A Replacement Bride

Chapter 240

It wasn't until Joaquin took another hissing breath and let out another one that he felt slightly better. Then, he quirked the corner of his lips sulkily upon hearing her words and slouched comfortably in the front passenger seat, no longer putting up a tough front.

"It's not to the point of masochism. I know my body well. Besides, I have you to treat me, don't I? What's there for me to be afraid of? There is one, though—people coveting you." At that, he snorted disdainfully. "Don't think for one second that I can't tell he likes you."

Katherine couldn't help wanting to roll her eyes in response. "So, what if he does? Isn't it more important that I don't like him? Don't tell me you think I'll leave you for him."

"It's a possibility, isn't it?" Joaquin clicked his tongue grimly. "But to think he has feelings for you that he shouldn't have makes me want to mangle him!"

He growled his latter words through gnashed teeth, lacing in animosity.

Katherine's heart skipped a beat in response, and she didn't know what to say for a moment, so she avoided the subject with pursed lips, then chucked a jade jar at him.

Joaquin opened it to find it containing a rather pleasant medicinal-scented ointment.

At that, he quirked a brow, then chucked the jar back to her and behaved like he was the king of the world. "I'm a casualty and have no strength. Apply it for me."

A casualty? Have no strength? Katherine mused. Huh, you looked pretty alive to me when you were roasting Jayden during lunch.

But at the thought that his injuries were indeed quite serious and that he came out to cause mischief as soon as he got a little better, her heart softened, and she just did as he asked.

"Remove your shirt, then." She was exasperated while smearing some ointment onto her fingers. NôvelDrama.Org owns all content.

Joaquin obliged at once, knowing things would go against his wishes if he took it a step further. But as he unbuttoned his shirt, a thought hit him, and he asked, "Why do you have menswear at your home?"

At that, Katherine took a gander at his skeptical gaze, then applied a little more pressure onto his wound while applying the ointment, causing Joaquin to wince involuntarily.

The next second, he felt a cooling sensation coming from the wounds, alleviating the pain, and he couldn't help closing his eyes in comfort.

"I had Savannah buy them on the road when we took you back to my place."

"Savannah?"

"My assistant in Fontan. She helps me deal with everything here."

After having one question solved, he followed up with another. "How did you find me then? I remember hiding in someone's yard."

That was all I could remember, to be honest.

Katherine froze for a second before returning to the task at hand like there was nothing. "I happened to pass by." With that, she asked, "And what about you? What are you doing in Fontan? And also suffered a serious injury at that. Do you know who did this to you?"

Joaquin opened his eyes at that, and fright filled his eyes as frost glazed them. "I've come for official business, but because it's an order from Area Seven, I can't say anything. As for the person who hurt

me… He's dead."

However, he got separated from the guys later and also got hunted down, so he ended up hiding in Tom's yard.

Katherine, on the other hand, asked no more, seeing that it was confidential information.

Later, after she was done applying the ointment, she wiped her hands, then started the engine and drove home.

During the journey, Jeremy came to Joaquin's mind, and he was certain the young man would be freaking out at this point when he couldn't contact Joaquin. Thus, he asked Katherine for her phone and gave Jeremy a call.

The call was answered in two shakes, and sure enough, Jeremy had been freaking out as the young man was choking with sobs when he heard Joaquin's voice. "F*cking hell, Mr. Levisay! You've seriously given me the scare of my life! I've been looking for you all day. Where are you? I'll pick you up right away!"

"It's fine." Joaquin glanced at the young woman driving. "I'm with Kathy. No need to come over. What about the guys? How are they faring?"

"Katherine?!" Jeremy exclaimed in shock. "Sh*t, Katherine's in Fontan?! Wait, was she the one who saved you? Jesus, to think the coincidence!"

Finding his subordinate loud, Joaquin moved the phone away and interjected with thinned patience, "Quit rambling and answer me."

After coming to himself, Jeremy chuckled apologetically, then reported the situation at once. "Don't worry, sir. Everyone's alright. No deaths, but two casualties, though. But their injuries aren't severe. The

mission's a success. We even managed to invade their hideout. Some died while the rest were captured. We can go back now!"

Joaquin raised his brows after hearing the result, clearly very pleased. "Good job. You guys make the arrangements to escort them back ASAP."

"Yes, sir!" At that, Jeremy asked, "What about you, Mr. Levisay? Are you not coming?"

"No," Joaquin answered without even a split second of hesitation.

"Oh…" Jeremy drawled knowingly. With how massive of a success their mission was, it was apparent he was in seventh heaven. "I see, sir. You want to spend some quality time with the missus, huh? I get you. I get you. We'll head back then, Mr. Levisay. You and Katherine go ahead and spend your honeymoon here!"

At that, Joaquin pushed his tongue against his cheek in annoyance and exasperation. "That's enough."

A honeymoon? In a hellhole like Fontan?! Excuse you!

Come to think of it, not only did they not have a proper wedding, but they didn't even go on a honeymoon. To be honest, their wedding was certainly haste, and there were so many procedures missing.

With that, he looked toward Katherine, who naturally overheard Jeremy when they were in a confined space, and now that she noticed Joaquin was looking at her, she felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

"What are you looking at?!" she chided lightly, but it did nothing to Joaquin. In fact, he even stared at her with an affectionate smile just like that.

"Kathy, what do you say if I make you a grand wedding, then take you on a honeymoon once all this is over?"

They had been hit with back-to-back incidents, and it was high time they took a breather.

Katherine, however, fell silent after hearing his suggestion as mixed emotions filled her eyes.

Seeing so, Joaquin turned to her and vowed, "Kathy, I'm serious about all of it."

Alas, it wasn't after some time that the young woman answered, "Let's see how things go. There's still a lot to deal with, and the priority is Noah's sickness."

Knowing where she was coming from, Joaquin nodded and no longer hold on to the topic.

That said, he had set his mind to the matter and would certainly see to it one day.