Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Harmony got up after ending her sentence and went straight toward the door.

As she was about to leave, Penelope’s soft voice rang from behind, “Will you really help me take care of my mommy?”

Harmony halted her footsteps. She assured without turning around, “I’ll take care of her. You don’t need to worry about the future.”

‘You don’t need to worry about the future…’

Penelope digested those words and finally said, “I understand.”

A dim light flashed in Harmony’s eyes as she lifted her foot and walked out.

…

During the next couple of days, Timothy and Samantha’s vitality improved steadily under Aunt Julia’s attentive care. Their bodies were recovering gradually too.

Samantha was already up and about after only a two-day rest. Since all she suffered was a little graze, the toughness and tenacity she had gained during her days abroad allowed her to recover relatively quickly.

Old Madam Barker had grown used to being taken care of by Aunt Julia, so Samantha did not want to keep Aunt Julia around too long. She told Aunt Julia to go back to the villa, saying that she would be able to take care of Timothy herself.

Being the tactful person that she was, Aunt Julia knew that it was better to keep the old lady company at the villa. After all, the young couple was just starting to rekindle their love and she did not want to see their daily displays of affection.

She did not object and left accordingly.

Timothy could not afford to expend too much energy and still needed to recuperate, so Ronald generally took care of work matters on his own. When it came to important and urgent matters that he really could not handle, he would filter those that really required Timothy’s attention and give Timothy a daily report.

At that moment, Ronald sat beside the bed and concentrated on reporting them to Timothy.

Samantha did not want to disturb the two men, so she went to the bathroom to wash some fruits before bringing them back out.

Ronald was no longer there when she came out.

It came as a bit of a surprise for her. “Did Ronald finish briefing you so quickly?”

She remembered seeing him bring in a large stack of documents.

Timothy looked at her and replied insipidly, “Why am paying him such a huge salary if I have to do everything myself? His work must be directly proportionate to the pay he’s getting.”

That was such a capitalist thing to say.

He made employee exploitation sound so cultured!

Samantha chided him in her heart before walking to the bed and lifting the fruit tray to his eye level. “Which one would you like?”

Timothy lifted his chin and tapped it on the apple.

Samantha freed up the apple with her free hand and handed it to him.

A sickly expression immediately appeared on Timothy’s handsome face. “My hands are still a little weak.”

‘Oh, is that so! You think I didn’t see you sign those documents with such vim and vigor just now?’

Even though Samantha knew he was doing it on purpose, she looked at his expression and ‘willingly’ allowed herself to be tricked. “Okay, I’ll feed you.”

Samantha placed the tray down, picked up the apple, then sat on a bedside chair. She grabbed the fruit knife and carefully started to peel the apple.

Timothy leaned on the bedhead and smiled slightly as he glanced at her from the side.

He finally realized why Samantha particularly enjoyed letting him do all sorts of stuff for her in the past.

As it turned out, it was a bliss to watch the subject of one’s affection being so accommodating to oneself.

Samantha peeled off the apple skin with ease and cut it neatly into four small pieces. She picked one up and was about to feed it to Timothy when she heard a voice from the television.

“Lychee TV is scheduled to organize a brand-new competition for news presenters! Winners will receive generous prizes, and the grand champion will be given a spot as Lychee TV’s new anchor! We hope you’ll take part…”

Samantha’s attention was drawn to the television. She stared at the television screen and even stopped feeding Timothy.

When Timothy saw that he could not help but follow her line of sight and look over, although he soon shifted his attention to Samantha.

Her interest in the competition was written all over her face.

Timothy suddenly remembered that Samantha majored in communications and took part-time jobs as a news anchor when she was abroad.

If that was the case…

He opened his lips and asked, “Do you want to participate in the competition?”

The sudden question brought Samantha back to her senses. She looked at Timothy and nodded without hiding her interest. “I do.”

Lychee TV rarely recruited new anchors back when she just graduated from university. She initially wanted to apply for that station because that was the station many soon-to-be news anchors dreamed of working at. Those who could be a part of Lychee TV generally stood out from the rest.

Unfortunately, she was forced to go abroad after her marriage with Timothy was broken off and was not able to apply for Lychee TV. During that time, she did odd jobs everywhere just to make a living and did not have time to officially become a part of a television company. The only option available to her was a part-time position.

That dream of hers was something she never forgot.

However, her status had since become that of Mrs. Barker and she was unable to do as she pleased. She has to take into account the Barker Group’s reputation, as well as her reputation as Mrs. Barker.

Her voice softened a little. “I…can’t join, right?”

After all, if she did participate in a competition like that, she would definitely catch the eye of those overly-enthusiastic paparazzi. That would only cause Timothy and the Barker Group to make the headlines.

He hated being a constant subject of discussion and had a similar loath to making the headlines as well as the trending searches.

Timothy looked at her for a few seconds before his thin lips parted open. Rather than answering her, he asked instead, “Do you want to participate in this competition because it’s your dream, or is it just…for the prize money?”

Samantha replied without thinking twice. “Because it’s my dream!”

“Oh?” Timothy cocked an eyebrow and he stared at her as if he could see through her mind.

“Ahem…” Samantha blinked her round eyes and added meekly, “and because of the…prize money too.”

The prize money for first place was half a million!

She did not need to worry about several months’ worth of medical expenses if she had that kind of money.

Samantha was bubbling with confidence when she thought of that. “I’m not a child. Only children make choices. I’m an adult and I want both!”

Timothy seemed amused by her words and had a slightly cheerful look in his eyes.

Samantha observed his expression and saw that he was not against it. Perhaps she could try and insist on it?

She licked her lips and opened her mouth to test his response, “I really feel like trying my luck, Timothy. You know that it’s always been my dream to be an anchor on Lychee TV, so…can I join the competition?”

Timothy showed no expression and he remarked in a very diffident tone, “That would…depend on your performance.”

‘My performance?’

There was hope for Samantha!

Her eyes lit up and she fed the apple slice to Timothy’s mouth. “Have some fruit, Honey!”

Timothy narrowed his eyes disdainfully at her, as if to ask, ‘That’s it?’

Samantha realized that it was probably too small a gesture.

She set the fruit down, took a paper towel to wipe her hands, then placed her hands on Timothy’s shoulders while saying softly, “Let me give you a massage, my dear hubby!”

However, Timothy grabbed her wrist and pulled her slightly, drawing her figure closer and making her sit right in front of him.

Timothy’s limpid eyes looked at her and he spoke with emphasis on each word, “Since you’re an adult, shouldn’t you do something that…adults do?”