Chapter 179 - 178: Applying Medicine

"I wasn’t scared, just... it’s frightening to think about in hindsight. If you had been in that place..." Leo Grant’s voice was impossibly hoarse.

The head on her shoulder gave a cooperative little shake, and the fine strands of his hair tickled Yvonne Lowell, making her instinctively shy away.

"In a way, you could call it fate. The kidnapping was the cause, and my current success is the effect."

Yvonne Lowell said softly, "If you look at it from another perspective, had I stayed in Kingsland and lived under my parents’ protection, the person I am today might not exist."

"Even if you had stayed in Kingsland, with the Lowell family’s genes and your abilities, you would still be someone others look up to." Leo Grant’s arms around her tightened.

’And we might not have had to wait until now to be together.’

"Knowing how lazy I can be, I’d most likely have become a clingy, dependent woman. If that had happened, I would’ve been exactly the type of woman you can’t stand."

Before he could reply, Yvonne Lowell turned her head and gently kissed the corner of his eye. "There, now. It’s all in the past."

Leo Grant took a deep breath and slowly released her. The slight redness at the corners of his eyes revealed his inner turmoil.

’It was my fault. Yvonne was the one in more pain from reopening old wounds, yet I made her comfort me instead.’

He placed a kiss on her forehead. "Okay. It’s all in the past. I’ll protect you from now on."

Yvonne Lowell’s eyes narrowed. "Now that you’re in a better mood, isn’t it time we settled a score?"

The topic changed so abruptly that Leo Grant didn’t follow at first. "Settle what score?"

Yvonne Lowell didn’t answer. She just glanced at his abdomen with a cryptic smile, then at the porcelain bottle on the coffee table.

Leo Grant suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He gave a sheepish laugh. "Bonnie, I wasn’t exactly lying. It does still hurt a little... there just isn’t a bruise..."

Yvonne Lowell nodded as if in sudden understanding and reached for the porcelain bottle. "No bruise? Then it must be an internal injury. But that’s fine. This liniment works for that, too. Let me put it on for you."

"How about... I go back to my room and do it myself later?" Leo Grant hurriedly held her hand down, asking tentatively.

Yvonne Lowell’s expression soured. "You’re not hurt at all, are you? In that case, maybe I should just give you a nice, visible bruise."

’After all this back-and-forth, all I want is to cop a feel. Why is it so difficult?! Can’t he just play along?!’

Leo Grant timidly released her hand. "I am hurt. It’s an internal injury. Yes, an internal injury."

Yvonne Lowell gestured toward his abdomen with her chin, signaling for him to open his bathrobe.

Leo Grant could only comply, leaning back on the sofa like a lamb to the slaughter.

’Staring at the sleek, firm, powerful abs in front of her, Yvonne Lowell suddenly felt her throat go dry. ’Not bad, old man. A full eight-pack.’

Noticing her stare, a hint of a teasing smile flashed in Leo Grant’s eyes. "Bonnie? Aren’t you supposed to be putting on the liniment? You hit me here."

Leo Grant took her fingertips and guided them across his abdomen, tapping a random spot.

Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow. "Alright, I know."

She poured the medicated oil into her palm and began slathering it wantonly across his abdomen, completely ignoring the spot he had just indicated.

She even said with a straight face, "I have to break up the blood clots under the skin. That’s the only way an internal injury will heal quickly. It might be a little painful, so just bear with it."

Watching her delicate hands wreak havoc on his body, Leo Grant felt a vein throb in his temple.

He gritted out, "Bonnie, aren’t you done yet?"

"How could it be done so quickly? This is an internal injury we’re talking about! It’s not to be taken lightly," Yvonne Lowell replied without looking up.

「Young Grant: You keep that up and I’m going to have an ’uprising’ on my hands~」

Leo Grant grabbed her hand. "I think that’s enough. I have to meet with a business partner tomorrow, so I’m going back to rest. You should get to sleep early. Good night."

With that, he gave her a firm peck on the lips and walked toward the door without looking back.

Watching his flustered retreat, the smile on Yvonne Lowell’s lips grew wider and wider.

"The manor has cold water available 24/7, and the rooms are heated, so you don’t have to worry about catching a cold!"

Leo Grant’s steps faltered for an instant. He then walked even faster, not forgetting to close the door behind him.

In a rather good mood, Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow, tossed the porcelain bottle aside, and went to wash her hands.

Meanwhile, Leo Grant emerged from the bathroom, a chill clinging to him. He stood by the window and lit a cigarette.

Smoke swirled around his face, obscuring his expression.

When the cigarette had burned down to the filter, Leo Grant made a call. His tone was detached.

"The Sutton family—the four of them—no longer require any special ’attention’."

"Which is to say, it’s time they had an... ’accident’."

"Especially that old woman. Don’t let her death be a quick one."

After hanging up, Leo Grant remained standing by the window for a long while before finally turning away.

...

「The next day.」

As usual, Yvonne Lowell was taking Leogryph for a morning workout when she happened upon Ian Lynch and Warren Lynch, who were also out for a run on the training grounds.

The two men’s eyes lit up when they saw Leogryph, but they still greeted Yvonne Lowell respectfully.

"Good morning, Miss Lowell. Colin told us we could come here for our morning workout."

Yvonne Lowell nodded. "Carry on. Don’t mind me."

"Yes, ma’am." The two left reluctantly, looking back at Leogryph every few steps.

Seeing that Yvonne Lowell was still warming up, Leogryph decided to get on the track itself and charged toward the two men.

"ROAR!" ’Run faster, you slowpokes! The turtles in the pond are faster than you two!’

At first, they were thrilled that Leogryph was approaching them willingly. ’They hadn’t expected to be more favored in the Leogryph’s eyes than Young Master Crawford’s good-for-nothing uncle.’

But in the next second, their faces turned pale with fright, and they bolted.

’Damn it! What kind of animal shows affection by opening its massive, blood-red maw and charging at your ass?!’

’It’s so early... has it not had breakfast yet? Is it starving and sees us as prey?!’

"ROAR!" ’Hurry up and run! I want to go eat after you’re done!’

Too scared to look back, they could only sprint forward with all their might.

They looked across the track at Yvonne Lowell, waving their arms frantically and shouting, "Miss Lowell! Miss Lowell, help us!!"

And then they saw their beloved Miss Lowell wave back at them... and continue her run.

And so, almost everyone out for their morning workout that day witnessed a comical scene on the track.

Their master was jogging, followed by two big oafs, who were in turn being chased by Leogryph.

After two laps, seeing that they were starting to get winded, Yvonne Lowell stopped and waited for the pair.

Forgetting all about etiquette, the two men ran straight behind Yvonne Lowell. "Miss Lowell, the Leo... Leogryph... it seems hungry."

Yvonne Lowell shrugged. "Don’t be scared. It’s just being your running partner. It just thinks you’re too slow and wants to help you pick up the pace."

’Ian Lynch: ...So this is somehow our fault?!’

’Warren Lynch: Leogryph is so nice!’