When Noah saw the scars on Shirley's back, he remembered that he too had the same scars. Noah knew very well that they were whip marks and he had not expected Shirley to have them.
"Who did this to you?" The look on Noah's face hardened, and he unconsciously gripped Shirley's shoulders a little tighter.
Not expecting Noah to react like that, Shirley moaned softly as she felt her back ache slightly from Noah's grip.
"Hey, calm down. Your grip is too strong," Shirley said as she whimpered in pain.
Without waiting any longer, Shirley brushed off Noah's hand that was on her shoulder, then slowly glared at him viciously.
However, when Shirley saw Noah's current state, she was surprised. Shirley did not expect Noah to be silent with such a lost and empty look in his eyes.
Although Shirley did not know exactly what had happened to Noah, she could deduce that the whip wound on his back was most likely the trigger.
Shirley reached out her hand to gently rub Noah's shoulder, hoping the action would snap Noah out of his reverie.
And sure enough, Shirley could feel Noah's body flinch in surprise at her touch.
"Are you okay?" asked Shirley, unsure of her own question.
"Did I hurt you?" Noah was surprised to see Shirley looking at him at this moment, whereas earlier he remembered himself still looking at the whip wound on Shirley's back.
"There's no need to worry about my wounds, I think you're the one who needs to calm down," Shirley replied as she waved her hand, not wanting Noah to become more worried.
Noah unexpectedly sighed tiredly and rubbed his face roughly. Just looking at the whip wound made Noah recall his childhood trauma.
Seeing that Noah was not his usual self, Shirley poured him a glass of water.
"I'll call Ivy to apply the ointment, you can rest." Shirley did not have the heart to force Noah to help her.
So Shirley chose to call Ivy again to help her and leave Noah alone first.
After finishing treating the wound, Shirley got up and sat herself on the sofa that Noah was on, which was near the window of his room.
"Feeling better?" Shirley poured some freshly brewed tea into Noah's glass.
"Thanks to you. I'm sorry for troubling you," Noah replied softly, he hadn't expected his trauma to relapse here.
"Don't worry. I won't ask for your reaction because the timing doesn't seem right." Shirley waved her hand in objection.
"You're right, I have no intention of discussing it with you either." This time Noah was already able to pull the corners of his lips into a smile.
Noah honestly did not expect that Shirley could make him comfortable like this, usually people would definitely force him to explain his actions.
If it wasn't like that then they would look at Noah like a freak, so he did his best to present the perfect man on the outside like his family wanted him to.
At least when Noah talked to Shirley, he could be himself without pretending to be strong or perfect.
"My intention in coming to see you was to tell you when my family banquet is." Noah returned to the topic he wanted to discuss with Shirley.
"So when will the banquet be held?" Shirley had originally been excited about attending the banquet, but now she had her own worries.
"A week from now." Noah wordlessly said when the banquet would start.
Shirley began to wonder if her father would be home on that day, it would be difficult for her to leave the house under Rosemary's watchful eye.
Given that Charlotte liked Noah, it was highly unlikely that Rosemary would let Shirley go to Count Janice's banquet with Noah.
Meanwhile, Noah, who saw that Shirley was silent, tried to ask.
"Do you have other plans for that day?" Noah thought that Shirley could not come with him that day.
"It's not that, it's just that I'm afraid something will get in the way of coming with you," Shirley replied seriously.
Noah more or less knew the reason why Shirley looked nervous like that, it must have something to do with the whip wound.
"You can write me a letter if the worst case scenario happens to you." Noah chose to offer his help to Shirley.
"I hope I won't have to trouble you," Shirley replied with a faint smile.
After that, Noah decided to return to his house and let Shirley rest.
After Noah's departure, Shirley drifted off into her reverie, until now she had not seen Rosemary do anything.
But, Shirley was sure that the damn hag would definitely do something to her sooner or later.
"I can't let that witch know about Janice's family banquet." Shirley was already thinking of hiding this news from Rosemary.
It looked like Shirley would have to tell Noah not to send the invitation to her family, so that only she would know and be able to go.
Now all Shirley could do was rest so that her wound could heal quickly because now she could feel her back hurting again.
. . .
This morning Shirley was surprised by a gift that Noah sent her. Shirley held the bouquet of flowers in her hands with a blank stare.
Not only the beautiful bouquet of flowers, Noah also gave her fruits. Not forgetting Shirley also received a letter in Noah's own handwriting.
"I didn't expect Young Master Noah to spoil you like this, Miss!" Seeing all the gifts, Ivy was very happy for Shirley.
Ivy knew that back when Shirley was engaged to Victor, only Shirley loved and pursued Victor. And Ivy was very sad for Shirley, even though she was currently unsure of her lady's relationship with Noah, but she was happy to see that Noah cared about Shirley.
Shirley herself was actually very happy with the attention that Noah showed for her. But, on the other hand, Shirley was becoming increasingly worried at the moment.
It was certain that Rosemary would hear what happened yesterday and today between Shirley and Noah.
And Shirley was sure Rosemary would definitely do something to her now that Charlotte must have been furious when she heard of her intimacy with Noah.
"What should I do now, Ivy?!" Shirley held Ivy's shoulders limply and looked down sluggishly.
Ivy who saw Shirley's reaction was confused, thinking that Shirley was unhappy with Noah's behaviour and still couldn't forget Victor.
"Miss, you have to get used to this warm treatment, this is how a loving couple should be," Ivy explained while patting Shirley lightly on the shoulder, encouraging her.
Shirley didn't really listen to what Ivy said, her mind was frantic at the moment thinking about what hell she would go through this time.
For now, Shirley hoped that her father would come home soon so that she could help Noah and spare herself from the senseless punishment that Rosemary would inflict on her.