A Night of Desire

Though it wasn’t his fault, Marcus Jarvis still apologized like a gentleman. "Excuse me, are you all right?"

The words had barely left his lips when he got a clear look at Skylar Hayes’s face. He frowned and blurted out, "It’s you?"

Skylar Hayes instinctively looked up at him, her eyes dazed and vacant, her gaze unfocused.

Marcus Jarvis looked her up and down, and once he was sure she was unharmed, he turned his attention to the items scattered on the ground. His brow furrowed even deeper. ’Someone so mentally unstable is out buying groceries? Her children are far too irresponsible, aren’t they?’

With that thought, he bent down, picked up the items one by one, and put them back into the bag, which he then held himself.

He figured that Skylar Hayes wouldn’t understand him even if he said anything, so he decided not to speak at all. He simply took her by the arm and started to lead her toward his car.

Skylar Hayes snapped back to her senses. Seeing a strange man grabbing her and walking off without a word startled her, and she asked, "What do you think you’re doing?"

Without turning his head, Marcus Jarvis replied, "Let’s go to my car first. I’ll call your daughter and son-in-law to come and get you."

Skylar Hayes couldn’t see his face, which only made her feel more bewildered. "You know me?"

Thinking he had frightened her, Marcus Jarvis turned his head and said in the softest voice he could manage, "Of course I recognize you. Don’t worry, I’m not a bad person."

Skylar Hayes finally saw his face and was taken aback. "It’s you?"

"You remember me?" Marcus Jarvis was a little surprised.

Skylar Hayes smiled and said, "Of course I remember you. Last time, I almost hit your car, and you stayed with me until my daughter arrived. I never had the chance to thank you properly."

By now, Skylar Hayes had fully regained her composure, appearing calm and normal again. She was only slightly surprised to have run into the same man once more.

Marcus Jarvis, however, was stunned. He looked at her—her expression was normal, her train of thought was clear, and her eyes were lucid. In every way, she seemed no different from a normal person.

’This... she doesn’t look like a mentally unstable person at all!’

He couldn’t help but murmur, "You’re not..."

"I’m not what?" Seeing him trail off, Skylar Hayes asked in confusion.

"Oh, it’s nothing. It seems I misunderstood." Marcus Jarvis couldn’t help but smile. ’Looks like I made a huge fool of myself last time, thinking she was mentally ill.’

Skylar Hayes was about to ask what he had misunderstood when she suddenly realized Marcus Jarvis’s hand was still supporting her arm. She discreetly pulled away and said with a smile, "I’m so terribly sorry. I wasted your time last time, and now I’ve run into you again. I must be holding you up, aren’t I?"

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the bag in his hand. "And I even made you carry my things for me. Thank you. Thank you for last time, and thank you for this time, too."

Marcus Jarvis smiled, handed the bag to her, and made a casual joke. "Does this mean we’re fated to keep meeting like this?"

After speaking, his expression turned serious again as he continued, "It was nothing, really. Just a small thing, no need to thank me. Oh, my name is Marcus Jarvis. And you are...?"

"Skylar Hayes." Skylar smiled slightly and gave her name.

In truth, she hadn’t intended to talk with him for long, but he had helped her, after all. Since he had introduced himself, she couldn’t very well refuse to give her own name.

"Ms. Hayes, well," Marcus Jarvis glanced at the bag in her hands, which looked a bit heavy for her. "Would you like me to give you a ride home?"