Chapter 417

Julian Garnache snapped out of his shock.

He looked down at her clothes, covered in dirt.

He frowned slightly.

Mia Lawrence wished she could disappear into the ground.

She had run too frantically.

She had fallen several times along the way.

Now he had seen her in this utterly disheveled state.

Annoyance washed over her.

"Julian, I accidentally got dirty," she stammered.

She could never admit she had fallen.

It was too humiliating.

Julian Garnache recalled the figure on the mountain path earlier.

Flickering in and out of view.

Stumbling along.

He understood immediately.

But he didn't say it out loud.

He glanced around.

The sky was growing dark.

The mountain breeze carried a slight chill.

"Come back with me first to change your clothes," he said softly.

Mia Lawrence hadn't processed it yet.

Her hand was suddenly held by his.

Her entire body stiffened.

A jolt like electricity surged through her.

She followed him down the mountain in a daze.

The path was rugged.

But he walked steadily.

Bird songs echoed through the valley.

Normally, she would have been scared by now.

But now her mind was completely filled with the person in front of her.

She looked down at their joined hands.

His fingers were long and pale.

Warm and strong.

This wasn't a dream.

He was really holding her hand.

Mia Lawrence suddenly felt it was all worth it.

Even if life was terrible.

This moment was beautiful enough.

They reached the foot of the mountain.

Julian Garnache let go to open the car door.

Mia was still lost in the sensation of the touch.

Her heart was pounding wildly.

"Why did you come here?" he asked, pulling the car door open.

He turned to look at her.

His gaze was probing.

Mia panicked.

"I... I was worried about you," she blurted out.

She regretted it the moment the words left her mouth.

What kind of reason was that?

Julian Garnache paused.

He turned fully to face her.

"What?" His eyes sharpened.

Mia felt sweat bead on her palms.

A sudden idea flashed in her mind.

"It was Anna!" she explained hurriedly.

"Anna is on a business trip."

"She was worried about you."

"So she asked me to check on you."

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This reason should be flawless.

But when she looked up.

She met Julian Garnache's deep, penetrating gaze.

He looked at her quietly.

As if he could see right through everything.

Mia's heart tightened.

Had he figured it out?

Just as she was about to break under the pressure.

Julian Garnache suddenly smiled.

It was as gentle as a spring breeze.

"Thank you, Mia," he said.

He reached out and ruffled her hair.

"You've had a long day."

Mia froze completely on the spot.

He touched her head.

Was this real?

What kind of lucky day was this?

She floated into the passenger seat in a daze.

She giggled the entire way.

It wasn't until the car stopped in front of a villa that she snapped back to reality.

Julian Garnache unbuckled his seatbelt.

He glanced at her.

"Mia, are you okay?" he asked with concern.

"You've been smiling the whole way."

Mia hurriedly covered her face.

She turned to look out the window.

"The wind blew on me," she fibbed.

"My face is a little stiff."

"I'm just doing some relaxation exercises."

Her ears burned a bright, hot red.