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Justin accompanied Bella to the infirmary.
The doctor was absent, so Bella decided to treat her wound on her own.
She retrieved some iodine and gauze, intending to bandage her wrist.
“I’ll do it,” Justin said, approaching her with a stern expression.
Bella turned away with irritation and shot him a glare.
“No need.
“
They were both stubborn—Bella trying to maintain her independence, and Justin insisting on doing things his way.
Without waiting for her response, he grabbed her tiny hand firmly, his tone commanding.
“Anna, stay still.
“
For a moment, Bella froze.
She felt the cool touch of the iodine on her wrist as Justin gently cleaned her wound.
His movements were careful, and his eyes never left her hand.
As he worked, he couldn’t help but notice how delicate and smooth her skin was, how beautiful and graceful she still looked without even trying.
As he carefully applied the medicine, Justin’s thoughts wandered.
He noticed her palms were rougher than expected, yet still soft to the touch.
Her fingers, slender yet marked by faint calluses, told a story of a life lived with experiences that far outstripped her years.
Suddenly, a strange warmth spread through him, a tingling feeling deep within his chest.
The image of soft moonlight filtering through gauzy curtains flashed in his mind.
He was in an unfamiliar place, but with her, it felt strangely familiar.
Justin took a deep breath to steady himself.
His throat tightened.
How could he, someone who had never once thought like this about Rosalind, now feel such longing for his ex-wife? It was puzzling.
On the other hand, Bella could feel the heat from his fingertips, and it made her heart race.
She wanted to pull her hand away but forced herself to stay still.
“Okay,” Justin said after a moment, his voice a little softer.
“Wrap it up in gauze,” he instructed.
The stubbornness in his voice matched hers.
He squeezed her hand tightly, his words tinged with a mocking tone.
“Have you been digging coal these days? Your fingers are so rough, they’re covered in calluses.
“
Bella couldn’t resist.
“No, I was scooping shit,” she replied, knowing exactly how much it would disgust him.
Justin, being a clean freak, would certainly be repulsed by her words.
“Anna, can you speak decently?” Justin’s eyebrows twitched in irritation.
“I am,” she replied coolly, “but it’s not my problem that you don’t think so.
“
She smiled slyly, her expression a perfect mix of mischief and provocation.
Justin felt a fire stir inside him, a mixture of frustration and unexpected amusement.
“This woman,” he thought, “she’s become so unscrupulous since having a backer.
“
But despite himself, he found it interesting.
If they hadn’t divorced, he would never have known how clever Anna could be.
Justin quickly finished treating Bella’s injury.
It was clear to him that despite everything, he wasn’t a useless man who only knew how to make money.
Bella had once made Declan look into his background, and it turned out Justin had been one of the top students at the military academy.
He was often in competition with Drew, Bella’s fourth brother.
Though Drew often came out on top, Justin’s talents—both in strategy and leadership—had made him a natural for a position much higher than just being the successor of the Salvador company.
However, because of his family’s expectations, he had been pushed into business after retiring from the army, where he became a legend in the business world.
Unfortunately, all of Justin’s potential had been squandered by Rosalind Gold, and it left him blind to what truly mattered.
Bella’s lips curved into a faint, bitter smile.
‘Whatever.
It’s none of my business now,’ she thought to herself.
She had made a promise to herself to stay far away from him.
They walked toward the parking lot, and Bella was about to get into her Bugatti when Justin suddenly stopped her.
“Where are you going?” he asked, his tone almost demanding.
“Where else? I’m getting my car,” Bella replied, not in the mood to deal with him.
“Just take my car,” Justin’s voice was inexplicably cold.
“A good woman never rides in her ex-husband’s car.
See you later,” Bella said dismissively, waving her hand as she attempted to leave.
But Justin was quicker than her.
Without a word, he opened the car door, grabbed her waist, and pushed her into the car, slamming the door shut behind her.
“Hey! What are you doing?! Kidnapping me?” Bella’s face flushed with frustration as she banged her fist against the car door in protest.
“I can’t trust you, Anna,” Justin said, his voice firm and unyielding.
