Despite her disdain for Anna, there was no denying that Elisa exuded an undeniable beauty and an air of grace. Her allure differed from the locals', an unmatched rarity, the kind you'd encounter once in a lifetime.
Elisa casually intertwined her fingers with Gareth's, a smile curving his lips.
He reciprocated the gesture, their connection evident. Addressing Anna, Elisa remarked, "As you can see, this is where we stand."
Anna's anger flared, her whip cracking through the air, a sharp sound accompanying its motion.
Undaunted, Elisa faced her with unwavering resolve while Gareth stood resolute. Their postures radiated unison and confidence.
With her whip raised, Anna aimed at Elisa. The onlookers averted their eyes, unable to witness the potential harm to such a beautiful woman. No one wanted to see her beauty marred.
In the pivotal moment, Gareth intervened, intercepting the strike.
A fresh wound marked his hand, blood trickling down in thin lines. Despite Anna's effort to retrieve her whip, Gareth gripped it firmly, determined to shield Elisa from Anna's aggression.
Anna shot him an annoyed look, suggesting Gareth was some kind of letdown that had deserted her.
Elisa furrowed her brow and moved closer, reaching out to take the whip from Gareth's hand. Her eyes reflected an unexpected mix of concern and compassion.
She asked gently, "Are you okay?"
Touched by her consideration, Gareth felt his injuries were justified. He shook his head, signaling that he was fine.
Elisa exasperatedly scolded him, "Why did you block it for me? You knew I'd dodge, didn't you? You knew the whip wouldn't hurt me!"
She held onto Gareth's hand, the one he was trying to pull away, and carefully pried open his clenched fingers, revealing the cut in his palm. It looked gory; it must have hurt a great deal.
"It was a reflex,"
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