Caiden looked up and saw Conner appear at the door in a wheelchair, and his expression brightened.
"Conner, why did you come over?"
However, Conner didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, he maneuvered his wheelchair straight toward me.
"You must have been frightened."
According to the timeline of my previous life, Conner should still be recuperating in the hospital.
How could he be here?
Especially when Caiden and I were at odds.
I was startled and uncertain, and subconsciously looked at him.
I saw that the man had clear and refined features, a gentle demeanor, and simple attire.
Even seated in a wheelchair, he showed no signs of weakness.
On the contrary, every gesture revealed the grace of a nobleman.
What surprised me the most was the affection hidden in his eyes.
This was something that developed after we spent half a year together in my previous life.
Could it be?
Thinking of that possible answer, my heart skipped a beat, and I tactically stepped back.
Conner, however, wasn't willing to let me go.
His broad hand tentatively touched the tips of my fingers.
Noticing that I didn't resist, he pushed his luck further, eventually enveloping my whole hand in his.
An atmosphere of intimacy quietly spread between us.
"Conner!"
Just then, Caiden's forceful shout interrupted us.
It disrupted the intimate atmosphere Conner had managed to create.
I took the opportunity to withdraw my hand and stepped back defensively.
Conner resumed his usual cold demeanor, placing his hands on the armrests of his wheelchair, and said unhappily:
"What are you shouting for? I'm not deaf!"
Caiden's resentful gaze fell upon my hand intertwined with Conner's, and he said darkly:
"Brother, I know you're responsible. When I heard that Haley is your good partner, I instinctively treated her well."
"But don't let her fool you."
"These two women always take advantage—"
"Stop!"
Before he could finish, Conner interrupted him coldly, retorting without hesitation, "And what kind of person are you?"
"A scoundrel who only knows how to slander women!"
"You say Miss Carlson is shamelessly pursuing you, but I think falling for you is the biggest disaster of her life."
Indeed, Jillian was a clingy person.
But Caiden wasn't innocent either.
Knowing that Jillian liked him, he still called her out to act as his companion on specific occasions.
While ignoring her, he also gave her false hope.
He played both the good guy and the bad guy.
How shameless.
After Conner criticized Caiden, his tone softened considerably when he spoke about me:
"And—"
"How can Haley's behavior be considered taking advantage?"
It was simply a matter of correctly looking out for one's own interests.
The words were a blatant defense, which infuriated Caiden so much that his nose seemed to twist.
I felt immensely relieved.
On our way home, Jillian mentioned Caiden's livid expression and laughed,
"Sure enough, Caiden, that rabid dog who bites people, can only be tamed by his brother."
"So satisfying! It was incredibly satisfying!"
I smiled but remained silent.
After marrying Conner, while it wouldn't be accurate to say our feelings ran deep, he was always protective of me.
"But logically speaking, Conner has no relation to us now. Why would he take our side?"
Jillian came back from her joy, thinking about the crux of the issue.
Seeing my calm expression, she immediately understood—
Caiden must have been reborn just like us.
"Since that's the case, do you want to continue your relationship with him?"
With the foundation of our past feelings, it would be easy for us to get back together.
But this time around, I want to experience a different life. Without hesitation, I said,
"No, thanks."
Upon hearing this, Jillian didn't press the issue. She hugged me warmly and whispered,
"Hay, let's continue to depend on each other for the rest of our lives."
"Men are nothing."
