Imprinted with the Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 35

“You seem confident.”

“Yes. I am.”

At my firm, hesitation-free answer as I nodded vigorously, Chase seemed convinced and straightened his back. He was sitting while I was standing, yet perhaps because of the difference in our builds, our eye levels were similar, with mine only slightly higher.

Chase’s blue eyes moved to my hand. After frowning briefly, he let out a faint scoff and reached out.

Our palms touched, and his gaze shifted to my face. I gave him a bright smile. For a moment, his head dipped slightly. Just for a moment. Soon, he lifted his face again and grasped my hand as if enclosing it.

Warmth spread from his hand into mine, which had been cold. It felt like it was gradually getting warmer. My prediction was right. Chase wasn’t applying any strength at all. I smiled brightly.

“See! It’s fine-”

“Is it, though?”

In that instant, he pushed between my fingers a little more quickly. His firm, thick fingers slowly slid in between mine, intertwining. I had expected him to let go, so I was quite startled, and it seemed Chase noticed. I tried to subtly pull my hand back.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Chase lightly tightened his grip at my fingertips, stopping me.

“You said you were confident. Then stay still.”

In the end, our hands became fully interlocked.

Fortunately, I didn’t feel any pain this time either. I could only feel the solid strength of his bones and the prominent veins on the back of his hand. Though my hand was still firmly held, reassured, I looked back at him again.

“How naïve.”

He let out a short laugh. In that moment, my body was suddenly pulled forward.

“Ah-”

In that brief instant as a small gasp escaped me, I found myself sitting on Chase’s thigh.

***

Annoying Nita Grace.

I wonder if she even realizes it. That the tips of the small hand she confidently held out are trembling ever so slightly.

Having easily pulled her in, Chase curved his eyes in a soft smile. He knew that, strangely, he had been smiling more loosely than usual today, but it was simply amusing. That he had impulsively pulled this thin woman into his arms.

The very kind of woman he hated most. Weak, covered in wounds, someone he would never want to keep by his side.

Even he found himself absurd.

“Uh… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall…”

In what world does that look like a position someone could end up in by accident? Is she trying to believe that? Or does she just want to get out of his arms?

Nita tried to put strength into her legs and step back.

‘As if I’d let you.’

Chase tightened his arm wrapped around Nita’s waist. He trapped her within his arm so she couldn’t move either way.
Her body stiffened instantly in surprise.

There was no way for her to escape. Her left hand, still wrapped in bandages, was being used cautiously these days for faster recovery, so she couldn’t bring herself to use it out of fear, and her right hand was held by him.

“You’ve gotten a bit sturdier. Seeing how your shoulder’s fine even after being pulled like that.”

“Pulled… Ah, r-right?”

He made it clear that she hadn’t fallen. It wasn’t praise or anything like it, but Nita nodded as if in agreement.

Even so, she couldn’t hide her flustered state, her eyes widening before she swallowed hard. The sound of her gulp echoed loudly in the quiet room. Embarrassed, she gave a couple of small coughs. Her shaken eyes wavered. Watching her deliberately, as if to make her even more flustered, Chase suddenly recalled what Nita had said earlier.

‘I’ll do whatever you tell me to.’

“Anything?”

With a hint of mockery in his voice, Chase released their interlocked hands. Then he grabbed Nita’s chin, which had been lowered at an angle to avoid his gaze.

He should just draw the line and push her away.
Why was she enduring like this? Had he been too lenient all this time?

Chase reflected on himself for a moment. It wasn’t like he had been particularly kind, but he had treated her wounds and even saved her on the stairs. Well, he had at least met the minimum standard. At the very least, it was better than the life she had lived in that family, covered in wounds. But even so, she should have known when to stop pushing her luck.

Especially today, his irritation had surged. Showing her legs, telling him to hold her hand. What was the point of all that? It wasn’t even seduction, yet she kept doing things like that.