Mira’s POV
My heart skipped a beat.
How could I tell him that, at that moment, his face had been the only one that came to mind, and I’d called his number without thinking?
It sounded ridiculous, as though my thoughts and instincts had completely taken over.
To hide my embarrassment, I quickly came up with an excuse.
“Your assistant told me that if I ever found myself in a life-or-death situation, calling your number could save my life.”
Cale’s eyes narrowed slightly.
His long fingers rested against my cheek, tracing the curve of it with deliberate slowness.
“And how do you plan to repay me for saving your life?”
The pad of his thumb was faintly rough with calluses.
The slow brush against my skin felt almost like he was testing my reaction.
My ears grew hot, and I opened my mouth to answer.
The doorbell rang.
I practically jumped off his lap, my face burning.
“I’ll get it!”
Ryan stood at the door, carrying several bags of toiletries along with a pharmacy bag.
He set everything down in the entryway and explained that Cale had asked him to buy them for me.
Then he took the medicine from the pharmacy bag and placed it on the coffee table.
“Cale, I picked up some fever reducers and anti-inflammatory medication.
You should take these first.”
”You have a fever?” I asked before I could stop myself.
My gaze dropped to his pale lips.
Last night, he’d carried me all the way to the hospital, and I hadn’t even thought about the condition of his wound.
“It’s just a minor infection.” He said it as casually as if it were nothing.
Ryan stood to the side, visibly hesitant.
I could tell he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how to bring it up, so I spoke first.
“Shouldn’t you go back to the hospital? This isn’t an ordinary wound. You were shot.”
Cale didn’t answer.
He simply gave Ryan a cool look.
Ryan immediately understood and put on a concerned expression.
“Mira, could you stay here and help take care of Cale? His wound became infected because there’s no one here to look after him. He does everything himself, even ordering all his meals. Takeout isn’t exactly nutritious.”
I glanced around the luxurious villa—the soaring ceilings, expensive furniture, and manicured garden visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
But I kept the thought to myself.
After everything Cale had done for me, it wasn’t my place to question his circumstances.
“Cale, you’ve helped me more than once, and I owe you,” I said carefully.
“But it wouldn’t be appropriate for the two of us to live together. How about I hire a nurse to take care of you and arrange for someone to prepare your meals?”
The living room fell silent for several seconds.
Cale’s expression darkened.
The pressure rolling off him felt even heavier than it had the night he’d kicked down my door.
His cold gaze settled on me.
“Then I’d ask Miss Mira not to tempt me the way you did last night. Otherwise, I’ll assume you’re trying to seduce me. If that’s not your intention, stay away from me from now on.”
My face burned so hot I could have fried an egg on it.
Every word felt like a slap.
I’d kissed him last night, clung to him, and refused to let him go.
From his perspective, I was the one who had crossed the line.
“I’m sorry, Cale.” My voice came out dry.
“It won’t happen again.”
I turned and walked toward the door, practically fleeing.
It wasn’t until I stepped outside that I realized the villa was halfway up a mountain.
There wasn’t even a bus stop nearby.
But I didn’t look back.
I’d rather walk all the way down the mountain than face that cold expression again.
I’d only gone about ten meters when tears stung my eyes.
Not because I was hurt, but because I was embarrassed.
I’d thought he was a decent man.
Apparently, he’d thought I was the kind of woman who threw herself at men.
“Mira! Wait!”
Ryan came running after me.
He stopped in front of me, bent over for a moment to catch his breath, then said, “I’m sorry. Cale’s temper can be terrible. He was harsh just now, but it really wasn’t about you. What you said about hiring a nurse… it hit his pride.”
I stopped and looked at him. Find the original chapter at g.com.
“What do you mean? What’s wrong with hiring a nurse?”
Ryan sighed, his expression filled with sympathy.
“You don’t know this, but Cale used to do very well in business. Then his investments failed, and he went bankrupt. He lost almost everything—his cars, his other properties, everything. That’s how he ended up here. He’s still buried in debt. How could he possibly afford a nurse?”
I glanced back at the grand villa.
“He’s bankrupt, but he still lives here?”
”This place was bought before he went bankrupt.
But with his debts piling up, even this villa may have to be auctioned off soon.” Ryan lowered his voice.
“So Cale’s been having a hard time. Things haven’t been easy for him.”
He told the story so convincingly, and the sympathy in his expression seemed so genuine, that I began to waver.
If everything he’d said was true, then my suggestion about hiring a nurse really had been insensitive.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”
Ryan waved his hands quickly.
“It’s not your fault. But that’s the situation he’s in. Cale is all alone here. Apart from me, he doesn’t have anyone to look after him. If you could stay and take care of him for a while, I’d really appreciate it. After all, when you were in trouble, Cale didn’t hesitate to help you.”
He’d made his point clearly enough.
I thought about what had happened last night.
Cale hadn’t taken advantage of me.
Instead, he’d taken me straight to the hospital and stayed until I was safe.
A man like that—what harm could there be in staying to look after him for a while?
He didn’t seem like the kind of man who would take advantage of me.
“All right.” I nodded.
“I’ll stay and take care of him until his wound heals.”
Ryan looked as though he’d just won a fortune.
“Really? That’s great! Should I take you back to pack your things?”
I was about to agree when I remembered that Elias might still be at the apartment waiting for me.
If I went back alone, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to deal with him.
“Ryan, could you come with me?” I asked.
“I need to pack a few things.”
His smile was almost impossible to hide.
“Of course. I’ll drive you.”
Before I left, I glanced back at the villa.
A figure seemed to be standing behind the second-floor window, silhouetted against the light and too indistinct for me to make out clearly.
I looked away and followed Ryan toward the garage.
I’d stay because I owed him a debt, I told myself.
Once his wound healed, we’d be even.