“I don’t understand!” Enrico pressed down on her, saying, “Hurry up and tie the red ribbon for me.”
“Can I refuse it?” Paige shivered at the thought of last night. There was no way she was accepting this gift tonight.
“When Enrico gives a gift, there’s no returning it,” Enrico threatened, glaring at her. “Are you tying it or not?”
“No,” Paige refused again.
Seeing her refusal, Enrico reached for the ribbon on her wrist. Without thinking, Paige quickly twisted her body, gracefully escaping his hold. The ribbon brushed past Enrico’s eyes, leaving a trail of red.
Enrico sat up straight and tried to grab her again, but Paige darted towards the foot of the bed, only to be pulled back by him.
He grabbed her wrist, his gaze dark with intent, as he leaned down, pretending he was going to kiss her.
“….”
He had been bedridden for three years; she didn’t believe he could overpower her now. With that thought, Paige flipped his wrist in her hand and swung a leg up toward his neck. Enrico leaned back to avoid the kick, and Paige used the opportunity to chop at him with a hand strike.
Enrico was shocked as he dodged her moves quickly.
Oh no, was she trying to murder him?
Paige’s moves were swift yet fluid, like a fish in the water. Her trapped hand coiled around his arm like a vine, and as he tried to tighten his grip, she smoothly let go, striking his elbow joint with her palm.
His arm instinctively pulled back, and Paige freed her hand completely. The red ribbon fluttered through the air.
“Hiss-”
Enrico gasped, clutching his arm as he collapsed onto the red bedspread, his face filled with pain.
“….”
Paige sat on the edge of the bed, silently watching him. Even an Academy Award-winning actor couldn’t match his level of acting.
She got off the bed and dusted off her hands. “Enrico, you should keep your word. Cheating won’t work.”
They were definitely sleeping in separate beds this week.
“….”
Enrico lay on the bed, not saying a word, his face turned away so she couldn’t see his expression.
Paige thought he was doing this on purpose, but considering all the effort he’d put into these gifts, she said, “But I am really happy with the presents you’ve given me. Let’s go have dinner.”
With that, she turned and walked out.
There wasn’t a single sound behind her.
Paige made her way down the stairs but didn’t hear anything from him. She suddenly felt unsure and turned back to look at the man on the bed, still lying there motionless.
Could she have hit him too hard?
She glanced down at her hand. Over the past three years, she’d never stopped training. But Enrico was different. He had been bedridden for so long-perhaps her strike had actually hurt him.
Paige bit her lip and walked back toward the bed.
Enrico was lying on his side, facing away, his hand still clutching his elbow, with no visible expression on his face.
“Does it really hurt?”
Seeing this, Paige felt a little regretful. She knelt on the bed, carefully reaching out to touch his arm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Let me call Dr. Clinton right away.”
She reached for her phone.
Enrico’s voice came out muffled as he spoke, still facing away from her. “No need, I’m not dying yet.”
“….”
Paige froze with the phone in hand. Was he angry?
She realized that this was probably the first time she had ever fought him. Normally, she would avoid physical confrontation, but this time was different. No wonder he was upset.
She extended her arm, offering it to him. “You can hit me back.”
“I’m not the kind of man who would hold a grudge over something like this,” Enrico glanced at her, no longer smiling as he had been before. His face looked drained, and he gently pushed her hand away. “Go eat. I need to rest.”
“….”
How could she eat now?
Paige knelt there on the bed, staring at his back, feeling a bit unsettled by his sudden change in demeanor.
She bit her lip and untied the ribbon from her wrist, taking his hand and tying the red ribbon around it.
Enrico didn’t resist or move, letting her do as she pleased.
“Enrico, I do want you,” she whispered softly, looking at the red ribbon now wrapped around his wrist, their fingers intertwined, her fingertips brushing against the deer tattoo on his hand.
She felt him stiffen beside her, and he slowly turned his head to look deeply into her eyes. His voice was low. “Really?”
Paige nodded.
Enrico sat up in bed, gazing down at her intensely. “But I feel like I can’t figure you out. One moment you’re forcing me to marry you at gunpoint, the next you want us to sleep in separate beds. Do you pity me, or do you love me?”
Why were they back on this topic again?
Paige grasped his hand firmly, locking eyes with him. “I’ve already tied the ribbon.”
“A ribbon means nothing,” Enrico said, his face darkening.
Paige met his gaze, taking a deep breath. “Enrico, a ribbon doesn’t mean anything. But these three years-I’ve thought long and hard about it. Whether you’re sick or well, I’m not leaving you.”
“….”
Enrico’s eyes deepened as he looked at her.
“So let’s stop doubting each other. We can argue, we can fight, but don’t question our feelings. Can we agree on that?” Paige stared into his deep eyes.
“Who’s the one doubting whose feelings?” Enrico asked, letting go of her hand. He untied the ribbon and looped it around her ring finger, tying it loosely before slipping the other end onto his own ring finger.
Like a red string of fate.
Paige looked at him in confusion. Enrico gazed back at her, saying, “Your 24th birthday gift is a pair of rings. I just didn’t have time to get them custom-made, so you’ll have to wait.”
He moved his long finger, and the ribbon tugged gently, pulling on Paige’s ring finger as well.
Paige blinked, staring at him in surprise.
So, the final gift was a pair of rings.
She bit her lip, realizing she had completely misunderstood him.
“I designed the rings myself, like the car.”
Enrico designing them himself? Paige looked at him in even greater surprise, feeling a bit guilty now. It seemed like she had really misunderstood his intentions.
“What, did you really think I’m just a brute who only wants to sleep with you?” Enrico easily saw through her thoughts.
“Sorry, I misjudged you,” Paige admitted quickly. Looking at the ribbon entwining their ring fingers, she felt a deep warmth in her heart. She had thought that registering their marriage was enough, but he had been thinking on a much deeper level.
“I’m a generous man. I forgive you,” Enrico said, stroking her hair with his deep, magnetic voice. “But there’s no need for us to sleep in separate beds now. If you really don’t want me to touch you, I’ll sleep on the couch.”
That wasn’t necessary.
Paige realized her mistake in doubting him. There was no way she would make him sleep on the couch. “We won’t sleep in separate beds.”
Enrico looked at her. “Then give me a hug.”
“How’s your arm feeling?” Paige and he spoke at the same time.