Ella looked the picture of innocence, her voice soft and compliant. "There was a pyrotechnics scene on set today. I was too close and got nicked by some debris, but I’ve already been treated!"
The man's expression was a complex mix of cool detachment and inscrutable thoughts. "Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I didn't want to set you off!"
Jonathan suppressed the surge of anger in his chest. "And yet you still went and took a shower?"
Ella flopped onto the bed, glancing back at him with eyes clear and bright. "Don't make such a fuss. Look at my back; I’ve had worse than this. Trust me, I’m tough as nails!"
"Ella, I’m not in the mood for jokes!" Jonathan furrowed his brow tightly.
Suddenly, her gaze dropped, tinged with a hint of sadness, “The last time you called me Ella was two years ago when you wanted to break up with me.”
Jonathan was silent.
The fire in his heart was doused by her words. He took a deep breath, leaned in to examine her wounds, and then rose to fetch some medicine.
A sly sparkle flashed in Ella's eyes as she obediently waited.
Jonathan returned with antiseptic and ointment, sitting on the edge of the bed to disinfect her wounds.
Her back was a graceful curve of well-proportioned lines, her skin soft. And as she said, it bore many scars, pale pink traces that were once jarring to behold.
Some of the scars were even his doing.
Whenever they were intimate, he couldn’t help but kiss those faint marks, as if to soothe the ache and imperfection in his heart.
Jonathan treated her wounds with utmost care, asking in a low voice, “This was really an accident?”
“Yes!” Ella’s tone was confident. “Don’t call and make a fuss. Mr. Tucker is already beating himself up over it, sacked a few crew members too. It’s just a small injury, no need for a big scene.”
“How many more days are left on set?”
“We should wrap up right before Magdalen’s wedding!”
Half-leaning against his chest, Ella closed her eyes, inhaling his cool, comforting scent, but sleep eluded her.
The room was dark, with only a sheer curtain drawn. The dazzling J City nightscape filtered through, casting shadows and light. The distant hum of the city provided a quiet backdrop.
"Jonathan, are you asleep?" Ella whispered, her fingers teasing open the pocket of his robe, slowly venturing inside.
Jonathan quickly caught her hand, his voice low, "Get some rest, no more games."
Ella rolled atop him, her gaze fixated on his handsome features in the dim light, leaning in to press her lips to his.
Jonathan's breath hitched, his instinct to push her away overwhelmed by her deft kisses. His resolve melted, his hand on her waist now pulling her close.
Ella's eyes half-closed, a shimmer of moisture within them, locked onto him unblinkingly.
How could Jonathan resist her allure? He barely contained himself, his voice a deep, husky whisper, "Ella, your wound needs a couple of days to heal. Be good, okay."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Thank you for the updates....
I love it, I love it! Thank you for the updates....
Dear author Lucy, may we please have updates. Thank you....
There's a song currently playing via YouTube and TikToc by LowDii "Touch Me Softly" that makes me think of Norah and Xavier (Gonzalez). Please, I'm looking forward to updates. Thank you for your writing....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
As the plot thicken. Adrian is done for and he can't try to control Norah, so he'd probably tattle to Janice who's gone for two weeks. Thank you soooo much for the updates....
These updates were too funny. Thank you so much for the updates....
I forgot to add Amy to the group of pregnant women,since she was the first. Emily and Sylvia better be careful since pregnancy is in the air....
Wow! This is great, both Estelle and Magdalen are pregnant at the same time and I hope that Xavier is Norah neighbor. Thank you for the updates....
Author Lucy you're a blessing. Thank you so my for the updates. I hope that Norah's neighbor is Xavier she gets her memory back....