Chapter 676

"Even if I'm not scared of anything, I still know this ain't right," Juniper mumbled, looking a bit embarrassed. Her face was a little red, and she wasn't sure if it was from the pain or just feeling awkward.

"Besides, you got a girlfriend now, and you're my boss. This is just... not cool," she added.

Anthony thought, 'I don't even have a girlfriend. Is she trying to say she's with Ronnie, so this is off-limits? Honestly, it is kinda off-limits.'

Anthony wasn't trying to be creepy; he was just worried about her. But Juniper had a boyfriend, and helping her with the wound meant seeing her back, which was kinda awkward.

Still, sometimes you know something's wrong, but you wanna do it anyway.

He insisted on helping her with the wound himself to feel better.

"Who cares if it's appropriate? I don't see you as a woman," he said casually.

But Juniper felt a bit hurt. She thought, 'What kind of crap is that? What does he mean by not seeing me as a woman? How do I not look like a woman? I'm way hotter than most chicks, with a slim waist, curvy hips, and long legs. How am I not womanly? So annoying.'

Juniper said, "I'd rather find a female doctor."

"Lie down!" Anthony snapped, tearing open the piece of shirt on her back.

"What are you doing? Anthony, stop it!" Juniper shouted, panicking.

Anthony was a bit speechless. "Do you want the whole company to hear you?"

Her shouting could easily make people think he was doing something shady...

Juniper quickly covered her mouth. With so many ears outside, they'd definitely get the wrong idea if they heard.

She had to suck it up.

There was a long wound on her back, originally bandaged with gauze, but now it had split open again, and blood had soaked through.

Anthony's heart ached like it was being squeezed.

Why did he feel so much pain for her?

Anthony asked, "Did your dad do this?"

The shape looked like it was made by a wooden stick, obvious at a glance.

"How did you know? As expected of Mr. Eilish, so clever," Juniper joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Even though he could only see her back, she was still super shy and awkward.

"You deserved it," Anthony said.

If his daughter were as unruly as her, he'd probably be mad too. But no way would he hit her.

"How did I deserve it?" Juniper asked.

"You know very well."

Juniper didn't like hearing this, so she snapped back, "It was my dad who forced me into an arranged marriage in the first place, then I met you, and I had no choice but to lie. I couldn't keep lying, so I confessed. What's wrong with that? Telling the truth but still getting beaten, how unfair is that."

Anthony said, "Then you shouldn't have lied in the first place."

Juniper replied, "Didn't I say? I was forced into an arranged marriage. Forget it. I won't talk to you. It's pointless."

Anthony reminded, "I'm gonna remove the gauze now. It's gonna hurt. Bear with it."

"Can't it not hurt? I've been in pain since last night until today and am about to pass out from the pain," Juniper whined.

"Then hurry up and heal."

Juniper said, "I want to, but I'm not a robot and can't make the wound heal instantly. By the way, take a picture and show me how deep the wound is. I'm scared of scarring. What if my future husband sees it and doesn't like me?"

Anthony replied, "You're overthinking it."

Juniper shot back, "I'm not overthinking it. Girls care about looks the most. Show me."

Thinking about beauty at a time like this, it seemed she wasn't in too much pain.

"Lie down!" Anthony gently cut open the gauze with scissors. Even though he was being super careful, he was still worried about hurting her.

"Be gentle," she whimpered, her voice soft and delicate, sending a jolt through Anthony's lower abdomen.

He couldn't help but blush and thought, 'I'm just helping her with the medicine, why am I... Her voice is too soft. As a healthy guy, it's hard not to feel something.'

Anthony tried to focus.

Juniper said, "It really hurts. Be gentle."

That voice made it hard not to have wild thoughts.

Anthony wanted to shut her up. But she kept crying out.

"Quiet!" Anthony finally couldn't help but roar.

Juniper felt wronged. She thought, 'I don't want to cry out either. It makes me seem not brave, but it really hurts.'

"It itches a bit..." she mumbled.

That kind of voice made Anthony even more ticklish, like someone was teasing him with a feather.

'Where's my self-control? Why do I feel so weird?' he thought.

His movements became even gentler.

Juniper gradually quieted down.

Actually, his movements were already very light, lighter than the female doctor earlier. It was just that her wound hurt too much, and she had never been beaten before, so she was more delicate.

Anthony treated her like a fragile treasure, very carefully.

He really was a very gentle man, although he had been a bit cold to her lately.

Juniper thought, 'Anthony, do you know that compared to your indifference, I'm more afraid of your gentleness? I'm afraid my already unsteady heart will waver again. You are the best man I've ever met in this world, so I have fallen for you, like someone in the dark, falling in love with the light. I want to grab this light at all costs, to make you mine. But now you are someone else's light, and warm someone else, so even liking you has become a sin. I don't dare to covet someone else's light, afraid of becoming more greedy and doing something that would make me hate myself. Please, just be cold to me. Don't care about me and be completely indifferent.'

But rationally thinking this, her body still craved his gentleness. She told herself, 'Just this moment, even one more second. I won't be greedy.'

Anthony used the lightest force he could and bandaged her up.

Juniper was so touched that her nose felt a bit wet. She said awkwardly, "Thanks. Your skills are so good. Why not consider changing careers to be a male nurse? You're so handsome and gentle, the line of beauties waiting for you to apply medicine would stretch from the department to the hospital entrance."

Anthony's face was expressionless, not looking like he wanted to joke at all.

Juniper stuck out her tongue and said, "I was just kidding. Don't take it seriously."

Seeing her playful look, Anthony was both angry and amused. "You can still laugh?"

"What else? Should I cry in front of you? That would be so undignified." Juniper raised her chin. "Isn't it said? No matter what, one should be optimistic. Happy or not, it's still a day, so even if beaten, I should live with a smile. If I don't care for myself, who will?"

'I care,' Anthony immediately answered in his heart.

He was slightly surprised, but it was the answer in his heart which was almost blurted out.

Just now, seeing the wound on her back, his whole heart was clenched.