Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 75: Chapter 75

Hallie kept staring down the road, but not a single bus was in sight. She couldn't be sure when the next one would arrive.
So, Hallie grinned and said, "Well then, thanks for the ride, driver." With that, she pulled open the car door and slid into the passenger seat.
Nelson couldn't help but feel a bit helpless at being called a driver, but hearing the cheerful lilt in Hallie's voice, his mood seemed to lighten. Without another word, he simply started the car and soon drove away from the bus stop.
Hallie checked that her seatbelt was buckled up and noticed how quiet Nelson was beside her. She broke the silence and said, "So, are you around here on business?"
Recently, Nelson had been preoccupied with the land in south Callopston, so Hallie naturally assumed he was here about the bid and casually asked him about it.
"No." Nelson gripped the steering wheel, paused briefly, then simply said, "I came to pick you up."
"Pick me up?" Hallie turned her head in surprise, eyeing Nelson with curiosity. "I only found out my car broke down after work. Don't tell me you knew about it beforehand?"
'Her car broke down?' Nelson repeated that in his mind as he gripped the steering wheel tighter, his gaze turning gloomy for a moment.
Nelson took Peterson's words to heart. The thought that Miles might seek revenge on Hallie lingered in his mind, so as her workday was ending, he couldn't help but come check on her.
Nelson thought to himself, 'I thought I was just being paranoid, but turns out there really was something wrong.'
"I tried starting the engine a few times, but it just kept buzzing and wouldn't start," Hallie said casually.
Though she was a brilliant surgeon, she was a complete novice when it came to cars. To her, a car's value wasn't in its price tag, but in whether it could reliably get her from point A to point B.
"I had it serviced just a few months ago and it was fine then. Maybe it sat unused too long when I was in Kerriston, and that's probably why it's acting up now," she added.
While talking, Hallie pulled up the dealership's contact info, ready to arrange for a tow truck to take her car in for repairs.
Meanwhile, Nelson drove in silence, lost in thought. Before they knew it, the car had pulled up to Blair Villa. Hallie stepped out, leaned back in to grab her bag, and slung it over her shoulder.
As Hallie was about to head inside, she was startled to find Nelson suddenly standing right beside her—she hadn't even noticed when he'd appeared.
Hallie frowned at Nelson, who looked like he wanted to say something but kept hesitating. She asked, "Well? You have something to say?"
Nelson studied her for a few seconds, sensing the disdain in her gaze. A twinge of irritation rose in his chest, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why.
He thought, 'The more time I spent with this woman, the more she defies my initial expectations. Sometimes she seems completely unremarkable. Other times, she's impossible to ignore.'
"Hey. Quit zoning out. If you have something to say, spit it out. If not, I'm going inside," Hallie snapped, waving her hand in front of his face. Her hand stirred a faint breeze, carrying the subtle scent of disinfectant that still clung to her skin.
"Stop waving," Nelson snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. Suddenly, he grabbed Hallie's hand and started striding off, pulling her along. "Come with me."
Caught off guard, Hallie nearly lost her balance as Nelson pulled her along. She thought to herself, 'Is this guy out of his mind? Couldn't he just explain things before dragging me off? Seriously, what's his problem?'
She tried several times to yank her hand free, but Nelson's grip was unyielding. With his long strides, she had no choice but to quicken her pace to avoid being dragged.
Before Hallie could fully process what was happening, they were already standing in the garage. In front of her stretched row upon row of luxury cars, each one gleaming with understated extravagance and practically radiating wealth.
Hallie blinked in momentary surprise but quickly composed herself. She turned to Nelson, about to ask why he'd brought her here when he loosened his grip on her hand. The warmth and reassuring weight of his palm vanished abruptly.
For a brief instant, Hallie felt an unexpected emptiness inside her—like something precious had slipped away before she could catch it.
Just then, she heard Nelson's low, calm voice in her ear. "Pick one."
"Me? Pick a car?" Hallie pointed at herself, her eyes brimming with suspicion. "Nelson, are you plotting something? You trying to set me up?"
Nelson's composure cracked for a split second when he heard her words.
"Hallie, have you soaked your brain in too much disinfectant?" he sneered, giving her a sharp sideways glance. "What could I possibly have to gain by scheming against you? Have you forgotten your place after living at Blair Villa for so long?"
His rapid-fire retorts sounded almost like he was trying too hard to cover something up. Hallie crossed her arms and demanded, "Then explain. Why are you suddenly asking me to pick a car?"
She thought to herself, 'No way this stingy tightwad is actually being generous.'
Seeing the skeptical look in Hallie's eyes, Nelson rubbed his temples in frustration. He wondered, 'Am I really that hard to trust?'
"Your car's broken down, isn't it?" Nelson sighed in resignation. "The South Callopston deal isn't wrapped up yet, so I'm just lending you a car for now to make sure you can get around. That explanation good enough for you?"
"Fair enough," Hallie said skeptically. She studied him for another few seconds, then finally nodded. "Alright. I'll borrow one of your cars just until mine gets fixed."
Hallie specifically put emphasis on the word "borrow". After being doubted by Nelson so many times, she was determined not to let him think she was just after his money or plotting to keep the car for herself.
Hallie wasn't picky about cars—she skipped right past the flashy limited editions and glanced at a few low-key compact models. After all, she just needed something practical to get around.
Hallie finally settled on a crimson compact car tucked away in the corner. It was a model clearly designed for women. "You want this one?" Nelson paused, surprise flashing across his face.
That crimson sedan, so out of place among the other luxury vehicles, was the one he had once promised to give Regina. But before he could deliver it, disaster struck the Blair family, and Regina had fled abroad with the stolen money.
After rebuilding the Blair family's fortunes, Nelson still went out of his way to repurchase that very car.
"What, I can't have this one?" Hallie asked, a bit disappointed as she glanced over the other options. "All the other cars are way too big, and I really don't need something that massive. They're gas guzzlers and not exactly eco-friendly."
"You can have it." Nelson interjected. After all, it was just a car he never got to give away. There was no harm letting someone else have it anyway.
Nelson retrieved the keys and handed them to Hallie. Luckily, all the cars in the garage were well-maintained, so even though this one hadn't been driven in a while, it was still in perfect condition.
Hallie slid into the driver's seat and started the engine, then drove a few loops around the driveway outside Blair Villa. Little by little, she got used to the feel of the car and began to look more at ease behind the wheel.
Standing by the roadside, Nelson watched as the crimson sedan circled the estate repeatedly. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and for a brief moment, a trace of relief flickered in his eyes.
At 10 PM, after washing up, Hallie was getting ready to set up her usual spot on the floor—only to realize she couldn't find her blanket anywhere.
"What are you doing?" Nelson asked as he stepped out of the bathroom, towel-drying his hair. Spotting Hallie rummaging through the room, he added, "What are you looking for? Need me to have someone help you find it?"
"My blanket," Hallie replied, turning to face him. "It's my turn to sleep on the floor tonight, right?"
Nelson pressed his lips into a thin line. Meeting her questioning gaze, he finally said, "You take the bed tonight."
Hallie looked at him, puzzled. But she'd been so busy and exhausted lately that she genuinely couldn't remember whose turn it was.
"Oh, perfect! I'm so sick of sleeping on that hard floor. Can we get a thicker carpet next time?" she mumbled the last part without much thought, then clambered into bed and slipped under the covers.
Exhausted, she fell asleep almost immediately. Standing by the bedside, Nelson stared at her serene, sleeping face, his gaze turning solemn.
He thought, 'Was the car trouble just a coincidence... or is someone actually planning to harm her?'