Chapter 1273

"Don't mention it." Luella waved it off, a shy smile touching her lips. She wasn't used to such earnest praise.

"Let me clean that up for you, Mr. Langley," Clark offered eagerly, reaching for Luella's hand.

"Oh? Sure." Not thinking much of it, Luella held out her hand.

Just as Clark was about to start, Jimmie grabbed him by the collar and yanked him aside.

"You're using alcohol? Do you want to burn her alive?" Jimmie glared at him. "Use iodine."

"Right, right, right!" Clark smacked his forehead, quickly retrieving the iodine and handing it over.

Jimmie took a cotton swab, dipped it in the iodine, and gently began to clean Luella's wound. It wasn't wide, but it was deep enough to see the pale tissue underneath.

"It's really no big deal," Luella muttered, feeling intensely awkward as Jimmie focused so intently on her hand. "It'll heal in no time."

"Who put you up to this?" Jimmie asked, glancing up at her with a frown.

"Esme?" Luella realized what he meant and nodded. "She's always been petty. You

embarrassed her, so she wanted to teach you a lesson."

"Don't worry. When I get back, I'll deal with her and make sure you get an explanation."

"Are you hurt anywhere else?" Jimmie asked.

"Huh?" The sudden shift in topic caught Luella off guard. "My chest took a bit of a hit from the steering wheel. It aches."

*Her chest?*

Jimmie pressed his lips together and reached out, intending to unbutton her shirt. "I have some ointment that helps with swelling. Let me put some on."

"Ah-!" Seeing his hand reaching for her, Luella leaped back, crossing her arms in an 'X' over her chest, staring at him as if he were a monster. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Applying the medicine," Jimmie replied, his eyes darkening slightly, his voice dropping an octave. "What did you think I was doing?"

"I'm just reminding you that men..." Luella blinked rapidly, swallowing the word 'women' just in time. "Men shouldn't be so handsy with each other!"

"You're overthinking it." Jimmie tossed the tube of ointment to her, his tone softening a fraction. "Internal injuries can be dangerouS. Let me take you to the hospital to get checked."

"No!" Luella rejected the idea vehemently. "I'm perfectly fine! I don't need a hospital!"

If she went there, her real gender would be exposed instantly.

Since she was a child, no matter how sick she got, she had only ever been treated by a family doctor Once her fever had spiked so high

she was convulsing her eyes falling back in her head.

And still, Lachlan Langley had stood there and said, "She can't go to the hospital. If she dies, it's just her fate."

Thankfully, she was tough. She hadn't died.

"You guys have a schedule to keep.

Just head to the airport. I'll handle things here." Seeing Jimmie' persistent worry tuella quickly changed the subject. "Go on, get out of here. If people show up, it just get complicated."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jimmie couldn't hide the concern on his face.

"It's nothing," Luella urged. "Hurry up and leave."

"Jimmie, we should probably go," Clark chimed in. Knowing Luella's status, he knew she would be fine. If they stayed and the police arrived, it would turn into a massive headache.

"Alright." Jimmie nodded. Before turning away, he pulled out his phone. "Add my contact info."

"Why?" Luella gripped her phone, looking instantly defensive. "Jimmie Tate, don't tell me you want to sue me for damages?!"

Jimmie was speechless.

Luella took another step back. "I'm broke! I don't have a single dime!"

Jimmie thought, "She really is friends with Juniper. Two absolute penny-pinchers!"