Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 81: Chapter 81

Before Zoe could fully react, Shawn had already stood up and gently pushed her out of his arms.
Zoe chuckled, leaning close to Shawn's ear and whispering, "Mr. Ludwig, why are you acting so shy? We're a couple now. A little touch won't hurt, will it?"
'This woman really knows how to tease. Where on earth did she learn this?' Shawn thought, his expression darkening slightly.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, feeling like ending the conversation, Zoe suddenly let out a soft "ouch" and stumbled forward, falling directly into Shawn's arms.
At first, Shawn assumed she was up to her usual antics, trying to act cute and get his attention. He was about to respond with a cold expression when he noticed her gaze drop to her leg.
Following her line of sight, Shawn's eyes landed on her bleeding leg. His pupils contracted sharply at the sight.
It turned out that when the chandelier fell earlier, shards of glass had embedded themselves in Zoe's leg, leaving a rather nasty wound.
At that moment, Shawn felt his breath hitch. A pang of guilt and worry surged through him.
Without a second thought, he scooped Zoe up into his arms. His tone carried a hint of reproach as he said, "Why didn't you say you were hurt?" If he had known, he wouldn't have pushed her away just now.
Zoe pouted, her voice tinged with grievance, "Mr. Ludwig, you were acting like you couldn't stand me just now. How could I shamelessly cling to you?"
Shawn said nothing, his face stern as he carried her to the resting area.
Just then, Chase hurried over. "Mr. Ludwig," he called out.
"Investigate. Find out who tampered with the chandelier," Shawn ordered, his jaw clenched tightly, the veins on his neck faintly visible. He was genuinely furious.
It was the first time Chase had seen Shawn this angry. Clearly, this little girlfriend of his held a special place in his heart.
While Chase led a team to track down the culprit, medical personnel arrived with a first aid kit. Shawn wasted no time snatching it from them.
"Mr. Ludwig, let me handle the treatment," one of the medics offered, but Shawn acted as though he hadn't heard. He began tending to Zoe's wound, his movements swift and precise, disinfecting and cleaning it with a precision that rivaled any professional.
The medical staff watched in stunned silence. 'Is there anything Shawn can't do? If he keeps this up, we might as well start looking for new jobs,' they pondered.
Zoe watched as Shawn carefully bandaged her wound, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She had never thought a guy as tough as him could be so gentle.
"Do you have any other injuries?" Shawn asked.
Zoe's eyes darted away, avoiding his gaze. Her guilty expression was written all over her face.
"Where?" Shawn pressed.
Instinctively, Zoe clutched her skirt and mumbled in a soft, hesitant voice, "Mr. Ludwig, maybe we should let the nurse handle this..."
She wasn't kidding. One of the shards was lodged dangerously close to her upper thigh. If he went any higher, he might accidentally see her underwear. This wasn't something to take lightly.
But Shawn didn't think twice. Seeing her clutching her skirt, he reached out and lifted it without hesitation.
Zoe froze, her eyes wide. 'Is he doing this on purpose?' she wondered.
Shawn froze too. He had only been focused on her injury, but now it hit him—lifting a girl's skirt wasn't exactly the most gentlemanly move.
He quickly let go of the fabric, his expression tinged with embarrassment.
"I told you we should've let the nurse handle it," Zoe muttered under her breath. But deep down, she couldn't help but feel a little amused seeing Shawn so flustered.
"No need. I can handle it," Shawn said firmly. He reasoned that as long as his intentions were purely medical, there was nothing wrong with what he was doing. Backing off now would only make it seem like he had something to hide.
Determined to prove his innocence, Shawn resolutely lifted her skirt again. This time, his expression was dead serious as he carefully removed the shard of glass from her wound.
At first, Zoe managed to keep a straight face, but it didn't take long for her composure to crack.
She couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. 'Does he really have to be so overly serious? Anyone watching might think I'm on my deathbed and he's performing some kind of solemn farewell ritual,' she thought.
Hearing her laugh, Shawn immediately looked at her.
Zoe quickly switched gears, letting out a dramatic whimper. "Shawn, it hurts so bad. Am I dying?"
As she boldly called his name, she leaned into his chest, her hand "accidentally" brushing against his firm muscles.
When Shawn saw her face scrunched up in pain, his heart softened. "Don't worry; you'll be fine. My bandaging skills are top-notch."