CHAPTER 103: CHAPTER 103: THEN HOLD ME

When she arrived at the hospital, Natalie Vaughn was in such pain that she couldn’t speak.

The sound of the rain outside made her feel restless, and the lack of messages from Zane Thorne on her phone inexplicably made her angry. Zoe Chandler noticed Natalie checking her phone, paused slightly, and asked.

"Waiting for a call from your husband?"

She had heard from Summer Churchill about how Natalie sent Zane photos to play the injury card earlier that evening.

Natalie lay on the bed, heard those words, and put the phone aside.

"Do you think he’s on his way over?"

"Maybe. If he’s on the plane, he can’t contact you."

Natalie’s face looked better.

"When will he arrive?"

Zoe glanced at the time.

"Flying over from Astra City takes over an hour, and this place is quite remote, so it’ll take another hour and a half from the airport. He should be here in about two hours."

Two hours... that’s hard to bear.

Perhaps Natalie hadn’t even realized that before, she used to bear the pain alone. When she broke her leg in high school, she painfully got through it by herself. Now, with Zane, she started to want him by her side.

She’s not delicate; this kind of pain isn’t new to her, and she hadn’t even planned to inform Zane and James Vaughn initially.

But once she learned that Zane already knew, she started hoping.

She liked seeing Zane’s full of heartache when looking at her; at those moments, Zane’s eyes were entirely focused on her, filled with emotions sparked by her.

His body was so warm, and she wanted to lean into his embrace.

After the doctor’s check-up, it was revealed that she had a ligament sprain in her waist, but it wasn’t severe. With two or three days of rest, it should be alright, although if she continued filming action scenes, she should rest for a few more days.

Lying in bed with nothing to do, Natalie asked Summer to buy some late-night snacks. Meanwhile, Zoe had just received a call from Felix Langdon, confirming what Natalie had said.

Felix was also planning to replace someone; he didn’t need to investigate whether Laura Young did it on purpose. If Natalie believed it was deliberate, then it was deliberate, and the person had to be replaced.

Among the actresses who auditioned for the second female lead, another newcomer from The Langdon Group performed well, but considering overall abilities like qualifications, acting skills, and popularity, Laura was chosen.

Switching actors is quite troublesome, mainly because Laura’s fans are difficult to handle.

However, Felix simply arranged a script in which Laura got injured during filming and, to avoid delaying the production, had to reluctantly withdraw. Anyone could see it’s fake, and Laura’s fans certainly wouldn’t easily accept it. But Felix wouldn’t care about these things; he would naturally make Laura ’willingly’ speak up.

Zoe now went to negotiate with Laura, leaving Natalie alone in the room.

Natalie played a game on her phone, feeling the pain in her body, the irritation in her heart, and her performance was not great. Her teammates also had a bad temper and started to make snide remarks.

The Vaughn Family’s young lady couldn’t tolerate this kind of temper.

"Your eyes are on the top of your head, didn’t the doctor fix it? I can help dig them out."

"Opening and closing your mouth, calling ’mom,’ why not say it on Mother’s Day?"

"Did you bring your confidence from the womb? I suggest having your mom give birth to you again."

"Even my casual game results are better than yours, what are you babbling about? Can’t you use your mouth?"

"Should I donate some money for you to retake the nine-year compulsory education?"

"Don’t come out to embarrass yourself if your brain is broken."

"Haven’t brushed your teeth for over ten years? Your mouth smells bad all the way here."

"No money for food, making do with a meal in the bathroom?"

The more Natalie cursed, the more upset she became, and naturally, she lost the game.

She found an opportunity but didn’t want this kind of person to win, glanced at the time, and there was still an hour and a half left.

Why is it so unbearable?

Natalie sighed and cursed.

"Damn Zane."

How did she let this damn man affect her to this extent?

At first, she was just curious about Zane.

Still curious now, but unknowingly... As Natalie was thinking this, the hospital room door opened.

"Summer, how did you come back so quickly?"

There was no movement behind, and she couldn’t smell the fragrance of late-night snacks. Natalie turned around and saw the man she had just been thinking about standing at the door.

Natalie: !!!!!!!!!!

Instinctively picked up her phone and checked the time.

No mistake, it’s only half-past nine; Zane should still have another hour and a half to arrive.

"I wondered why I kept sneezing all the way here; turns out you were cursing me behind my back."

The man’s lazy voice sounded out, and Natalie finally realized Zane had truly arrived.

"Why are you here?"

Zane closed the door and walked up.

"Weren’t you waiting for me to come?"

He had noticed Natalie’s actions of checking her phone when she saw him, obviously waiting for him.

Natalie wrinkled her nose.

"Who’s waiting for you?"

But even as she said that, she couldn’t suppress the smile on her lips.

Zane came up and lifted the covers, reaching out to pull Natalie’s clothes up.

Natalie suddenly pressed his hand.

"How come you lift someone’s clothes the moment you arrive?"

Zane’s eyes were fixed on Natalie. Her complexion was still pale, and her lips had no color. Three hours ago, she was playing the injury card with him, and now she’s really hurt, but won’t even let him see.

"Let me have a look, hmm?"

Zane softened his voice, his eyes filled with helplessness and heartache.

Natalie couldn’t resist his eyes like that, she withdrew her hand.

And softly asked.

"Why did you suddenly come here?"

Even if he knew from Felix the moment she got hurt, it would take at least three hours to get here.

Only half that time had passed.

Zane looked at Natalie’s waist, his face dark.

It looked more terrifying in person than on the phone; perhaps the sprain had worsened the area, causing deeper bruising.

The visual impact was far greater than on the phone; Zane didn’t even dare to touch it.

"A little girl took advantage of me not being around and played the injury card to make me feel heartache; I naturally had to come over and teach her a lesson."

Natalie blinked, was this what she thought?

"Did you come right after the call?"

Zane casually dragged a chair over, sat by the bed, and asked.

"Does it hurt?"

Of course it hurts.

But Natalie couldn’t say it, now that he’s by her side, showing the look she wanted to see.

Why couldn’t she say it? She didn’t want him to feel so distressed.

Natalie reached out to hold Zane’s hand.

"It doesn’t hurt much; with you here, it hurts even less."

Zane raised his eyelids.

"I turned into a painkiller?"

Jokingly, but with no trace of laughter in his eyes.

He wished Natalie would cry out in pain in front of him like she did in the evening, not bearing it alone like now.

This stubborn little donkey was truly endearing.

Natalie rolled her eyes.

"I’m being romantic; why are you so not romantic?"

Zane pinched the hand in his palm, and sighed deeply.

"If it hurts, tell me. Now that I’m by your side, be as delicate as you want."

"Really?"

Natalie didn’t quite believe Zane’s indulgent words.

"Can it be fake?"

"Then hold me."

He was full of coldness, rushing here, exhaustion in his eyes.

She wanted to hold him.