Chapter 54 I Just Want You to Be Safe
Clara Bennett struggled to open her heavy eyelids. Every bone in her body felt as if it had been reassembled, the pain unbearable.
She saw white walls around her, the smell of disinfectant lingering in her nose, and bandages wrapped around her body and face.
Even more dramatically, one of her legs was hoisted high.
She paused for a moment, then felt a large, warm hand take hers, the warmth seeping into her heart.
She turned her head and met the man's deep eyes.
He looked at her quietly, a complex mix of emotions swirling in his gaze.
Worry, irritation, concern, tenderness...
And guilt.
He forced a smile and gently stroked her hair, his voice hoarse. "You're finally awake."
Clara tried to move, her head buzzing, the only sensation she felt being pain all over her body.
"What happened to me?"
"You don't remember?" Mason Reed held her small hand in his, gently caressing it.
Clara's lips were dry, her throat burning.
Her consciousness gradually returned, and she remembered everything from that night.
Thomas Sun and Jason Ford had tricked her into drinking, then pushed her toward Jasper. Jasper had taken her into the car. Unwilling to be bullied, she had unzipped her bag, used the strap to choke the driver, and then...
Clara suddenly became agitated, clenching her fists tightly.
"It's okay now," Mason said softly, soothing her. "It's all over. You're safe, and that's what matters."
"Honey," she looked at him, calling out softly, reaching out for a hug.
Mason smiled and sat beside her, gently helping her up and carefully pulling her into his embrace.
Clara leaned against his warm, solid chest, hearing the familiar heartbeat. The pent-up grievances and fears finally flowed out with her tears.
Mason felt a tightness in his chest and gently stroked her head.
"I'm sorry I was late," he said softly. "Actually, your colleague Anna sent me a message right after work, telling me about your situation. Then you sent me several messages, but I didn't see them."
"It's not your fault," Clara said, biting her lip gently. "I should have been more cautious."
"But in the workplace, there's so much deceit. It's hard to guard against everything."
Clara fell silent for a moment, feeling a dull pain in her calf. She gritted her teeth, her expression changing as she looked at her suspended leg.
"A minor fracture," Mason told her. "Aside from that, the rest are just scrapes. You're lucky."
"So, I won't be able to walk for a while?" Clara asked, taken aback.
"Yes," he said with a light laugh. "I'll take care of you during this time."
Clara paused. Him taking care of her? She had experienced his cooking skills before. If he were to take care of her, she'd be eating boiled vegetables every day.
She laughed helplessly, wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him tighter.
Mason looked down at her, his expression gradually turning serious.
After a moment of silence, he asked her in a low voice, "Why did you do that?"
"Hmm?"
"Why did you jump out of the car?"
Clara took a deep breath and told him everything.
"At that time, I had drunk a lot. If I hadn't overheard Thomas and Jason's conversation beforehand, who knows what might have happened..."
She bit her lip, her large eyes filling with tears.
"In that situation, jumping out of the car was my only way to protect myself. I couldn't just sit there and let Jasper take me to a hotel, could I?"
"But do you know how dangerous it was to choke the driver from behind and then jump out of a moving car? What if you had died from the fall?!"
Clara felt a jolt in her heart. She looked up at him, seeing the deep seriousness in his eyes, a hint of coldness emanating from them.
Though he was usually stern, it was rare to see him this severe.
She felt a bit wronged.
Was she wrong to do what she did?
She looked at him, pouting and muttering, "Would you rather I let another man take me to a hotel?"
Mason's voice was low and serious. "I just want you to be safe!"
Clara fell silent, her heart racing.
No matter what happened, he just wanted her to be safe.
A warmth spread through her heart, and she gently clung to him.
"You silly girl," he said, still a bit reproachful. "Is your honor more important than your life?"
She nodded vigorously without hesitation.
"You..."
Mason glared at her, but the little woman gave him a sweet, innocent smile.
He was helpless against her. After a long while, he sighed heavily and then said earnestly, word by word, "Remember, your life is the most important thing, no matter what."
"The feudal era is long gone. A woman's honor isn't that important anymore. And I'm not someone who cares about those things."
He held her hand, looking into her eyes, his voice not loud but each word striking Clara's heart.
"What I care about is you. I want you to be safe. When you're in danger, don't confront it head-on. You can trade anything to save your life. Understand?"
Though Clara didn't fully agree, she nodded with a smile to reassure him.
"It's a blessing that nothing serious happened this time," Mason said meaningfully, looking at her. "But what about those two bosses of yours? Are you just going to let them off easily?"
"Of course not!" Clara said, filled with resentment.
But after venting her emotions for a while, she realized it was just that—an emotional release.
Thomas was one of the company's shareholders, and Jason was his niece's boyfriend.
What could she, a small employee, do to them?