side for many years, a thoughtful and helpful assistant.
She broke off another half piece of the blob, feeding it into Hector’s mouth.
"Hector Chaucer, when I feed you water later, be good and swallow the medicine, okay?"
In a daze, Hector heard Tiana’s voice fall gently like soft rain.
He wanted to open his eyes.
His eyelids were too heavy, he couldn’t open them.
When Tiana fed him water mouth-to-mouth, he obediently swallowed, rolling the bolus alongside the pill into his throat.
Tiana finally breathed a sigh of relief.
That’s a good boy!
After more than half an hour, Hector’s fever still hadn’t receded.
She reluctantly started helping him with physical cooling again.
Palms, soles of feet, applied with cooling patches.
But this wasn’t enough.
Tiana exerted a tremendous effort to remove his pajamas, intending to use an ice-cold towel to cool his body.
The moment his clothes were removed, Tiana was almost stunned.
The man’s physique was lean and powerful, muscles defined, extraordinarily good, without a doubt.
What truly amazed Tiana wasn’t his physique, but the scars, large and small on his chest, arms, thighs, and calves.
All those scars were old wounds.
The deepest scar was on the upper left of his abdomen.
She recognized the severity of that scar.
It was left from many years ago when he blocked a knife for Aiden Grant.
She was right beside Aiden at that time.
If Aiden hadn’t pushed her away, Hector might not have failed to dodge when the knife came rushing.
She remembered the situation back then very clearly.
She was only concerned about whether Aiden was hurt and hadn’t noticed Hector taking several stabs to shield Aiden, which injured his spleen and stomach, nearly costing him his life.
Back then, all her attention was on Aiden.
Even though she was very grateful to Hector for taking those stabs for Aiden, she wasn’t as heartbroken for Hector as she was now.
That foolish man!
The world treats him so cruelly, yet he retains the kindest heart, with filial piety, loyalty, and great love, he has them all.
Why does heaven still punish him this way?
"Hector Chaucer, all these years, how have you been surviving?"
Suddenly, tears fell wetly from the corners of her eyes.
She felt heartache for Hector.
She patiently and meticulously wiped his body with an ice-cold towel.
When she touched his scars, her touch became exceedingly gentle and light.
About an hour later, Hector’s intense fever gradually receded.
During this time, Tiana helped him with physical cooling five times.
Tired, drowsy, she fell asleep leaning over the bedside.
When Hector woke up, he saw her leaning at his side, with a cool pack still clutched in her hand.
The cool pack froze her delicate fingers, turning them red.
He carefully took away the cool pack, warming her hand, bringing it to his lips, he softly blew warm breath over it.
The warm breath made Tiana’s fingertips twitch slightly.
She woke up with a start, seeing her right hand cupped in Hector’s palm.
The man leaned against the headboard.
The thin blanket lay at his waist.
The deep emerald silk set off his firm and powerful abdominal muscles, enhancing the masculine strength.
Tiana hadn’t yet reacted when Hector extended his long arm.
The pad of his finger, rough with calluses, brushed against her lips, "You drooled in your sleep!"
Tiana quickly wiped with her sleeve.
So embarrassing!
Seeing her cute demeanor, Hector’s lips curved into a smile, "Did you take off my clothes?"
Tiana cleared her throat awkwardly, "I was helping you with physical cooling, not taking advantage of you."
"Would you like to take advantage of me for a lifetime?" As he spoke, Hector had already hooked her slender waist, bringing her into his embrace.
Tiana’s body, caught off guard, crashed into Hector’s chest.
The man’s chest was solid like a fortress.
Muscles, bones, and his heart, beating powerfully like a drum, right in front of her.
Tiana’s heart skipped a beat, she pushed him away forcefully, "Who wants to take advantage of you."
Pushed away, Hector chuckled.
"Still able to laugh, seems you’ve recovered quite a bit."
Tiana touched his forehead, confirming the fever indeed had subsided.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly she changed the topic, very seriously, "Hector Chaucer, I know you’re loyal and righteous, but you mustn’t shield others from knives in the future. You must live well, no more accidents are allowed."
As she spoke, she glanced at the scars on his body, "Look at your scars."
Hector pointed to the upper left of his abdomen.
"Aside from that one, which is from blocking a knife for Aiden."
"The rest of the scars didn’t come from blocking knives."
The scar on the upper left of his abdomen was left from blocking a knife for Aiden.
He looked at Tiana and said, "At that time, I was afraid that if Aiden died, you would be heartbroken."
The hardy yet gentle tone carried his unique magnetism and delicateness.
Every word warmed Tiana’s heart.
It turns out he had been silently guarding her since a long time ago.
Even without Hector saying it, Tiana knew.
Hot tears overflowed, "Hector Chaucer, you’re so foolish!"
At that time, she was already with Aiden.
Even if he liked her, it didn’t mean he needed to like her so much as to use his own flesh to block a knife for Aiden.
He almost died back then, underwent more than ten hours of surgery in the emergency room.
The doctors issued critical condition notices eleven times.
He lost so much blood and couldn’t find a matching blood source for transfusion.
Christopher and Aiden called The Chaucer Family, but they were eager for his demise, how could they possibly give him blood.
Luckily, Aiden’s blood type matched his.
At that time, only Aiden could transfuse blood.
The maximum blood donation at one time is 400 milliliters.
Then Aiden insisted the doctors draw 800 milliliters.
Even so, Aiden couldn’t repay Hector’s act of life-saving.
"Hector Chaucer, you knew you might die if you rushed in to block the knife, why were you so foolish, so unhesitating?"
Her hot tears fell.
Her entire fair face was immediately wet.
Tears streamed over her jade-like smooth nose, slowly trickling into her mouth.
That bitter taste spread between her lips and teeth.
So bitter, just like Hector’s entire bitter life.
Hector couldn’t bear to see her cry.
The pad of his finger, gently brushed over her cheek, across her nose.
He never wished for Tiana and Aiden to part ways.
Aiden was the man of Tiana’s entire youthful love.
He was not only his brother, but the man she loved, whom he also wanted to protect.
Because Hector knew, if Aiden died, Tiana’s world would collapse.
Yet these thoughts, he never told her.
He wiped her tears, saying,
"It’s all in the past, I wasn’t so easily killed."
"Aren’t I living just fine now?"
She shook her head.
His life wasn’t worthless.
His life was a unique existence in this world.
No one could replace him.
"Hector Chaucer, promise me, you won’t let yourself be harmed again."
Hector curled the corner of his lips, smiled, "I’ll only listen to my future wife, is that you?"
