Chapter 13
It wasn’t until Mark took my hand and walked me past the next intersection that I snapped out of my daze.
I was astonished to learn that Mark had never been in at relationship before.
I thought. “With so many girls chasing after him, how has he managed to avoid dating anyone?”
I couldn’t help but ask, “You’re kidding, right?”
Mark looked down at me, a hint of vulnerability in his “There was one girl I liked, but she wouldn’t say yes.”
gaze.
How convenient that he chose this moment to confess his feelings to me.
A rush of heat flooded my cheeks, and I awkwardly turned my head to avoid his intense gaze.
Mark chuckled softly. “Natalie, why is your face so red?”
He was clearly teasing me, but to my surprise, I didn’t mind at all.
In fact, the more time I spent with Mark, the more I appreciated his kindness.
Chapter 13
2/5
Mark knew I didn’t like breakfast, so he woke up an hour early every day just to bring me food to ensure my healthy diet.
He remembered that I enjoyed evening strolls after dinner and often accompanied me, walking me home afterwards.
He was aware of my taste buds. I loved cilantro but couldn’t stand cucumber.
Mark even peeled shrimp for me, knowing how much I hated doing it myself.
But most importantly, Mark won over my parents effortlessly.
One day, my mom sat me down, her tone serious.
“If it weren’t for your stubbornness about marrying Logan, your father and I would have never approved of you two together.
“That guy is too self–centered. He loves you, but not nearly as much as you love him.
“I’ve always worried you’d end up hurt.
“But then there’s Mark. I can see he genuinely cares for you. He always puts you first and thinks of you in everything he does.
“He may be younger, but he’s mature for his age and handles himself well.
“Plus, he’s the only son in his family, so when it comes to background, he’s got a leg up on us and the Perez family.
Chapter 13
“Make sure you don’t let a good opportunity slip away.”
My mom was clearly a hundred percent on board with Mark.
3/5
I found myself questioning my own feelings for him more than
once.
Did I really like Mark?
The answer was yes.
But he was so much younger than me. I worried that, in the near future, his heart might wander elsewhere.
What ultimately solidified my decision was when I had to be hospitalized for appendicitis.
Mark was more anxious than my own parents.
He buzzed around the hospital, tending to my every need, feeding me spoonful of food.
even
“I can drink it myself, you know. It’s just appendicitis, not tendonitis,” I said, rolling my eyes.
With those big eyes fixed on me, he replied, “Natalie, I just want to take care of you. Can’t you let me do that?”
Every time he looked at me like that, it was hard to say “no.
On the day I was set to be discharged, chaos erupted when a
Chapter 13
man stormed into the hospital, brandishing a fruit knife. He was
furious because a filling he received fifteen years ago had fallen out, and he was convinced the doctor had scammed him.
Screams echoed through the hallway.
When the man lunged at me, I froze in terror, my legs shaking uncontrollably.
In a split second, Mark, who had just finished my discharge paperwork, jumped in front of me.
He grabbed the blade with his bare hand, blood dripping down his fingers.
My heart raced, and tears streamed down my face. “Mark…”
Security rushed in and tackled the man to the ground, but my focus was solely on Mark.
I clutched his arm, panic rising in my chest. “Does it hurt?”
How could it not?
That wound was deep and long, bleeding profusely.
His arm trembled, but Mark managed to comfort me, saying, “Natalie, don’t cry. I’m fine, really. It doesn’t hurt.”
-I sniffled and said, “Mark, are you out of your mind? Just charging in
like that, didn’t you think about the risk?”
Chepler 11
Mark managed a faint smile. “At that moment, all I could think about was protecting you. I didn’t have time to consider anything else.”
A shiver ran through me.
It seemed he really did love me deeply.
