The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1885

"You call that a few taps? You nearly killed me!" Ethan's complaint was thick with both pain and an attempt to hold back tears.

Lydia looked at him, trying to keep a straight face as he ranted with a silver acupuncture needle sticking out of his head, making him look like a character out of a quirky cartoon. The sight was just too ridiculous.

She couldn't help it and let out a snort of laughter.

"What's so funny? I'm being serious here!" Ethan's feeling of injustice grew.

Every move he made sent jolts of pain through his body; even speaking seemed to stretch and pull at his painful muscles. After a few words, he winced sharply, unsure of where to hold himself as it seemed like every part ached.

"A big guy like you can't even take a throw? And you call yourself a man?" Lydia crossed her arms and smirked at him.

"Whether I'm a man is not for you to decide! With your fierce attitude, you wouldn't recognize a real man if he stood right in front of you!" Ethan's retort was borderline offensive.

Even though Lydia was relatively inexperienced in the ways of the world, she understood the implication of his words. Her expression darkened immediately, and she took a step towards Ethan, "What did you say?"

Ethan instantly regretted his words, shrinking back and quickly trying to backpedal, "I didn't say anything, just forget it."

Seeing him cower so quickly, Lydia didn't advance further but still stood with her arms crossed, eyeing Ethan, "Can you even walk?"

"What do you mean?" Ethan was already afraid of her; one stern look from her, and he worried she might physically reprimand him.

"It's nothing. Don't you have a friend who's really sick? Take me to him," Lydia said.

That's when Ethan remembered the urgent matter at hand. Right, Alaric was still at home, sick as a dog. If he didn't get back soon, who knows how bad it could get.

Trying to muster the strength to get up from the bed, Ethan moved and pain radiated through his body, forcing him to sit back down with a groan.