Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Hallie was about to refuse when a magnetic voice cut in.
Turning around, she saw Nelson leaning against a tree, his arms crossed, an air of boredom about him. Impatience furrowed his brows, as if he scorned their hesitation.
"You can head back now," Nelson told the rescue team, his voice devoid of warmth.
"Young man, by your clothes, I think you're not with the rescue team. Why volunteer to stay?" Zander raised an eyebrow, suddenly alert.
"None of your concern," Nelson narrowed his eyes, his voice icy.
"Hallie," Sergio whispered, edging closer, "who's this sour-faced fellow?"
Hallie pressed her lips together, her voice laced with a hint of helplessness. "A friend. Don't mind him. He's always like that with everyone."
Sergio eyed Nelson up and down, confusion furrowing his brow.
"He doesn't look trustworthy. What if he bullies you? Let me stay. I can manage with a broken arm for one night."
As he spoke, Sergio waved his arm, but the flash of pain across his face betrayed him.
Hallie noticed it was getting late, knowing they couldn't delay. So she spoke softly to soothe him, "Don't worry. If he dares to do anything to me, I'll teach him a lesson.
"Remember, I learned special treatment from you? I have those tools in my bag." She raised an eyebrow, feigning seriousness secretly.
Nelson, with his sharp hearing, caught every word. His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"But..."
"Ah, old man, why so stubborn?" Zander intervened, pulling Sergio away while whispering, "Let the young people be. Why meddle?"
He forced Sergio along, turning to wave goodbye at Hallie. "Hallie, we're heading back. If you still can't find Dustin tomorrow, just give up and come back."
"Sure," Hallie responded.
As the rescue team vanished behind the dense trees, Hallie retracted her gaze and turned to meet Nelson's flat, emotionless stare.
Hallie didn't speak, instead adding firewood to the flames.
Once the fire blazed brightly, she unpacked a compact tent from her pack and set about assembling it. Fumbling with a tent pole, she paused and called out to Nelson, who stood some distance away, "Mr. Blair, would you mind giving me a hand?"
Nelson had stood with hands in pockets for ages, watching her like a spectator. Even as she fumbled, he showed no sign of moving.
Finally, he drawled, "I'm scared. What if you deal with me with your special tools?"
What?
Hallie went speechless.
She thought, 'Isn't that just a joke? Why does he even hold a grudge over it?'
She had never been one to repeat a request, least of all when mustering the nerve to ask Nelson for help. Since he'd ignored her, she turned back to the tent, working in silence.
About ten seconds later, Nelson sauntered over, half-squatting beside her to take the tent pole.
His long fingers moved with surprising dexterity, his tendons flexing slightly as he applied pressure.
His movement was so effortless that her help felt redundant.
Hallie could only squat nearby with her chin in her hand, watching him work.
The firelight cast a warm glow on his profile, softening the usual chill. His forehead was broad, nose bridge sharp, lips pressed in concentration. His eyelids drooped as he focused on his hands, long lashes casting faint shadows.
She mused, 'They say men look most handsome when focused on a task. That's true... If only he weren't so bad-tempered.
'Wait, he's not all the same. Nelson has been gentle with Regina, never uttering a harsh word. Maybe his sarcasm is reserved for those he doesn't care about.
'He knows how to be kind, but simply disdains showing it to anyone irrelevant.
'Whether his harsh words or ridicule, they stem from indifference. He doesn't care about me, so he won't consider my feelings.
'How to define such behavior? Calling it moral corruption may be extreme, yet labeling it a character flaw seems too mild.
'No matter Nelson's opinion of me, I have no obligation to endure his criticism. I hope the next six months will pass quickly.'
"Done staring?" Nelson's cold voice jolted Hallie from her thoughts.
Blinking back to reality, she saw the tent fully assembled, and Nelson's gaze was fixed on her.
Flustered, she cleared her throat to ease the awkwardness. "I didn't expect you to be handy with this."
"There's plenty you don't know," Nelson replied, reaching into her backpack.
He intended to take out her sleeping bag but pulled out something unexpected instead.
It was a cloth pouch filled with her special tools, each one a lethal weapon in the right hands.
A pregnant silence hung in the air.
Nelson weighed the pouch in his palm, his eyes flicking to Hallie.
Haille immediately explained, "Don't get the wrong idea. I didn't bring these to hurt you," she blurted. "They're for emergencies. If someone goes into shock or something."
She never intended to use these as self-defense. But the excuse sounded flimsy even to her own ears, especially under his penetrating gaze that seemed to see through every lie.
Nelson scoffed. "Relax. Before you can try anything, I'll have you at my feet."
In the end, Nelson took over those special tools, declaring he'd "hold onto them for safekeeping."
Night wind rustled the leaves, creating an otherworldly whisper.
Hallie rubbed her arms, suddenly aware of how naively she'd underestimated the virgin forest after dark.
"Hmph. I remembered someone was so high and mighty about staying alone." Nelson jeered. "Feeling scared now?"
"Everyone has fears. It's no sin to admit it. Mr. Blair, maybe the dark doesn't faze you, but I guess there's something that makes your blood run cold, like spiders, snakes, fire, water..." Hallie retorted, voice tart.
But before she could finish, Hallie caught a subtle shift in Nelson's expression. His entire face darkened, eyes shadowed by a profound sadness.
Before she could parse the look, he'd ducked into the tent.
'Did I say something wrong?' Hallie wondered.
She'd never seen that look on Nelson before. Feeling unsettled, she went into the tent, debating whether to offer a veiled apology to him.
After all, Nelson didn't need to stay. His presence allowed the rescue team to evacuate the injured without scruple.
She wanted to say something, only to find he'd closed his eyes.
With a quiet sigh, Hallie lay on her side, turning her back to Nelson. 'Better to talk tomorrow,' she thought.