The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 487

Even after they stepped inside the apartment, Jocelyn still couldn't figure out why she had asked him to stay.

She had explicitly told herself she didn't want to face him yet.

Was it because of his untreated wound? Or was it the utterly devastating look of rejection on his face that had broken her resolve?

The guest slippers Julian usually wore had been used by Gideon. Jocelyn ripped open a brand-new pair from their plastic packaging.

"Wear these. They're new."

She knew Julian was a total germaphobe. He just miraculously never let it show whenever he was around her.

Jocelyn took his coat, hung it up by the door, and then grabbed a first-aid kit from the cabinet.

Julian sat rigidly on the sofa.

Jocelyn sat down right next to him. Without a word, she gently took his injured hand and meticulously began cleaning the scrape.

Even though the antiseptic stung, Julian didn't flinch. He sat there in total silence.

Jocelyn kept her head bowed, too terrified to look up.

She could feel the burning weight of his gaze fixed entirely on her.

She cleaned, disinfected, applied ointment, and finally wrapped it in gauze, tying a perfect, neat little bow at the end.

The bandage was spotless and professional.

Her movements were smooth and practiced, like a seasoned nurse.

"You're very good at that," Julian couldn't help but say.

Jocelyn began packing up the first-aid kit. "Growing up, whenever I got bumped, bruised, or scraped, I always had to patch myself up. I learned a long time ago."

Unbidden, the memory of that hideous, jagged scar on her waist flashed through Julian's mind.

"Including the scar on your waist?"

"A doctor stitched it up initially and told me to come back every two days to change the dressing. I couldn't be bothered, so I just did it myself."

The truth was, she was just a kid back then, and Diana hadn't cared enough to take her to the hospital. So, she simply stopped going.

Jocelyn let out a silent breath of relief. "Ethan should have reminded you. He can be so careless."

Julian nodded. "Yeah. He drops the ball sometimes."

Meanwhile, halfway across the city, Ethan had just pulled up to Sarah's apartment building when he suddenly fired off a rapid series of sneezes.

He rubbed his nose aggressively. "Weird. Someone must be talking trash about me."

Sarah was staring out the window, completely zoned out. The car had been parked for several minutes, and she hadn't moved an inch.

Ethan shot her a confused look. "Ms. Sarah? We're here."

Sarah jolted back to reality and hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," Ethan replied cheerfully. "The boss ordered me to bring you back and made sure I got you home safe and sound."

Those words sent a complicated pang through Sarah's chest. "Mr. Vance... really is a good man."

Ethan, completely oblivious to her inner turmoil, beamed. "Of course he is! My boss is the greatest man alive. In my eyes, he's irreplaceable. Although..."