Chapter 34
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“I’m not drunk at all,” Sally propped herself up on the edge of the chair and stood up quickly.
Jaxon’s brows furrowed as he saw her stumbling toward him. “You’re walking like that and still claiming you’re not drunk?” His tone casual. “Stubborn.”
“Listen, Mr. Zale!” Sally suddenly pointed a finger in his direction. “Take a few steps back.”
“What are you trying to do?” Jaxon doubted. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking of climbing over here again?”
“I… I just want to prove that I’m really not drunk…” Sally stammered as she spoke. Before Jaxon could stop her, she had already placed her hand on the glass railing.
“You’re beyond drunk–this is flat–out wasted.” Jaxon instinctively reached out, trying to stop her. But before his hand could touch her wrist, she slapped it away.
In the next instant, she lifted her leg and climbed right over the glass railing.
Seeing this, Jaxon was at a loss for words. The scene playing out before him was truly unexpected.
The way she climbed over the railing… images of her treating patients, even charging into a fire to save someone–all these different versions of her flashed through his mind.
Which one was the real Sally? He wondered.
“Mrs. Zale, you’re going to fall if you keep this up.” Jaxon wanted to go over and help her, but her current position left him unsure of how to assist.
As she hung half over the railing, he was genuinely worried she might fall the next second.
“I don’t think I can do this anymore…” Sally murmured. “I’m a little sleepy… I want to go back to sleep…”
Sally tried to lean back, only to realize she couldn’t. She was stuck–neither able to climb back nor go forward.
Out of options, she had to ask the man in front of her for help. “Mr. Zale, can you help me?”
Jaxon felt a strange urge to laugh, but he held it back. He extended his hand toward her. “I’ll catch you.”
“Thanks,” Sally nodded.
Without hesitation, she reached out, thinking he was going to help her climb back over–but instead, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her directly over to his side.
By the time she landed, her eyelids were already drooping.
Jaxon retracted his hand and watched as she sank into the chair on his balcony, then slowly leaned over the table and closed her eyes.
Seeing this, the smile at the corner of his lips finally broke free.
Now he understood. When sober, she was an ambitious woman. But drunk… she was like a simple–minded child.
How could someone like her possibly have schemed against anyone? She’d even spent three years in prison for it. Jaxon was sure about this.
“Mrs. Zale,’ he called. “Wake up.”
But no matter how softly he called her, she didn’t respond.
There was no way he could let her stay in his room again. The first time could be covered up, but not the second.
Jaxon picked her up and quickly left the balcony, walking through the room toward the door. He planned to carry her back to the bedroom next
door
But just as he reached the door, he heard footsteps coming up from downstairs.
His room was near the stairs, and from his angle, he could see the man walking up from below. It was Brad, who had returned after leaving earlier.
Fortunately, Brad seemed to be on the phone, not noticing anything unusual. Jaxon quickly turned around and shut the door with a loud bang.
The sudden noise startled Brad. He paused mid–call.
*Brad, are you home?” Lena’s voice asked softly from the phone.
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Chapter 34
Brad glanced at the tightly shut door of Jaxon’s room, then looked over at the room next door. His expression suddenly darkened.
“Yeah, I’m back,” he replied. “You should get some rest. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight…” Lena’s voice was laced with reluctance, but she still said her goodbye.
Brad ended the call, put away his phone and went straight to the guest room. When he opened the door, it was empty.
“Sally?” he called toward the bathroom, but no one responded. “Sally, are you here?”
A beer bottle on the balcony caught his gaze. He hesitated for a moment before walking over and picking it up to sniff–it smelled freshly opened,
She’d been drinking. So where did she go? A storm of questions swirled through his mind.
Just then, he noticed the balcony next door still had its lights on. He stepped closer to check on. “Jaxon,” he called out. “Are you still up?”
Meanwhile, Jaxon had just laid Sally down on the bed when he heard Brad’s voice from the balcony. He strode out quickly and saw Brad with his hand on the railing, looking at him in confusion.
“Jaxon, have you seen Sally?” asked Brad. “Do you know where she went?”
“Yeah, Jaxon had already prepared an excuse. “Father’s condition took a turn. She went up to the third floor to keep watch.”
“But she’s been drinking!” Brad pointed at the beer bottle behind him. “She doesn’t hold her liquor well–just one drink and she’s out. How can she take care of Grandpa like that? I’d better go check.”
“Don’t,” Jaxon cut him off. “He just settled down. Sally is probably asleep in the guest room now. She’s had a long day. Don’t disturb them.”
“Oh,” Brad paused but eventually nodded. “Alright. You should get some rest too.”
Jaxon nodded slightly. “You too.”
Seeing that he wasn’t moving, Brad turned and went back into his own room. Only after the lights in the next room went out did Jaxon return inside.
When he walked in, he found Sally had rolled off the bed and onto the floor. Even though it was summer, lying on the floor for long would still make people sick.
He hurried over to pick her up. But as he knelt down, her arms suddenly wrapped tightly around his neck.
Thrown off balance, Jaxon fell forward–right on top of her. And his lips… landed squarely on hers.
In that moment, a jolt of electricity shot through his entire body. His eyes widened, staring in disbelief at Sally’s sleeping face.
She shifted slightly, and his breath suddenly felt heavier. Hurriedly, Jaxon pulled away.
Sally remained fast asleep on the floor, completely unaware. He had no choice but to pick her up and placed her back on the bed, covering her with a blanket.
As he tucked in the corners, his gaze fell on her lips again, and, without warning, a certain part of his body reacted.
Jaxon furrowed his brows sharply. Without any hesitation, he got up, went straight into the bathroom, and turned on the cold shower.
He spent a few minutes calming himself down. Just as he stepped out of the shower, his phone suddenly rang.
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