Episode 12

Ingrid takes care of Sebastian all night and ends up falling asleep sitting at the foot of the bed. It's past four in the morning when Sebastian wakes up with a dry mouth. As he gets up, he sees Ingrid there on the floor with her head resting on her arms at the edge of the bed.

Sebastian

What?

He falls silent before saying anything and waking Ingrid up. He doesn't understand why she's sleeping there like that. As he gets up, he feels a bit weak, but still walks calmly over to Ingrid's fragile body. He picks her up gently, but she ends up waking up anyway.

Ingrid

What are you doing? Sebastian? Put me down now!

Sebastian

What are you doing sleeping on the floor of my room?

Ingrid

What do you mean, what am I doing? I'm taking care of you. Can't you see that you're burning up with fever?

She goes to touch his face, but he immediately moves away. Ingrid then places her hand on his shoulders and chest. His body is not as hot as before, which is a relief.

Ingrid

Thank God, the fever is going down.

Sebastian

I had a fever?

Ingrid

Of course you did. Why do you think I'm here taking care of you? Why do you think I took off your shirt?

Sebastian

Haha, you took off my shirt?

Even with the dim lighting in the room, Sebastian sees Ingrid blushing. He lies down on the bed and tries to cover her.

Ingrid

What do you think you're doing?

Sebastian

Putting you in my bed, and it would be quite sexy if I hadn't used all my strength to get you off the floor.

Ingrid

Don't be foolish, go lay down. Why did you get up anyway?

Sebastian

I'm thirsty and I need a shower.

Ingrid

Okay, go take your shower. I'll go downstairs and ask Luiza for clean sheets and warm up your soup.

Sebastian

No, you could fall carrying those sheets. Just call Luiza and she can do all that!

Ingrid

I can do it myself. I'm not useless.

Sebastian

I never said you were! I just don't want you to get hurt.

Ingrid

Argh, I won't fall. Don't be annoying.

She almost growls as she says this and suddenly starts laughing. Sebastian doesn't understand, but hearing her laugh is wonderful.

Sebastian

What's so funny? Why are you laughing?

Ingrid

We're fighting like a real couple, as if we've been married for years.

Sebastian looks at Ingrid seriously and responds.

Sebastian

We are a real couple.

Ingrid

We are? Last I heard, you were using me to take the blame for you, or was I mistaken?

Sebastian stops and thinks. At first, he did just want someone to take the blame for everything he did wrong, and then he would continue with his life as a respected and feared businessman in the city. After all, by making his businesses legal, all the money he made would be invested and would earn more without raising suspicions. But Ingrid wasn't part of his plan. Her sweet demeanor was winning him over.

Sebastian

Yes, at first.

Ingrid

At first? So, all the documents you made me sign, will they disappear?

Sebastian

No!

Ingrid

Of course not!

Sebastian

Wait, I can't make them disappear because everything is already registered, but I will fix this.

Ingrid

Fine, I accepted this marriage knowing it wouldn't last. In fact, I accepted it exactly for that reason.

Sebastian

You could go to jail. I'll find a way to fix it, I promise.

Ingrid

Don't make promises.

Sebastian

What?

Ingrid

Look, promises create expectations, hopes, and when you don't fulfill them, it's brutal. I'm tired of losing hope, so I don't even have any anymore.

Sebastian

But I want you to have hope, I want you to believe in me.

Ingrid

Why?

She says, taking a step towards Sebastian's voice. He approaches her the rest of the way and touches her face. His eyes go straight to her lips, but he knows that if he kisses her now, she would uncover the truth, and it's not the right time, not now that it seems like she's lowering the walls between them.

Sebastian

It's better for me to go take a shower, but seriously, don't go downstairs with those sheets, call Luiza.

Ingrid

Yes, sir!

Sebastian

Funny girl.

Ingrid hears the door open, but doesn't hear it close. Shortly after, the shower turns on and in that moment, she gets a little annoyed by her blindness. A little angry, she pulls the sheets off the bed, even causing the pillows to fall. She grabs three sheets at once, trips on one of the pillows, and falls.

Poft... echoes through the room, as well as her surprised yelp. Sebastian, who was in the shower, hears the noise and rushes out, his wet and foamy head and body.

Sebastian

Ingrid?

He sees her struggling to disentangle herself from the sheets and goes to help her, unraveling her and lifting Ingrid to her feet.

Sebastian

Are you okay?

Ingrid, with her hands on Sebastian's biceps, slides her hand down his chest and closes her eyes.

Ingrid

You're naked.

She whispers.

Sebastian

What did you say? Did you hurt yourself?

Ingrid

Are you naked?

Only then does he look at himself and realizes he's actually naked.

Sebastian

Yes, I rushed out, thinking you had fallen down the stairs. Do you have to be so stubborn?

Ingrid

Naked and wet.

Sebastian ends up laughing at her reaction.

Sebastian

Are you trying to imagine in your little head what I look like naked and wet?

Ingrid turns red as a tomato because, well, whether she liked it or not, she was actually trying to imagine.

Ingrid

What? No! I'm not a pervert.

Sebastian

Why would you be a pervert for imagining your husband naked?

Ingrid

True.

Sebastian

Haha.

Ingrid

Not that I'm actually imagining, okay? I just agreed because it makes sense. I'll call Luiza, it's better for you to cover up everything you're showing. I... um... well, I'll go now, you're thirsty, right? I'll go get it.

She leaves, all flustered and barely making sense, almost hitting her head on the door.

Sebastian

Be careful.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***