Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3522

Colby weaved through the chaotic crowd and stopped in front of Marina. He stared at her mangled sports car in disbelief. "Is that yours?"

Marina nodded.

Colby quickly scanned her. "You're bleeding. Where else are you hurt?"

She touched her cheek and pulled her fingers back, noticing the crimson smear. "I'm fine. Just an airbag scrape."

Colby grabbed some tissues from his car and returned, holding an umbrella over her head. "You should still get checked out at the hospital. You could have internal bleeding."

Her head pounded, and her chest ached slightly, but it wasn't severe. She shook her head. "There are people hurt way worse than I am. I'm not going to take up an ambulance for a scratch."

Colby looked at her with deep concern. He reached out with a tissue, aiming to wipe the blood from her cheek—it'd be a shame if such a pretty face scarred.

Sensing his hand approaching, Marina instinctively took a step back.

"Colby!"

Trixie emerged from the crowd, her eyes wide with surprise. "It really is you!"

Her gaze darted suspiciously between Colby and Marina. "What are you two doing together?"

"It's not what you think," Marina explained calmly. "My car just got hit. Your boyfriend happened to be nearby and came over to check on me."

"Exactly," Colby agreed, immediately pulling his hand back and lowering the umbrella. He pointed toward the gridlock. "My car is right over there."

Marina shot Trixie a sharp look. "What exactly were you implying?"

Realizing she had jumped to the wrong conclusion, Trixie forced a giggle and clung to Colby's arm. "Well, you're just so gorgeous, Marina. I trust you, but I don't trust him!"

Colby gave Marina an apologetic look before turning to Trixie. "Stop messing around. She was in a car crash."

A sudden wave of warmth flooded Marina's chest. Without thinking, she broke into a run toward him.

He spotted her at the exact same moment. As his dark, predatory gaze locked onto her, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. The pale orange of her sweater was the only beacon of light in the gloomy storm.

Carson dodged through the idle cars and hauled her into his arms, crushing her against his chest.

Only the solid, real feeling of her against him managed to settle the frantic pounding of his heart.

"Thank God," he breathed, his voice thick with tension as his hand repeatedly stroked her damp hair. "You scared the absolute hell out of me."

Pressed against his chest, Marina listened to his erratic heartbeat. A strange, fluttering sensation stirred deep within her, a resonant chord struck perfectly in tune with his panic.

Carson quickly stripped off his trench coat and draped it over her trembling shoulders. His thumb gently grazed the scratch on her cheek. "Where else does it hurt? Come on, we're going to the hospital."

Marina gripped the front of his thin shirt and shook her head. "No. I'm okay."