"Ms. Yates, you're back just in time. Young Master has just returned from his business trip. Hurry up, take these antiseptic wipes and tend to him," Barkley, the butler, immediately said when he saw the girl walked through the door.
Kathleen Yates put her school bag away, picked up the tray and walked upstairs.
She knocked on the door of the study.
"Come in."
Upon hearing the low, cold voice, Kathleen pushed open the door and went inside, keeping her head low. "Young Master."
After leaving the tray on the desk, she turned around and was about to leave.
"Where are you going?" John Lambert stared at the girl with his deep-set eyes and commanded, "Sanitize me!"
"Yes, Young Master." The girl turned around to grab the wet wipes from the tray and crouched down in front of him. She then gently rolled up one side of his trousers and removed his prosthetic leg.
Ten years ago, John had an accident whereby he lost a leg. He had to wear his prosthetic leg whenever he wanted to leave the house.
However, he would feel a piercing pain in his leg after wearing it for a long time.
Kathleen meticulously cleaned the prosthetic leg and the part of the residual limb that was swelling because of the constant friction with the prosthetic leg.
After cleaning them thoroughly, she gently touched the red, swollen part. The moment her slender fingers came into contact with the amputated part of his leg, his body suddenly jerked.
Then, he pushed the girl away. "Where are you putting your hand? Huh?"
"Do you feel guilty about it? This was your father's doing! Do you find it scary? Do you feel sorry for me?"
Kathleen rose to her feet and explained, "No, Young Master…I didn't…"
"Get out!" John swept everything off the table onto the floor.
How could he blame others when even he, himself, was disgusted by his prosthetic leg?
However, he could not go out without that prosthetic leg.
Ever since he lost a leg, he had become short-tempered, ruthless and insensitive.
When Kathleen turned around to exit the room, John grabbed her hand and stopped her from leaving.
He stared coldly at her with his deep dark eyes because he noticed that Kathleen was wearing a short blue dress.
It was a knee-length dress, revealing her slender calves and a pair of white tennis shoes.
Her straight legs looked even longer and slender under the blue mini dress.
"Who told you to wear this dress? Hmm?" John asked, a ruthless light flickering in his eyes.
Kathleen answered dully, "Young Master, this is my school uniform!"
"Take it off and throw it away!"
"Tomorrow…"
"No tomorrow! If I ever see you wearing this dress again, I'll break your legs!"
'I've lost a leg. How could this girl expose her legs and show them to everyone!'
'I won't allow her to do so!'
After nodding her head in reply, Kathleen left the study and went back to her room to take off her uniform and change into long pants.
Just then, she heard Barkley calling for her. "The food is ready. Tell the young master to come down for dinner."
Kathleen went to the study again. When John saw the long pants she was wearing, he walked downstairs without saying anything. His poker face remained intact.
His long, straight legs carried him quickly down the stairs. He did not look as if he was wearing a prosthetic limb.
John started eating, and as usual, Kathleen stood at his side and waited on him. She scooped out a bowl of soup and peeled shrimps for him.
The man casually glanced at the girl who was peeling shrimp for him. When he caught sight of her fingers fiddling with the shrimp shell, he suddenly recalled that she had touched his residual limb with her fingers earlier on.
His eyes darkened. He picked up the shrimp the girl handed over and put it into his mouth without any hesitation.
Someone was ringing on the doorbell, and Barkley went to get the door. A girl wearing a red dress came in joyfully.
"John," the girl greeted him with a broad smile.
She was John's fiancée, Sherri Millan.
John furrowed his brows and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"John, I heard that you've returned from your business trip. You didn't pick up my call, but I knew you're at home."
"Come here." John beckoned her to come closer.
Sherri walked over and sat next to him. She glanced at the table full of dishes and smiled in surprise. "Are you guys having dinner?"
Her gaze swept over Kathleen before darting back to John again.
"Pork ribs, freshwater shrimps, sea cucumbers and bird's nest soup. These are all my favorite food too."
She moved closer to John's ear, a flirty smile played on her lips. "John, did you know I would come and tell them to prepare dinner for me?
"What do you think?" John stared at her face and suddenly reached over to lift her chin.
Sherri stared back at him, feeling terribly flattered. She instantly threw herself into his arms, grinding up against him affectionately like no one was watching.
"John… you…"
Kathleen turned a blind eye to them, and her face remained impassive. She stood up, picked up her bowl, and started digging into her food. After a while, she said, "Young Master, I've finished my food. I'll go back to my room to do my homework now!"
Her pretty face looked serene, and her emotions were unreadable.
John's face darkened. He clenched his big slender hand around the wine glass, and his smile gradually turned cold. "Go ahead!"
After Kathleen turned around and went back to her room without looking back, the wine glass shattered in John's hand. A sharp clanking sound was heard.
Startled, Sherri pulled at his sleeve and asked, "John, what's wrong?"
"You should go!" His expression had become impatient.
Sherri looked up at him and begged, "John, I came specially to see you. Let me stay here for the night, okay?"