The Marriage Bargain - ENGLOT

Chapter 18: I'll take care of you

Emory's POV:

Cadence guides me to the kitchen counter, where I slump down, resting my head in my hands. She stands between my legs, her body just inches away from mine, and rests her hands on my bruised knuckles, examining them with a mix of concern and determination.

"We need to clean these cuts, Emory," she says, her tone firm. "Take off your shirt, it's bloody, and I'll get the first aid kit."

As I clumsily pull off my shirt, I can feel Cadence's eyes on me, and I know that she can sense the tension between us. I try to push the thought out of my mind, focusing instead on the pain that still lingers in my knuckles and the cuts on my face.

Cadence returns with the first aid kit, and she begins to clean and bandage my wounds, her touch gentle but efficient. As she works, I can feel myself relaxing under her touch, the pain slowly ebbing away.

But even as the pain fades, the tension between us continues to build. Cadence's every move feels deliberate, each touch sending shivers down my spine. I can't help but wonder if she feels it too.

As she finishes bandaging my knuckles up, our eyes meet, and for a moment, there's a flicker of something between us. It's fleeting, gone as quickly as it came, but it's enough to make me wonder. I look down at my bandage hands and try to flex it, wincing in pain as I do so.

Suddenly, Cadence's hand grazed my chin. Her fingers came to rest just at the tip and she tilted my head up. We made eye contact, my eyes searching hers. For what, I don't know. I sharply held my breath as she delicately thumbed away the streak of blood on the side of my mouth. I stared at her, waiting for her to speak, but she said nothing as her eyes roamed my face, searching, examining me.

After a brief pause, my heart skipped a beat as she looked me dead in the eye. Her voice is quiet and tense, anger barely restrained. "Who did this to you?"

I hesitate for a moment, conflicted about whether or not to tell Cadence the truth. As much as I wanted to be honest with Cadence, I couldn't bear the thought of her knowing the real reason behind the fight. The truth was too painful, too personal, and I didn't want her to see me as weak or broken.

"A group of guys jumped me," I managed to say, my voice steadier than I felt inside. "I guess I wandered into the wrong place at the wrong time."

Cadence's eyes narrowed, her brows knitting together as if she could see right through my lie. "Emory, I don't believe you, your phone is in your pocket and your wallet is still in your blazer."

I averted my gaze, unable to meet her penetrating eyes. "It doesn't matter. It's just some cuts and bruises. I'll be fine."

But Cadence refused to let it go. She moved closer, her body now pressed against mine as she cupped my face with her hands, forcing me to look at her. "You can't keep pushing me away, Emory. I care about you, and I want to be here for you."

I could feel the weight of her words sinking deep into my soul, stirring up a mix of emotions that I had been desperately trying to hide. Part of me wanted to spill everything, to release the pain that had been eating away at me. But the fear of exposing my vulnerabilities held me back.

"I know you care, Cadence," I murmured, my voice barely audible. "And I appreciate it. But this is something I have to deal with on my own." I said, removing her hands off my face softly.

Cadence's eyes narrowed, a mix of concern and skepticism. She knew there was something off about my response, but she chose not to press further. Instead, she continued to clean and dress my wounds in silence, her touch becoming more tender, as if trying to provide some comfort and solace.