Chapter 7 Not Interested In You

• “Did I say you could leave?”
• Raphael pinned her with a withering stare. “I'm not interested in charitable activities. Businesspeople like me prefer an exchange of equal values.”
• A lump formed in Elena's throat at his words. It took her a while before she managed to find her voice. “What do you mean?”
• Raphael's gaze flitted across the name tag on her chest as he mocked, “A famous attending physician won't bother to pour a glass of water for her patient.”
• Elena was stunned but quickly regained her composure. “I'll get you a glass of water.”
• There was a jug in the room, so she quickly returned with the water. “Here, have some warm water. I've tested the temperature, so you can drink it directly.”
• Raphael stared at her and furrowed his brows.
• “Don't take it the wrong way. I tested with the back of my hand outside the glass,” Elena explained.
• She immediately regretted saying that. Raphael hadn't said anything yet, but I offered an explanation hastily. It makes me look like I'm measuring his corn by my bushel. That was really unnecessary.
• Raphael didn't take the glass from her, so her hands were suspended in midair for some time.
• “You take great care of your patients. No wonder they chase after you,” he commented drily.
• Elena's heart skipped a beat when she heard the underlying meaning in his words. Slowly, her heart sank to the bottom of her stomach. “I come across plenty of patients in my career. I'll place the glass of water here. Drink it while it's still warm.”
• After placing the glass on his bedside table, she was about to leave when pain flared up her wrist. A sudden force tugged her toward the bed, and she promptly lost her balance.
• “Ah!”
• Following her scream, a figure pinned her down.
• When she finally regained her composure, Raphael's face was mere inches away from hers. His sculpted features looked as gorgeous as ever, but a menacing frown marred his forehead. “Elena Truman, you've changed a lot, huh? Seven years later, I can't help but be surprised by your taste in men. You are open to accepting any men now. Why? Are you in need of money after the Truman family kicked you out?”
• His cynical words went through her heart like an iron shard, and she could feel her ears ringing. Indeed, only the person who loves you the most knows what will hurt you the most.
• Elena struggled to free herself but to no avail. As he increased his force and pinned her down, she flushed red and demanded angrily, “Let me go!”
• “Are you mad?” Raphael snorted. He freed one arm and brushed a finger across her forehead as though he was recalling the times they had spent together.
• In the end, he pinched her chin, hard.
• “Ow!” Elena's brows snapped together as pain flared up her chin.
• “Don't think too highly of yourself. Don't worry, for I'm not even remotely interested in you. No wonder I have felt unwell recently. It disgusts me to be breathing in the same air as you.”
• Raphael's words were so harsh that Elena felt as if the most fragile part of her heart was hit by a sledgehammer forcefully.
• Gripping the bedsheet beneath her, she bit back the pain and forced herself to stay calm. “If you're not interested, then what are you doing now? Mr. Gardner, don't forget that you're getting married next month. If someone else catches us in this position and gets the wrong idea...”
• The calmer Elena was, the darker Raphael's expression became.
• It has been seven years since we last met. She isn't remorseful at all, even though she was the one who dumped me back then. Look how shameless and nonchalant she is!
• A vortex of anger swirled inside Raphael when that thought occurred to him. He tightened his grip and demanded, “Back when you eloped with another man, you didn't seem to care about your reputation this much!”