Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Nelson withdrew his gaze and turned around, leaving behind a curt order as he walked off. "Do as she said."
"Huh?" Peterson glanced from Hallie to Hank, still collapsing on the floor, his brain lagging behind the moment. He couldn't quite believe what he'd just heard.
He leaned in, voice low, trying to remind Nelson. "You sure about this? Going public means you'll basically challenge those old guys head-on."
Nelson didn't even hesitate. "Would it be any different if I didn't?"
Hallie trailed behind Nelson, slowed by the pain in her legs and the stiffness in her joints.
By the time they arrived back at the villa, it was already 10 PM.
The moment she stepped inside, Hallie called Clarissa to let her know she was safe.
That was when Hallie learned how chaotic things had been. The moment she was drugged and taken, Clarissa and over a dozen colleagues had gone nearly insane trying to find her.
Clarissa had even gotten into a confrontation with some high-society types and nearly ended up getting roughed up by bodyguards.
It was only when they'd run out of options that Nelson had shown up with his team of guards, putting himself squarely between those people and Clarissa's group.
Clarissa sighed over the phone, clearly still shaken. "You know, if your husband hadn't stepped in, we'd all have been screwed. I have to admit he looked pretty damn heroic walking in like that. Shame he's a cheating bastard."
She paused and added with a mischievous tone, "Hallie, be honest with me. Have you ever considered getting rid of that mistress clinging to him and trying to win him over?"
Hallie went quiet, her lips pressed into a thin line. Nelson had said a lot of harsh things to her earlier, but at the end of it all, he saved her—even if it was just because of the responsibility forced by his grandfather.
Hallie had to admit that Nelson was, objectively speaking, an impressive man.
But even so, no matter how impressive he was, she didn't have real feelings for him.
Hallie said calmly, "Even if I chased off one woman, there'd be a second or more. As long as Nelson wants them, there'll always be women lining up.
"I'd rather spend my time reading medical journals and sharpening my skills than waste it playing games I'll never win."
Clarissa laughed, "I knew you'd say that. That's the Hallie I know. With your brains and your drive, you can have any man you want once you're ready."
They chatted a bit longer before finally hanging up.
Hallie took a shower after the call, carefully avoiding the bruises and scrapes scattered across her body.
But her arm was injured too, so even small movements had become a struggle. Soon, tiny beads of cold sweat dotted her forehead.
Just then, a knock sounded on the door.
"Open up," came Nelson's voice—low and unyielding.
Hallie's nerves instantly went on high alert. Startled, her hand jerked, and the towel she was holding slipped from her fingers to the floor.
She scrambled to grab the bathroom door, trying to pull it shut. But her swollen knee buckled beneath her, and her legs gave out.
A loud thud echoed from the bedroom as her body hit the floor. Outside, Nelson's brows furrowed upon hearing the loud thud. Without hesitation, his hand twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.
"Don't come in," Hallie's voice rang out, sharp with panic and warning.
However, it was too late. Nelson's eyes widened as he walked in and saw Hallie lying on the floor naked. He immediately turned away on instinct.
His eyes scanned the room quickly. With a single motion, he grabbed the blanket off the bed and held it in one hand.
He closed his eyes and walked toward Hallie, explaining, "Relax, I'm not interested in you. But if Grandpa finds out you got hurt again, I'm the one who'll be blamed."
With his eyes still closed, Nelson crouched down and wrapped it around Hallie with surprising precision. Then, in one fluid motion, he lifted her in his arms.
Once he placed her on the bed, he immediately straightened up, brushing nonexistent dust off his pants with clear impatience written all over his face.
"Thanks," Hallie muttered stiffly, quickly grabbing a nearby shirt and slipping it over her head. In her flustered state, she accidentally put it on backwards. But realizing it too late, she didn't dare take it off again.
Nelson was still standing there with his back to her. Hallie narrowed her eyes at his tall frame and asked, "Why are you still here?"
Only when he was fairly sure she was dressed did Nelson turn around. He looked down at her, his eyes sharp and voice laced with disdain.
He sneered, "Are you stupid? How do you manage to fall on a flat surface? Or is this just a pathetic excuse to get my attention?"
His gaze slowly slid down and back up again. "Too bad. You're not my type."
'Is this guy always this full of himself?' Hallie thought, annoyed.
She forced a smile and shot back, "Mr. Blair, with imagination like that, it's a shame you're wasting your talent as a CEO. Ever considered writing screenplays instead?"
Nelson's expression turned cloudy, his eyes sharp enough to pierce through Hallie.
Hallie met his glare head-on, not backing down an inch. "Your leg. Out," he said abruptly.
Hallie blinked. "What for?"
Instinctively, she moved inches away and eyed him warily. She wondered, 'Surely he's not mad enough to try breaking my leg just because he lost the argument, right?'
Nelson didn't reply. Instead, he reached straight for her ankle. His palm was warm, and when it touched her skin, it was like a jolt of electricity ran up her leg and hit her square in the chest.
Her cheeks flushed pink, and the color soon spread up to her ears.
"You—" She barely got the word out when she felt something cool pressed against her swollen ankle. Then came a gentle, spreading warmth, sinking slowly into her skin.
At the same time, a strong herbal scent drifted into the air. Hallie immediately recognized it—it was an expensive, top-tier salve used to treat bruises and trauma.
Nelson kept his eyes lowered, one hand supporting her ankle, the other using his thumb to rub in the salve in slow, practiced circles along the bruised area. His pressure was firm enough to sting a little, but not unbearable.
Hallie stared at him, surprised. "You've learned this before?"
Nelson simply flicked his gaze upward for a second, as if to say shut up.
Taking the hint, Hallie swallowed her curiosity and cleared her throat awkwardly. Truthfully, it wasn't his technique she was curious about—it was that salve.
She'd never seen a formula work this fast. She thought it had to be some kind of family remedy. She muttered inwardly, 'If I could study this, it might help so many people.'
"Now, arm," Nelson ordered flatly. His tone left no room for argument.
Hallie obediently extended her injured arm.
They were close now—closer than they'd ever been. In the stillness of the night, their breaths and body heat felt amplified.
Out of the corner of her eye, Hallie snuck a glance at him. For a brief moment, she had to admit—when Nelson wasn't talking, when he was focused—he really wasn't bad to look at.
Too bad this version of him never lasted more than five minutes. Just as expected, the next words out of his mouth shattered the peace. "Grandpa's birthday is in two days. You wanna show up looking like that and ruin everyone's appetite?"