**********************
"What are you doing, you should be apologizing to her, not scolding her," Alex said, still glaring at his brother.
"Anything you had with father, you shouldn't take it out on innocent people," Alex said when he ransacked Liam's mind. He could see traces of dark smoke emanating from his body and his eyes were still pitch black.
Liam viciously turned to Ranella and when he saw the tears flowing down her cheeks, he calmed down, the dark wisp of smoke dissipated and his eyes cleared. He wasn't someone who calmed down easily, but seeing her like that made him feel bad and it reversed his infuriation.
He took a step forward but she hid herself behind Alex. Liam scoffed and pinched the skin between his brows while holding his waist with the other hand.
"So you guys are dating publicly now?" Liam asked with a smirk, his anger had disappeared without a trace.
"We're not dates..."
"...it's none of your business, brother," Alex said, cutting off Ranel's words, causing her to gape at him, he looked so cool right now, they both looked so cool and hot.
Ranella winced in pain and Alex turned his attention to her, he looked at her ankle and it was swollen, it must have sprained from her fall.
"Are you okay?" He asked and she nodded, wiping the remnants of tears on her face.
"You're not, your ankle sprained from the fall, put ice on her leg and she'll be fine, or you can find a healer," Liam said, walking back to the car and putting back his dark shades on before driving off.
Ranella thought she saw concern in his eyes and she also heard it in his tone while he was scolding her for always being in the middle of trouble. She might be misunderstanding but she could see through that pitch-black eyes of his when he was scolding her, others would have been terrified but for some reason, she felt sad, sad that Liam was angry and it was like she could see all those pain in that eyes of his. She could feel the restraint in his touch when he grabbed her and the concern in his voice when he scolded her.
"Your ankle, let's get you some ice, maybe we'll encounter a healer on the way," Alex said and then carried her in his arms, princess-like.
She was embarrassed at first but after struggling to no avail she relaxed, this might be a once-in-the-milliennium opportunity, and she might as well enjoy it while it lasted.
He took her to a bench placed on the road opposite a tropical forest, he had already purchased some ice and he crouched down and was about to put the ice on her ankles when she jolted.
" I can do it myself, thanks." She said with a smile and she collected it from him, massaging her ankle with the pack of ice.
"What were you doing around here? I didn't expect you to be here," Ranel asked.
I decided to take a stroll, then I saw you on a bicycle and almost got hit by my brother's reckless driving," He explained.
"He was careful when he dropped me off today, someone must have offended him," Ranella said, not noticing Alex's gaze on her.
"He dropped you off?" He asked and she nodded.
"Why were you roaming around here and on the road, it's dangerous," He asked.
"I came to collect some comics, from the bookshop," Ranella said.
"Haha, you read comics?" Alex chuckled.
"I find it relaxing," She said.
"That's cute," He said, fighting his urge to laugh. He didn't notice it but Ranella's countenance had changed, reading comics was something she loved doing, and seeing Alex laugh at what made her happy sent shocks of uncertainty through her.
"So since we're out here, what should we do?" Alex asked, putting his leg on the other and laying back comfortably on the bench.
"Since we both came out on different tasks, I think we should go our separate ways, you continue your show and I'll go collect my comics," She said.
"What, no...I can't leave you like this you're hurt," He said, he couldn't believe she would just decide like that, he was there for Christ's sake.
'My leg feels fine, see." She said standing up abruptly, but she felt a sharp pain on her injured ankle so she staggered with a grunt.
"You shouldn't set weight on it," Alex said, slightly pushing her back to sit down on the bench with his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm going to have to piggyback you since I didn't bring my car," He said with a smirk and Ranel was lost for a while.
"I...I can just call my driver to come pick..." she said bringing out her phone but Alex collected it, putting it in his pocket.
"No, don't disturb the man's peaceful rest." He said, referring to the chauffeur.
"I'll carry you," He said.
"I can't let you,"
"And why is that?" He asked.
"I... it's embarrassing," She said with a cute pout.
"What's embarrassing about that, we're good friends. If I was in your position you'll help me right?" He asked and Ranella nodded while crossing her fingers behind her back. He didn't possibly expect her to carry him if he was in her position, did he?
"Get on," He said crouching down with his back facing her, telling her to climb on.
"I...I am heavy," She warned before getting on.
She noticed him struggle before he got up, and she couldn't help but feel bad, but on second thought, he was the one who insisted, and letting someone carry her wasn't a bad experience. She looked back at her bicycle, it was damaged because of the fall. Her mind went back to Liam and the emotion she saw in his eyes, mostly pain from what made him vexed, and concerned...for her.
As if realizing something, she jumped off Alex's back, but they had already reached the Whitlock's Mansion entrance, if someone could film her talking about her crush, then they could do it again when she was on Alex's back and that would land them both in trouble with those stupid rumors she was sure will emerge because of Alex's closeness to her.
"Thanks, but I can walk from here." She said with a smile and then she bowed slightly before limping through the entrance. A smile broke out on Alex's lips as he watched her gait. She was a joy giver and he felt so calm and secure around her.