Chapter 515

Bernard, who had been scolding Ella just a minute ago, was now laughing so hard that he could barely catch his breath. He’d never seen a woman as timid as Ella. She was so scared that she even forgot Cecil’s name. Still laughing, Bernard added, “Do you think she’ll get scared to death by Lorenzo next time?”

He thought, ‘She’s this scared over something so trivial? The situations around Lorenzo are way more intense than this. If she keeps sticking around him, she’s bound to be terrified to death eventually.’ Ella’s tears started flowing again, this time out of anger.

Cecil felt a headache at Bernard’s laughter. “Stop laughing. It’s so annoying.”

Bernard threw his arm around Cecil’s shoulder and grinned. “Let’s go. If we scare her to death, it’s on us.” He couldn’t help but laugh again. Ella was getting even more upset.

Bernard had known the moment Cecil walked out of the room that Lorenzo was fine. But he didn’t expect Ella to be so funny. It was one thing to be scared in front of Lorenzo, but being scared in front of them too was something else.

“Alright, let’s go. Thanks, sir,” Bernard teased as his voice trailed off while walking away. Ella’s face went pale. She sniffled, feeling more hurt, and then she turned to peek inside to see how Lorenzo was doing.

Just then, Eric walked out with a doctor. When he saw Ella’s tear-streaked face, he paused. “Ms. Turner, don’t worry. Lorenzo’s fine.”

Ella looked up at him, eyes wide. “He’s really okay now?”

Eric nodded. “Yeah, he’s fine. You should make him some food. Actually, never mind. I’ll have a servant do it.” Eric didn’t think it was realistic to ask her to cook—she could barely make noodles without burning them.

Hearing this made Ella even more upset, and she dropped her head. At that moment, she realized just how incapable she had been around Lorenzo. She felt like she didn’t know how to do anything at all.

Eric left with the doctor, leaving Ella standing alone by the door. She couldn’t stop pacing, her nerves getting the best of her. About ten minutes passed before she finally found the courage to knock on Lorenzo’s door.

“Come in,” Lorenzo said, his voice deep.

Ella carefully opened the door, her hands shaking as she twisted them nervously. “Lorenzo, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“Come here,” Lorenzo said coldly, his tone emotionless. Ella’s nerves shot through the roof. She sniffled, trying to hold it together. “I really didn’t mean to.”

“Come here. Don’t make me say it again,” Lorenzo ordered, his voice firm and commanding.

Ella didn’t dare argue. She took a step forward, hesitated, and then stopped about three feet away from him. His presence was so intense that it made her freeze, unable to get any closer.

Before she knew it, Lorenzo’s long arm reached out and pulled her toward him. Ella barely had time to gasp before she was in his arms. “Y–You…” she stammered, struggling to get the words out.

He leaned in closer. Ella could feel his body heat, higher than normal, radiating off him. His breath, warm and almost burning, brushed against her cheek.

“Did you worry about me just now?” Lorenzo asked, his voice low.

“I…” Ella started to say, not sure how to answer.

“Scared?” he asked with a teasing edge.

Ella nodded and hummed, her nerves showing. She was scared indeed.

Lorenzo chuckled. “Is that all the courage you’ve got?” His grip on her tightened, making her heart race. Her pulse pounded in her throat, and her breath caught.

Lorenzo’s big hand rested on her waist, giving it a gentle squeeze. That was when she realized where she was—in his arms.

‘What’s he doing? Why is he holding me?’ she thought, her mind spinning.

“L–Lorenzo, are you… are you hugging me right now?” Ella stuttered, her face turning red as she looked up at him, too nervous to even meet his eyes.