Chapter 3 Asleep In Her Arms

At that moment, the sound of a rhythmic knock echoed, followed by the voice of the butler, Winston, from outside the door. “Mr. Luellen.” Zachary slightly parted his thin lips. “Come in.” Winston pushed the door open. “Mr. Luellen, what... should we do with Mrs. Luellen?” Zachary stood tall and dignified by the bedside. The man, standing at a height of one hundred and eighty-seven centimeters, was dressed in a simple white shirt and black trousers. Yet, the costly fabric seemed to be tailor-made, accentuating his slender and statuesque figure, exuding an exceptional aura. Zachary lowered his gaze, his fingers deftly playing with the shimmering silver button on his shirt cuff. He cast a casual glance at Hazel. “You might not know this, but there are two wolves kept in the backyard of Maplewood Manor. How about... we throw you in as their meal?” Hazel's heart tightened. This marriage was arranged by the older generation. There were four prominent families in Maritown - the Luellens, the Guerras, the Hundalls, and the Sturridges. The young master of the Luellen family was said to be a force to be reckoned with, rumored to be the most youthful and handsome tycoon of his generation in the business world. However, no one had seen his true face, making him incredibly mysterious. Maplewood Manor was situated in a remote location, clearly not a place of affluence. The Sullivan family had sent people to investigate Maplewood Manor, only to discover that it was inhabited by a grandfather and his grandson. This grandson was none other than her rumored ill-fated sickly husband. Julia's greatest wish was to marry her two daughters into the four wealthy families of Maritown. The outcome with Maplewood Manor was something that Julia wished she could dig up the Sullivan family's ancestral grave to ask the older generation how they ended up arranging such a disastrous marriage. Julia didn't want her daughters to marry a sickly person, but Declan was a traditionalist who valued filial piety. He was unwilling to break the marriage arrangement set by the older generation. Her daughters couldn't proceed with the marriage, so Julia thought of Hazel. Therefore, she brought her back to stand in as the bride. Therefore, in Hazel's understanding, the man before her was definitely not some high-ranking official or prominent figure. However, at that moment, she found herself questioning this. The man standing before her exuded an air of superiority with every move he made, an innate sense of aloof elegance radiating from his core. He was akin to a commanding king, inspiring awe and reverence in those around him. He even kept wolves in his backyard, wolves, an entertainment not suitable for the average person. Hazel wanted to speak, but at that moment, the man abruptly placed both his hands on the table. He subtly narrowed his handsome eyes, revealing a look of pain. The butler's face paled considerably, and he quickly said, “Mr. Luellen, I'll fetch the doctor right away!” Hazel's gaze shifted downward, landing on his two large hands braced against the table. The veins were throbbing visibly, a sign that seemed like the onset of a distressing condition. Is he sick? Moreover, it seems like a terrifying illness. At that moment, Hazel's eyes were met with the man's narrow eyes. Zachary turned his head to look at her, but his words were directed at the butler. “Tell her to leave!” The butler quickly urged, “Mrs. Luellen, you should leave at once.” Hazel knew she couldn't leave. This time, she had returned to the Sullivan family with a purpose, needing the status of the bride of Maplewood Manor. Hazel looked at Zachary with clear, bright eyes, not showing a hint of evasion. “You're sick. What kind of illness? I have some knowledge of medicine, and I'm good at acupuncture. I can help treat you,” she said. Zachary's lips thinned into a cold, stern line. He only responded with one word in a low voice, “Leave!” Instead of leaving as expected, Hazel moved closer to him. “Just now, I detected the scent of precious medicinal herbs on you, such as lilies, poria, and Gastrodia - all of which are used to treat... insomnia. If I'm not mistaken, you must be suffering from sleep disorders, unable to find rest at night.” The butler stared at Hazel in shock. “Mrs. Luellen, you...” Hazel's gaze landed on Zachary's handsome face. “Just how severe has your insomnia become? If it progresses too far, it can seriously affect your mental state. Your body will be pushed to its limits without any rest or relaxation. It's as if there's another you living inside, one that's gloomy, irritable, frightening, and almost pathological.” Zachary's slender eyes grew increasingly red, a gloomy aura had already enveloped him. He reached out, gripping Hazel's neck. The young girl's delicate neck was incredibly fragile. A mere gentle squeeze from him would have been enough to end her life. “Mrs. Luellen, please stop provoking Mr. Luellen! Mr. Luellen, please release Mrs. Luellen now!” The butler was so distressed. He was on the verge of rushing forward. Her breathing was growing incredibly difficult, causing her face to gradually flush red. However, with a swift turn of her hand, she quickly inserted a silver needle into Zachary's acupoint. Zachary loosened his grip and settled down on the couch. Hazel was panting heavily. She didn't want to lose her life here upon her return this time. She was terrified earlier. The man before her was exceedingly dangerous. It wasn't just his mysterious identity that was alarming, but his sleep disorder alone had the power to transform him from a poised and distinguished gentleman into a monster at any given moment. However, she had no way out; she had no choice but to go all in. Hazel took a moment to steady her breathing, then moved behind him. She raised her delicate fingers to his temples, beginning to massage him. Zachary closed his eyes, hiding the intense redness within. “So, your treatment is just giving me a massage?” he asked. “You must be thrilled. You're the first man I've ever given a massage to.” “You're saying as if you're not the first woman who has the privilege of massaging me.” There was no way to continue the conversation. “Let me stay. We can live together peacefully. You don't interfere with my personal life, and I'll play along with you in front of your grandmother. I can also help you with your insomnia. What do you say?” Zachary remained silent. When Hazel pushed a slender silver needle into Zachary's acupoint on his head, Zachary closed his eyes, letting his head fall back onto the couch. Hazel quickly reached out, gently and tenderly catching his handsome face as he leaned in. He had fallen asleep. The butler on the side was already breaking out in a cold sweat. While others may not know Zachary's identity, how could he be ignorant? Zachary was none other than the young leader of the Luellen family, a prodigy admired by all. He had been manipulating the business world since his early teens, single-handedly creating the legend of the Luellen family. No one had ever dared to negotiate with Zachary like this before, let alone a girl. Over the years, any girl fortunate enough to meet Zachary would inevitably find herself awash in a rosy haze of admiration and affection, yearning for nothing more than to throw herself into his arms. The young lady before his eyes was incredibly unique. Even in the face of the ailing Zachary, she remained calm, composed, and intelligent. What was even more astonishing was that Zachary had actually fallen asleep. He hadn't slept in quite a while. The doctors who treated Zachary for his insomnia were all top-ranked in the world, but they couldn't do anything about it. However, Zachary had fallen asleep in Hazel's arms. “Mrs. Luellen...” the butler said. Hazel placed her finger on her lips, making a “shush” gesture. “You may leave. I've got this covered,” she said. For reasons unknown, the butler felt a comforting strength emanating from her. Obediently, he left the room. The space was engulfed in an eerie silence. Hazel allowed him to rest in her arms for a moment. Once he had slipped into a deep sleep, she gently placed him on the couch and covered him with a blanket. After all was done, Hazel tucked herself into bed and drifted off to dreamland. At that moment, Zachary on the couch slowly opened his eyes. He had awoken. Zachary rose to his feet and approached the bed. He extended his fingers to lift the veil from Hazel's face.