Chapter 9 Let Her Choose

Katherine turned around to see a male doctor she didn't recognize at all.

Instinctively, she glanced at his name badge.

It read "Domenic," followed by a string of English letters.

Domenic handed Katherine a thin folder. "Miss Gill, this is Vincent's report. He forgot to take it with him. Could you please bring it back for him?"

Curious about how he knew her identity, Katherine's first question was," What happened to him?"

Domenic smiled," A car accident caused a concussion."

Katherine's eyes widened in surprise as she looked back at the spot where the car had long disappeared.

Vincent was hospitalized because of a car accident?!

She recalled Carl, the driver, mentioning that the car was broken, and quickly connected the dots.

Vincent must have been driving to the airport to pick up Kate when the accident occurred.

Turning back, her eyes betrayed her worry as she asked," Dr. Bailey, how is Vincent?"

Domenic replied," It's not serious. He just needs a couple of days of rest."

Katherine let out a long sigh of relief.

Domenic observed her reaction, a mysterious smile playing behind his glasses.

Night had fully fallen by the time Katherine returned to Maple Villa.

As she entered and switched on the light, Vincent, dressed in black from head to toe, sprawled on the sofa, his long limbs stretched out, came into view.

Vincent leaned back on the sofa with his eyes closed, frowning slightly, perhaps due to the light or some other displeasure.

As the door closed, Vincent opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on Katherine with intensity.

"Come here." His voice was low and commanding, leaving no room for argument.

Katherine stood at the door, not moving towards Vincent as she usually would.

During the day, he had been so attentive to Kate, yet here he was at night, with her.

What did this mean?

What did she mean to him?

Vincent, evidently impatient from waiting, sat up straight on the sofa, his gaze fixed on Katherine's face, now tinged with dissatisfaction and irritation.

Though he didn't urge her verbally, the pressure he exuded was impossible to ignore.

Katherine's hand clenched at her side, taking a deep breath into her tense lungs, before finally stepping towards him.

She was still a few steps away when her wrist was suddenly enveloped by a warm hand, pulling her to stand between his long legs.

The warmth on her wrist vanished, transferring to her thigh.

The heat from his palm pushed her skirt up, all the way to her waist, before resting on her slender waist.

With a slight exertion, Katherine was lifted from standing in front of him to straddling him.

Her heart raced, her body softening instantly.

As his hand supported her neck, a warm kiss landed on her throat.

She trembled slightly, instinctively hugging his head.

The short, bristly hair pricked her palm, the sensation bringing her back to her senses.

"Gently whispered, 'No!'"

She softly protested, pressing her hands against Vincent's shoulders.

Vincent's breath was heavy as he looked up at her, his dark eyes filled with annoyance at being interrupted.

He waited for her to give a reason for her refusal.

Katherine's chest heaved, her breathing already disrupted.

"Dr. Bailey said you need to rest."

After speaking, Katherine thought she saw Vincent smile.

She couldn't be sure, as the next moment, she was lying on the sofa.

Vincent pinned her hands above her head, preventing her from pushing him away.

Her mouth was sealed with a kiss, leaving her unable to voice her refusal.

Vincent ignored the doctor's advice completely.

Far from being restrained, he was even more intense than before, as if compensating for the earlier interruption at the hospital.

Katherine felt utterly drained, her body exhausted.

In the end, it was Vincent who carried her to the bathtub, washing her gently.

He also carried her back to bed, carefully drying her hair with a blow dryer.

Everything seemed to return to how it once was.

The next morning, waking up still in Vincent's arms, Katherine felt momentarily confused.

Vincent hadn't stayed overnight at her place for over half a year.

No matter how late it was, Vincent always left after their encounters.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Vincent's movement as he turned over.

Katherine turned her head, avoiding his kiss.

"You'll be late for work."

Though the alarm hadn't rung yet, and there was still at least an hour before work, with Vincent's stamina, they would surely end up late.

"Take a day off," Vincent said, attempting to kiss her again, but Katherine dodged once more.

She looked at him directly, her eyes clear. "Why?"

"Why take a day off?"

He had been playful in the mornings before, but never had he asked her to take a day off to stay home.

Katherine took a deep breath, voicing her suspicion," Are you worried I'll upset Miss Todd again?"

Vincent didn't answer, nor did he move.

He simply propped himself up, his gaze probing as he looked into her eyes.

After a while, a smile appeared on his face, his tone revealing his good mood," Are you feeling jealous?"

Katherine's breath caught.

Jealous?

Was she jealous, or was she just unwilling to lose to Kate?

She didn't have time to ponder the answer.

Urgent knocking sounded at the door.

"Mr. Murphy? Mr. Murphy?" Carl's voice penetrated the door.

"Miss Gill! Is Mr. Murphy here?"

"Something happened at Miss Todd's hotel! She's been taken to the hospital by ambulance!"

Vincent was about to leave Katherine's side when slender hands wrapped around his neck.

In Vincent's surprised gaze, Katherine bit her lip, as if making a decision, and wrapped her legs around his waist.