Arranged Marriage: Beneath The Rumors

Chapter 58: Maintain A Proper Distance Between A Man And Woman

she stood staring at Lugard lying on her bed with his eyes closed.

she thought for a moment unsure of where to lie down, after some thought she decided to lie down on the couch Lugard didn't even open his eyes or say a word to her.

she walks towards her wardrobe brings out a white bedsheet and lies down on the couch quietly, her eyes fixed on Lugard's form on her bed. She expected him to react, to say something, but he remained still, his eyes closed.

The silence between them was deafening, the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner. Lisa felt a pang of uncertainty, wondering if she had made a mistake by letting him stay.

As she lay there, she couldn't help but steal glances at Lugard, her eyes drawn to his strong profile, his chiseled features. She felt a flutter in her chest, a mix of emotions she couldn't quite untangle.

Lugard, on the other hand, remained impassive, his face a mask of calm. But Lisa noticed a slight twitch in his eyelid, a tiny betrayal of his otherwise still form.

She smiled to herself, a small, wry smile. He was trying to pretend he was asleep, but she knew better. He was just as aware of her as she was of him.

She fell asleep, her body exhausted from the emotional turmoil. She hadn't slept on the couch since she was a child, and the unfamiliar comfort brought her a restless slumber.

Lisa's eyes snapped open, her body aching from the discomfort of the couch. She had only been asleep for 27 minutes, but it felt like an eternity. She stretched, trying to work out the kinks in her neck and back.

As she sat up, she gazed over at her bed, where Lugard lay calmly, fast asleep. She felt a pang of frustration, wondering why she had ended up sleeping on the couch while he got to sleep in her bed comfortably.

She slowly got up, her movements stiff and awkward. Her body protested the unfamiliar position of the couch, her muscles screaming in discomfort as she stretched her body and waist.

Lisa hobbled over to the bed, her eyes fixed on Lugard's peaceful form. A mix of emotions swirled inside her - anger, frustration, and a hint of sadness. She wondered when her life turned to this within the blink of an eye.

Standing there for a moment, she watched him sleep, pondering what the future held for them.

With a quiet sigh, Lisa lay down on the other side of the bed, maintaining a distance between them. She didn't want to get too close, fearing it might lead to trouble.

"I'm alone in this room with this handsome, cold guy," she thought. "If I cause trouble now, who will save me?" She murmured to herself, "It's better to maintain a good distance between a man and a woman."

Lisa quietly lay down on the bed, her eyes fixed on his peaceful face. Despite the tension between them, she felt a sense of comfort whenever she was around him. She closed her eyes, her breathing slowing as she drifted off to sleep.

Lugard's eyes flickered open, his gaze immediately drawn to Lisa's face. He watched her, his expression softening as he took in her relaxed features.

For a moment, he just lay there, his eyes locked onto hers. Then, he slowly turned onto his side, his face mask of calm as he looked at her.

He studied her, his gaze tracing the curves of her face, the shape of her lips. He felt a pang of tenderness, his heart aching with emotion.

Lugard's hand reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair out of Lisa's face with tender care. His touch was gentle, his movements soft, a stark contrast to the rough handling he had exhibited earlier.

As he gazed at her, a wave of regret washed over him, and he couldn't help but think that maybe he had been too harsh, too unforgiving.

His eyes drifted to the bruises on her neck, a reminder of his earlier outburst, and he felt a pang in his heart.

He didn't understand why he felt this way, but the sight of the delicate doll-like Lisa, bruised and hurt because of him, stirred something within him.

Lugard turned away, facing the ceiling, his expression a mask of introspection. He seemed to be grappling with his own emotions, struggling to come to terms with his actions and their consequences.

He was lost in thought, his mind consumed by his inner world, when Lisa groggily drew closer to him. Her eyes were still closed, and her face relaxed in sleep, as she wrapped her arms around him like a pillow.

Lugard's body stiffened, his cold personality recoiling at the sudden invasion of personal space. He didn't like being touched, didn't like being vulnerable.

"Warm," Lisa murmured in her sleep, her voice barely audible.

Lugard's expression remained impassive, but his mind was racing. Why was she doing this? Didn't she know he didn't like to be touched?

As he lay there, Lisa's grip showed no signs of loosening. Her body seemed to relax further, her breathing slowing as she snuggled deeper into his side.

Lugard's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. He didn't know how to react, didn't know how to process this sudden display of affection. He was a man who valued control, and who kept people at arm's length. And yet, here was troublemaker, clinging to him like a lifeline.

He tried to push her away, but Lisa's grip only tightened as she murmured in her sleep, "Mummy, please don't push me away... Mummy, please don't go..." Her tears streamed down her face, her body shaking with sobs.

Lugard's eyes narrowed, his face unyielding as he realized she was dreaming and mistaking him for her mother.

He tried to pry her off again, but she clung to him with a desperate strength, her fingers digging into his skin.

"Mummy, I want to follow you..." she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "They don't like me, they don't want me..."

Lugard's expression softened slightly, his gaze fixed on Lisa's distraught face. He didn't like being caught up like this, but he couldn't bring himself to shake her off either. So he lay there, frozen, as Lisa continued to cling to him, lost in her own private nightmare.

Lugard's eyes darted around the room, unsure of how to handle the situation. He didn't know what to do, didn't know how to comfort her. So he simply parked her back, trying to hold her in a way that would calm her down.

"Don't cry," he said gruffly, his voice low and even. "You're safe."

Lisa's grip slowly relaxed, her sobs subsiding as she burrowed deeper into his chest. Lugard's arms wrapped around her, holding her in a stiff embrace.

As he held her, he felt a pang of discomfort. He wasn't used to this, wasn't used to being touched or holding someone except his younger sister. But something about Lisa's desperation kept him frozen in place.

Eventually, Lisa's tears slowed, her breathing steadying as she fell into a fitful sleep.

Lugard lay there, his arms still wrapped around her.

Lugard's arms remained wrapped around Lisa, his mind reeling with the knowledge . Lisa's mother had passed away when she was just a child.

As he held her, he felt a pang of...not quite sympathy, but perhaps understanding. He knew what it was like to lose someone, to be left with a gaping hole in your life.

Lisa's grip on him slowly relaxed, her body going limp as she fell into a deep sleep. Lugard lay there, his arms still wrapped around her, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.