Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Chapter 123 – Showing Affection

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Timothy’s eyes lit up as he raised his eyebrows slightly. He then drew Samantha closer to him and walked in.

When the three of them walked to the living room, Samantha asked Alan, “Would you like anything to drink, Dr. Sherwood?”

“Just water will do.”

“Okay, make yourself at home.”

After saying that, she glanced somewhat worriedly at Timothy. He just so happened to be looking at her as well and the two of them made eye contact.

The man smirked, as if he had already read her mind.

Samantha felt a little embarrassed to have her thoughts read like that, but as a precaution, she bit the bullet and said, “Well, Dear, could you entertain Dr. Sherwood for a moment…”

Whether she liked it or not, they were in a situation where both sides had a common interest. If she wanted to maintain her reputation as Mrs. Barker, it was only natural that Timothy would not undermine her in front of an outsider.

Timothy seemed to have been waiting for her to say that and raised his head slightly before answering, “Sure.”

Samantha walked back to the kitchen very hesitantly.

When her figure disappeared completely from Timothy’s vision, he looked at Alan and opened his mouth to offer, “This villa is where Sammy and I have been staying after our wedding. Would you like to take a tour?”

Alan maintained a gentle smile on his face and did not refuse. “I’d like that.”

“Right this way.”

Timothy led Alan and gave the latter a tour of the huge villa.

The villa occupied a large area and was very lavishly decorated. With mountains gracing the view behind the villa, the scenery was very pleasing to the eyes and the air was very fresh too.

The two of them walked to the outdoor courtyard and saw shrubs of pink roses blooming in the flower patch, producing a pinkish sea of flowers.

Timothy gazed at the pink color and opened his lips. “Sammy had always been the kind who likes flowers since she was a child. Her favorite flower is pink roses. She says that her mood will always improve whenever she sees these vivid-colored flowers in full bloom.

“The reason I bought this villa was because of this little sea of ​​pink flowers. I thought that Sammy would like it, and sure enough, this is her favorite place in the entire villa.”

Alan knew that Samantha liked pink roses.

Samantha was initially reluctant to be hospitalized when her leg was badly injured back then. Alan told her that she was more than welcome to leave if she did not want her leg anymore. Once she walked out of the hospital, her leg was no longer his responsibility and it was up to her whether or not she would still be able to walk or run normally in the future!

She finally compromised and accepted to be hospitalized, but she chose the cheapest and most standard ward that accommodated nearly twenty people in a ward.

Most of the other patients were visited by family or relatives, who brought them flowers and fruits.

The bed next to her was also a young woman, whose boyfriend visited every day and bought different kinds of fresh flowers for her whenever he came.

When Alan was doing his rounds at the wards, he chanced upon Samantha looking blankly at the flowers in other people’s vases. There was a faint sense of longing in her eyes.

Samantha was still a young girl who was just barely over 20 at the time, but she seemed to lack the vitality of a young girl whenever Alan saw her. Instead, the impression she gave him was that she had gone through a very hard life.

It was the first time he ever saw her yearning for something, just like an ordinary girl.

When he later went to check on her condition, he asked in passing, “What flowers do you like?”

Samantha did not think much at the time and answered him casually, “Pink roses are my favorite.”

“Oh? Why pink roses?” He asked curiously, “Don’t girls generally like big red roses more?”

“It’s because the first flower my boyfriend gave to me was a pink rose!” Samantha blurted out.

As soon as she finished speaking, the smile on her face suddenly stiffened for a second and acted as if nothing had happened. “They’re…pretty. That’s why I like them.”

He could see that she was uneasy at the time but did not ask any further. However, he bought a lot of pink roses the next day and asked the hospital’s janitor lady to put some in every ward.

That way, Samantha would see them and cheer up a little.

Alan’s reminiscing stopped there and his dark pupils shifted to Timothy’s handsome profile. It turned out that the boyfriend Samantha mentioned was none other than Timothy.

Pink roses were never Samantha’s favorite. It only became her favorite because it was the first flower that Timothy gave her.

…

Samantha poured tea and sliced some fruits. When she carried everything into the living room, Timothy and Alan had just returned from their tour of the home.

She glanced unconsciously at the two people and saw that the both of them were still neatly dressed and in one piece, without any indication that they had come to blows. It was only then that she could set her worried heart slightly at ease.

With a smile on her face, she said, “Come over and sit down, guys.”

Timothy and Alan each sat on a different sofa. Samantha hesitated for a few seconds but nevertheless decided to sit beside Timothy.

She picked up the glass of water and handed it to Alan, “Here’s your water, Dr. Sherwood.”

“Thank you.”

Timothy glanced at her from the side.

Samantha put the coffee she brewed for Timothy in front of him and forced out a smile, “Have some coffee, Honey.”

“Thanks, Darling.”

Timothy sat up straight, turned his face around, and pressed a kiss on Samantha’s cheek before taking the cup and sipping on some coffee.

Samantha smiled a little stiffly and could not help but glare at Timothy.

She suspected Timothy of deliberately putting on a public display of affection but she had no evidence to prove it!

From a third person’s point of view, the look in her eyes seemed more like a rebuke.

Alan could tell that Timothy’s interaction with Samantha was not very natural, yet it seemed to have some kind of barrier that disallowed anyone else from getting involved.

The water he drank ought to have been tasteless, but it somehow tasted inexplicably bitter.

Seeing that it was almost time for dinner, Samantha said, “The food is ready, Dr. Sherwood. Shall we have dinner now?”

“Okay.”

The three of them went to the dining hall.

Samantha initially thought that Timothy would be up to no good during the meal, but as it turned out, they ended the meal in a rather peaceful manner.

The only issue was that the meal was too quiet.

Alan ate politely and never said anything, while Timothy ate in his usual elegant manner and kept quiet too. As a result, she did not say anything either and only immersed herself in the meal.

The tranquility made her feel increasingly uneasy. She had this lingering fear that it might be calm before the storm.

Fortunately, Alan said that he had other things to take care of and would have to leave after the meal, though not before expressing his thanks to her and Timothy for their hospitality.

Samantha did not want to keep him there for too long either. After all, it would be good to end the day with the meal so as to avoid any mishaps occurring.

Timothy followed her to send Alan off.

When they reached the car, Alan stared intently at Samantha and—without even looking at Timothy—handed her the pink roses he had brought with him. “These are for you, Sammy.”

Samantha’s first reaction was, ‘Crap….’