Chapter 4 His Mysophobia

Quickly, Zachary's fingers came to a halt, not lifting the veil from her face. He cast his gaze down at the girl who was already asleep on the bed. He began to gaze at her shut eyes. Her eyes were so beautiful, bright and glossy like a kitten's. When she looked up at him, it felt as if an adorable kitten was gazing at him. She was a blend of innocence and allure. Zachary looked at the red mark on her neck. Her skin was delicate, and he had only lightly pinched her earlier, but now a red mark had appeared. Zachary turned around, returning to the couch and laying down once again. His sleep disorder was progressively worsening; something her silver needles definitely couldn't treat. Nevertheless, her medical skills were impeccable, and he had indeed managed to catch a brief respite in her arms earlier. Approximately ten minutes had passed. He hadn't managed to get even ten minutes of sleep in a long time. Zachary looked at the delicate figure on the bed, his thoughts consumed by how incredibly soft her hands were. The following morning arrived. Hazel was seated in the dining room, sipping on fresh juice served by the housekeeper. Beside her, Matilda chatted away with a beaming smile. “Hazel, the moment I saw you, I was smitten. If Zachary ever bullies you, tell me. I will give him a piece of my mind... Drink up. Don't stop. Have more freshly squeezed juice. It's good for your health. Take care of yourself, so you can conceive a healthy baby...” Matilda already had hair as white as snow, but she was vivacious and exuded a kind and amiable aura. If one were to overlook her teasing nature, Hazel found herself quite fond of her. At that moment, the housekeeper's voice rang out. “Mr. Luellen, good morning.” Zachary had descended the stairs. Hazel looked up, catching sight of Zachary dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers that day. His outfit was a classic heartthrob ensemble, and the handcrafted fabric was ironed to perfection without a single wrinkle. As he descended the staircase, he carried an inherent air of elegance and nobility. Following behind was an elderly wedding facilitator, who also descended. She held a white silk handkerchief in her hands, which seemed to have a hint of bloodstain on it. The wedding facilitator quietly approached Matilda, presenting her with the white silk scarf stained with blood. Upon seeing the bloodstains on the white silk scarf, Matilda gave a nod of satisfaction. She was born into nobility and placed great importance on a girl's chastity. In her perspective, virginity was a symbol of purity and family honor. Upon seeing that, Hazel was slightly puzzled. They hadn't done anything, so... What was the deal with the bloodstains on the scarf? At that moment, Zachary paused by her side. With one hand casually tucked into his pocket, he leaned in with his tall frame, whispering into her ear, “I did it. I hope I didn't overstep. I have no intention of forcing you into anything, but I also don't want my grandmother to misunderstand you.” At that moment, the two of them seemed quite affectionate. Zachary bent down to whisper something to Hazel, looking very much like a newlywed couple deeply in love. Matilda immediately burst into laughter. “Seeing you two get along so well, I am now at ease.” Zachary observed the subtly flushed earlobes of Hazel, his striking eyebrows arched slightly, exuding a mature and slightly roguish charm. “Your twentieth birthday hasn't arrived yet, so technically you're still nineteen. You've married me, but I'm willing to wait for you to grow up.” Hazel was still very young, only nineteen years old. Zachary was twenty-seven years old, an age where a man was in his prime, both handsome and mature. His words seemed like a confession, and as he moved closer to her, all Hazel could feel was his warm breath cascading over her delicate skin, making her want to retreat. “Do you want to eat?” Hazel turned around and promptly fed him the bacon from her own plate, desperately wanting to shut him up. The butler on one side immediately exclaimed, “Mrs. Luellen, that's your breakfast!” Zachary was quite obsessive about cleanliness. The breakfast had been eaten by Hazel, so the butler quickly fetched some mouthwash. Hazel's slender fingers trembled. Earlier, in her determination to silence him, she had inadvertently fed him the breakfast she had already eaten. After being fed, Zachary straightened up. He furrowed his handsome brows for a moment, then under the watchful eyes of everyone, he ate the bacon that had been fed to him. The butler was taken aback, wondering what on earth had happened to Zachary. “Mr. Luellen, you have mysophobia. Have you forgotten?” Matilda nodded in satisfaction. Having lived past seventy, she had developed a keen eye for people. At first glance, she took a liking to Hazel. She believed that this girl was destined to be with her grandson. “All right. All right. You two can share a breakfast. It seems my grandson's mysophobia isn't as extreme as I thought.” Matilda was as gleeful as a child. Hazel held the fork and knife that she had used to feed Zachary. She looked at the other food on the plate, torn between whether to continue eating or to replace her utensils. At that moment, Zachary took a seat. His narrow eyes glanced over, and he expressed his deep concern. “Why have you stopped eating? Come on. Eat up. What's the matter? Do you have mysophobia too?” Hazel knew that Zachary was doing this on purpose. She had just fed him with the utensils she had used earlier, and now he wanted her to continue using the same utensils. This implied that the two of them had shared an indirect... kiss. Hazel quickly finished off the remaining food with her knife and fork. “I'm done eating.” Watching the girl's charming yet naive demeanor, Zachary curled his lips slightly, feeling quite pleased. After breakfast, Matilda turned to Hazel and asked, “Hazel, are you planning to go out later?” Hazel nodded. “Grandma, I need to return to my parents' home for a bit.” “Going back to your maternal home is a must. Zachary, you should go with Hazel. Bring gifts as well. A son-in-law's etiquette should not be disregarded,” Matilda swiftly called out to Zachary. By the time Hazel tried to stop that from happening, it was already too late. Zachary had approached her and said, “All right. Let's go together.” The two of them left Maplewood Manor, making their way to the lawn. With a gentlemanly gesture, Zachary opened the passenger side door of the car. “Get in.” Hazel waved her hand dismissively. “Grandma can't see anymore. You should go on with your work. I'll take a taxi back to my parents' place.” Zachary arched an eyebrow. “Didn't we agree you'd play along in front of my grandmother? Get in the car. Don't make me repeat myself a third time.” This man was truly assertive and domineering. However, a jolt went through Hazel's heart. He had agreed to the peace agreement she proposed last night. Hazel no longer resisted. She compliantly got into the luxury car. The luxury car sped down the road, with neither occupant speaking another word. To sidestep the awkwardness, Hazel simply turned her face toward the window. The polished car window reflected Zachary's silhouette. The man was focused on driving, his hands confidently resting on the steering wheel. He maneuvered turns, switched lanes, and accelerated with ease and fluidity. Hazel noticed the expensive steel watch adorning the man's sturdy wrist, its price in the tens of millions. Hazel wasn't sure about his true identity. All she knew was that they had reached a peaceful agreement, which made it easier for her to navigate affairs in the Sullivan family. Hazel rested her gaze on the rapidly passing scenery outside the window. Half an hour later, the luxury car pulled up at the front of Sullivan Manor. Hazel lowered her gaze to unbuckle her seatbelt. However, it couldn't be unraveled. “Allow me,” Zachary offered, leaning his tall frame forward. Hazel loosened her grip, allowing Zachary to help her unbuckle it. In truth, Zachary had already caught a whiff of the fragrant scent on Hazel the previous night. He looked at Hazel, puzzled. She... is so peculiar!