Chapter 757 A Great Pair
Day Seventy-Eight…
~~*****~~
Ignoring her protests, Alexander just gave Hanabi a cold stare for being stubborn. Once they reached the living room, Alexander gently put her down on a couch. He retrieved a small first-aid kit from Amelia. Hanabi observed him silently, her curiosity mingled with gratitude.
'This guy keeps surprising me with his strange behaviors.' she thought to herself, biting her lips.
Without saying a word, Alexander carefully cleaned the cut on Hanabi's hand with an antiseptic wipe, his touch gentle yet firm. The atmosphere between them softened as he concentrated on the task at hand.
"Tell me if it hurts, I will be more gentle," Alexander broke his silence. He wondered why Hanabi didn't even wince or flinch when he started cleaning her wound.
"Don't worry. I can't feel any pain," Hanabi responded.
Alexander just frowned when he heard that. He thought Hanabi was just pretending. Little did he know, Hanabi had a unique condition– Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA).
After cleaning the wound, Alexander applied a soothing layer of antiseptic ointment and expertly wrapped a bandage around her injured hand.
"Thank you," Hanabi finally whispered, breaking the silence. Her eyes met Alexander's, and for a moment, a flicker of warmth passed between them. Alexander nodded in response, his gaze unwavering.
"You don't have to pretend in front of me that you don't feel pain," Alexander blurted out, closing the first aid kit.
"Hey, I'm not pretending. I'm telling the truth. I'm incapable of feeling pain… Because I have CIPA," Hanabi replied. She was surprised by her own self because she shared her condition with Alexander without a second thought.
On the other hand, Alexander was momentarily stupefied when he heard her revelation. 'She has this condition. CIPA is a lifelong condition, and managing it requires careful attention to prevent injuries and complications.'
"You should stop working in a dangerous environment like the underground world. You are at risk of sustaining injuries without being aware of them." Alexander couldn't stop himself from expressing his thoughts. He couldn't explain why he suddenly got worried for her well-being.
Hanabi just let out a soft giggle. "Hey. I'm used to it now. There's no need to make it a big deal. I love my work. I'm not afraid of getting hurt. Besides, I always survive no matter what. Don't underestimate me. I might be stronger than you." She boasted with confidence.
But Alexander just narrowed his eyes at her last remarks. "You are stubborn as always."
"By the way, Alexander, I have a favor to ask. Regarding my punishment…" Hanabi didn't want to break her words but she also had a task to do. "What is it?" Alexander fixed his eyes on her, waiting for her next words.
"I know… I'm supposed to serve you for three days. But… I have a mission to protect Abigail. I must go back to Country M tomorrow. Can we postpone my punishment in the meantime? Once I return, I'll serve you for another two days." Hanabi reassured him.
"You are returning to Country M so soon?" There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Hanabi bobbed her head. "Yes. Someone is targeting Abigail's life. It's my duty to protect her."
"Rest assured, I will not run away from my obligation to you. I give you my word," she added, convincing Alexander.
"Alright, I guess I have no option but to trust you. You're free to go. However, you still owe me two days," Alexander conceded, acknowledging that he had no authority to prevent her from fulfilling her duty to the Sawada Clan.
"And for the broken jar, I'll cover the cost. Just let me know how much it was," Hanabi offered, expressing her willingness to take responsibility for the damaged item. It happened because of her mistake and she was aware that those jars were precious to Alexander's father.
"Hmm. Just treat me to dinner once you return," Alexander replied.
"Eh? That's all. I thought one jar cost a lot," Hanabi remarked, blinking in amusement.
"It's fine. My old man won't even notice if one of his collections disappears," Alexander shrugged nonchalantly. Despite knowing that his father might make a fuss, he chose not to burden Hanabi with the details.
Hanabi heaved a sigh of relief. Deep inside, she didn't want to offend Alexander's father.
"Thank you. By the way, I think I should go back now. Sis Jane might be searching for me already." Hanabi was oblivious to what was happening in the headquarters. Alexander arched his eyebrow, feeling a little bit displeased. "You can't do that. Your Twenty-Four Hour service is not yet done. You have to stay here for the whole day."
Hanabi looked at Alexander in disbelief. She thought he would allow her to leave. 'It was wrong of me to assume that.' Hanabi rubbed her temples, taking a deep breath.
"But I'm injured." Hanabi used her injury as an excuse.
"Hmm, I'll let you go, but keep in mind, it only means you still owe me two and a half days," Alexander stated with a hint of amusement.
'What a clever man. So calculative!' Hanabi rolled her eyes skyward. "Fine. I understand." She didn't want to argue anymore.
Alexander was satisfied by her response. Subconsciously, a gentle smile graced his lips. "I'll send you back." He volunteered.
Hanabi: "..."
'Eh? Is he for real? He doesn't have to do this. He can ask his driver to send me back.'
Without giving her a chance to speak, Alexander swiftly rose to grab his car keys. Before she knew it, Hanabi found herself following him to the garage. Amelia and the other maids observed them with wide smiles on their faces.
"Why do I feel like our young master looks happier today? I think Miss Hanabi is the reason for his good mood," Amelia blurted out.
The other maids nodded in agreement.
"Shall we inform our Patriarch about this?" One maid consulted Amelia.
"Yes, we have to. This will be a piece of good news for him," Amelia excitedly said. "Our Patriarch doesn't need to find a woman for our Young Master. I think he already found one."
"They make a great pair!"
***** Meanwhile, back at the Sawada Clan Branch Headquarters, Vincent found an isolated place wherein he could make a call. He made a promise to Jane so he needed to take action.
"Phoenix, how are you?" Vincent called his most trusted subordinate who was currently in Country M.
"My King, I'm recovering well so don't worry about me. Do you have a task for me?"
"Yes. I want you to investigate my father's disappearance. Someone abducted him. You need to track him and find out if Monica has something to do with his abduction." Vincent gave his order.
Phoenix was momentarily taken aback. It seemed his Boss was harboring suspicions about his own woman. "Should I handle it discreetly, ensuring my movements go unnoticed by Miss Monica?"
"Yes. You must do it behind her back. I think Monica is going out of control. She kept doing things without my permission. I hate this side of her." Vincent expressed his sentiments. He was quite upset by Monica's actions lately.
"Ok, my king. Got it."
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