He Wouldn't Claim Me — Another Man Did

Chapter 181 - 167: Warmth

"Arthur, you may go for now," Luna Langley said to Arthur Vance. "As for the matter I asked you to investigate, I need it done as soon as possible."

"Of course, President Langley."

Arthur Vance quickly fled the scene.

Silas Lockwood’s expression softened only after he saw Arthur Vance leave.

"Have some porridge." His tone had also softened considerably.

Luna Langley took a sip. She wasn’t sure if it was because someone new was feeding her, but the porridge she’d found so difficult to swallow just moments ago now tasted faintly sweet.

"Who was that man earlier?" Silas Lockwood asked, feigning nonchalance as he fed her another spoonful.

"The Vice President of the Langley Group."

"Your subordinate."

"Yes."

"Just a subordinate?"

Luna Langley looked up into his eyes. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"I just don’t think he looks at you the way a subordinate should look at their boss."

"Are you jealous?" Since Silas had been so direct, Luna decided to be even more so.

"Do you want me to be jealous?" he asked calmly, scooping another spoonful of porridge and bringing it to her lips.

"Jealousy is a personal action. What I hope for is a personal thought. Can my thoughts sway your actions?"

Before Silas could answer, a nurse came in.

"Luna Langley, time for your IV drip."

Their conversation was cut short. Luna felt a pang of disappointment; she’d had the feeling she was just moments away from discovering Silas’s true feelings.

The nurse set up Luna’s IV drip and then left.

Luna wanted to pick up their conversation, but Silas had already walked over to the window to make a call.

A wave of loneliness washed over her as she watched his silhouette by the window.

’Maybe the timing wasn’t right. Or maybe fate decided it’s better this way, letting me hold on to a sliver of hope without knowing the answer.’

"I asked Aunt Sinclair to prepare a change of clothes for you. Someone will bring them to the hospital shortly," Silas said, returning to her bedside after his call. "I’m staying here with you today."

"You’re staying?"

"Yes. Is that a problem?" Silas glanced toward the door. "Or would you have preferred Mr. Vance to stay instead?"

’There’s that passive-aggressive tone again.’

Luna Langley was speechless. Whether he was actually jealous or not, she felt she had to clear the air.

"Arthur is my subordinate, but he’s also a friend. He has a wife he’s been in love with for years and a pair of adorable fraternal twins. We don’t have the kind of relationship you’re imagining."

"I wasn’t imagining any kind of relationship."

"Then why are you being so weird?" Luna grumbled. "It’s not like you at all."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Silas leaned in to apologize. "I’m sorry. It’s my fault. The next time I see Mr. Vance, I’ll be sure to apologize."

"That won’t be necessary. Arthur isn’t a petty person."

Silas smiled gently. "Right. I’m the petty one."

"That’s not what I meant."

"Can we move on from this?"

"Mmm."

Just then, the person from Sutton Gardens arrived with the clothes.

After taking the clothes, Silas turned to Luna. "Do you want to take a shower?"

Of course Luna wanted to, but her hand was injured. The doctor had been very clear that she couldn’t get it wet.

"My hand can’t get wet."

"I can help you."

Luna Langley’s face flushed red. He was talking about helping her bathe! How could Silas say it as casually as if he were offering to help with the dishes?

"No, that’s alright," she refused.

"I know you might feel embarrassed, but we’re married." Silas looked at her, his expression serious. "If one of us is hurt and we can’t even help each other with something small like this, then what’s the point of being a married couple?"

’He had a point.’

In the end, Silas managed to convince her.

Of course, the main reason was that she couldn’t stand feeling so sticky herself.

Silas wrapped her injured hand in plastic wrap and, with extreme care and gentlemanly consideration, helped her bathe. Although they had done everything there was to do in bed, to Luna, this felt more intimate than any of it.

After her bath, Silas carefully unwrapped the plastic from her hand.

"It didn’t get wet, did it?"

"No." Luna glanced at Silas. "But you’re soaked."

Water had splashed everywhere in the bathroom, and Silas’s shirt and trousers were soaked.

"You should go home and take a shower. I’ll be fine here by myself," Luna said.

"No, I’ll have my assistant bring clothes over. I’ll change here."

As he spoke, he went to make a call.

A short while later, Conrad Beckett arrived with a change of clothes for Silas.

Silas took a quick rinse in the en-suite bathroom, changed his clothes, and sat down beside Luna’s bed.

"It’s getting late. You should sleep." He tucked her in.

"What about you?"

"I’ll be right here."

"There’s a folding bed in the corner."

"I don’t need it. I’ll just sit here."

He faced her, crossed his arms, and leaned back in his chair, taking on the perfect posture of a guardian.

Luna felt her heart melt.

This was the first time they had slept in the same room without doing anything, yet the air was filled with a unique, gentle warmth.