The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 235

"Yes."

"But the picture isn't entirely clear yet."

Nathan shot Nora a dark look, a rare note of scolding slipping into his tone. "Look at your face, and you're still obsessing over the case?"

Nora looked down, suddenly feeling guilty.

Maybe she was imagining things, but it felt like he was vastly more enraged about her getting slapped than she was.

"It really doesn't hurt," she offered awkwardly, trying to soothe his temper.

It backfired spectacularly.

Nathan pressed the ice pack down harder. The sudden pressure against the tender flesh sent a spike of agonizing pain through her jaw, making tears instantly prick her eyes.

"What are you doing!"

That actually hurt!

"I thought you said it didn't hurt?"

Nathan's expression was freezing, looking at her as if she owed him millions of dollars.

Under that intense stare, Nora's bravado completely evaporated.

Her eyes darted away, and she mumbled defensively, "Obviously it's going to hurt if you crush it into my face like that. I just meant—"

"Nora."

He cut off her excuse with a single word.

She clamped her mouth shut, looking back at him with wide, startled eyes.

His reflection was caught in her gaze, framed against the warm amber hue of his irises.

Nathan reached up with his free hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked like a man wrestling with a thousand things he wanted to say but couldn't find the words for.

Nora barely dared to breathe. The man was clearly riding a volatile wave of emotion right now.

Discretion being the better part of valor, she decided against poking the bear.

Fighting down the turbulent feelings crashing around his chest, Nathan lowered his hand and looked at her. She was sitting there so quietly, obediently holding the ice to her cheek.

Despite her usually cold, untouchable demeanor, right now, she looked startlingly soft and vulnerable.

His heart melted into a puddle.

"I'm sorry."

The words fell softly from his lips. His throat sounded tight, making his already deep voice incredibly husky and raspy.

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