Chapter 189

In the end, she still got in Marcus's car. Before getting in, she silently begged—please, just don't bring up last night! Not even five minutes into the drive and Marcus casually asked, "Does your back hurt?" Elaine almost choked. She had literally just prayed he wouldn't bring it up—and here he was, doing exactly that. Of course her back hurt. Her poor waist had never been through anything remotely close to *that*. She glanced at Marcus—he looked completely fine, like nothing even happened. Energetic as ever. "I'm okay." Elaine instinctively rubbed her back and mumbled, "Probably just slept in a weird position last night." Marcus glanced over deliberately and asked, "Want me to massage it for you?" "No." Elaine cut him off without hesitation. What kind of suggestion was that? And worse, his voice and the way he looked at her... way gentler than usual. Totally out of character. She was honestly more used to his colder, aloof self—the version that always kept his distance. "I was partly