Chapter 39

Zach swiftly carried Ariana to the nurse's office, finding it empty. He carefully tended to her wounds, cleaning them gently to avoid causing her any more pain.

"Done," he sighed after dressing her wound. "Get some rest," he said before leaving.

Ariana sighed, pulling out her phone. Seeing a post about the incident in Zach's office filled with derogatory comments infuriated her. She felt overwhelmed by the pressure of being associated with Zach. Deciding not to engage, she yawned and took a nap. When she woke up, the school nurse had returned, providing painkillers for her wound.

Hurrying to class, she encountered Jeff. Their eye contact made her feel guilty for not considering him before signing the contract. Jeff noticed her wound and helped her walk.

"Jeff, I'm sorry," Ariana whispered, feeling the weight of her actions.

"It's okay. But is it true you and Zach are together?" Jeff asked, masking his hurt. Before Ariana could explain, Zach intervened, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her.

"Babe, you shouldn't walk," Zach said, glancing at Jeff. After a brief interaction, Zach carried Ariana to his car.

"Bastard, put me down!" Ariana protested as Zach dropped her into the passenger seat carelessly.

"Ouch! What was that for?" she winced.

"You asked me to put you down," Zach retorted before driving home. Ariana, disappointed by Zach's apparent lack of genuine concern, fell asleep.

Waking up in the evening, she realized she'd missed her cafe shift. After a bath and getting dressed, she found Zach eating ramen.

"Come eat," he offered, placing a plate before her. Ariana, famished, devoured the food and felt embarrassed after an unintentional burp.

"Sorry," she muttered, avoiding Zach's gaze. He continued with his chores, and Ariana found herself strangely drawn to him.

Later, Zach sat beside her and attended to her wound with a first aid kit. Ariana panicked briefly before realizing his intention. Zach cleaned her wound gently, ensuring it didn't hurt her further.

"Take some painkillers for your neck before bed," he advised before leaving for the bedroom. Ariana followed his advice, taking the painkillers before settling down to sleep.