Read Novel Full Chapter 498: Kidnapped?
Chapter 498: Chapter 498: Kidnapped?
She continued softly, "I’m all alone now." Her gaze lingered on him.
"These past few days, I noticed you. You’re hardworking, reliable... stable." H
er eyes shimmered as she looked at him. "If you accept my feelings, I’m willing to marry you."
Archie stood stunned, unable to respond.
As if suddenly embarrassed, she lowered her gaze, then looked back up shyly.
"I’ve liked you for a long time," she admitted.
"I just didn’t have the courage to approach you until now." Her voice grew softer.
"I know you probably never noticed me. You’re popular... admired by many. But I truly love you."
As those words reached him, Archie felt his chest swell.
This was the first time anyone had ever called him popular, admired, or worth loving.
The idea that such a beautiful woman had been quietly in love with him for so long filled him with a warmth he had never known.
’She wants to marry me?’ The thought made his head spin.
He had never once dared to imagine something like this.
He looked at Angelina for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice stiff yet earnest.
"If that’s the case, then I’ll take responsibility for you."
The words sounded formal, almost righteous, but his body betrayed him.
As he reached out his hand, his movements were hesitant yet eager, his fingers trembling slightly as though they had a will of their own.
It was obvious that his actions didn’t match his claim of indifference at all.
Angelina felt a flicker of disgust rise in her chest, sharp and instinctive, but she swallowed it down forcefully.
’Endure it,’ she reminded herself. Slowly, she placed her hand into Archie’s.
His palm was warm and rough, calloused from years of labor, and the moment their hands touched, his grip tightened just a little.
Archie could sense her hesitation, but his mind was already drifting elsewhere.
Despite possessing a well-built body and awakening Super strength as superpower, he had never been someone women flocked to.
His appearance was intimidating, almost fierce, and most women never dared to approach him.
Before the apocalypse, he had worked at construction sites and occasionally modeled for gym advertisements during his spare time.
Yet his low salary, orphaned background, and rough looks had always made people look down on him.
Now, suddenly, a beautiful woman stood before him, holding his hand and confessing that she had liked him for a long time.
He didn’t dare question whether it was real or not.
’This feels too beautiful,’ he thought quietly. ’If it’s a dream, I don’t want to wake up.’
With that fragile resolve, he led Angelina inside his house.
"You can stay here from now on," he told her gently.
"I’ve stocked enough food. Eat whatever you want."
Angelina blinked in surprise.
She had prepared herself for something far worse, even rehearsed excuses in her head in case he tried to take advantage of her.
’I thought the first thing he’d think about would be something dirty,’ she realized, stunned.
’Who would’ve thought he’d think about feeding me instead?’
For a brief moment, genuine guilt surfaced in her heart.
She had already labeled Archie as dangerous, even evil, yet here he was, acting with nothing but sincerity.
Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile. "I’m not hungry," she murmured.
Her stomach betrayed her immediately, growling loudly in the quiet room.
Archie paused, then smiled.
His smile was innocent and unguarded, so pure that it made her chest tighten painfully.
Without saying anything, he went into the kitchen and soon returned with food, placing it neatly in front of her.
"I made this for lunch," he added casually.
"I usually come back during my break since my house is close. You can have it. I’ll make more when I return."
He turned toward the door as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Panic flashed through Angelina. She stood up quickly, instinctively moving after him.
Archie turned back, met her eyes, and smiled again.
"I would trust you that you will not do anything reckless," he said lightly, as though it were a joke, before leaving.
Angelina froze in place, her thoughts in chaos. ’Did he sense something?’ she wondered.
’Or does he think I’ll steal from him?’
The more she thought about his words, the less she understood them.
In the end, the aroma of the food pulled her back to reality.
She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite.
The moment the food touched her tongue, her breath hitched.
The dumplings were tender, the noodles rich, the soup warm and comforting.
It was so good that her eyes stung, tears welling up uncontrollably.
Compared to her parents, who cared only for themselves, compared to Damien, who chased nothing but ambition, compared to her brother, who cared only about women, this was the first time someone had offered her warmth without asking for anything in return.
Regret washed over her like a wave. ’What am I doing?’ she thought bitterly.
’If I get caught, how will I ever face him?’
An investigation would eventually reveal that Archie had unknowingly helped her gain access to the prison.
The thought made her chest ache.
She forced herself to finish the meal.
Exhaustion followed soon after, heavy and overwhelming.
She sank onto the sofa, her limbs feeling strangely light.
As sleep dragged her under, one thought surfaced weakly.
’I was tricked... otherwise, why do I feel so sleepy?’
Archie knew nothing of this.
When he returned during his break, he found Angelina asleep on the couch.
He sighed softly and shook his head, a fond expression crossing his face.
Without hesitation, he carefully lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
After tucking her in and covering her with a blanket, he gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his movements tender, before heading back to prepare his own lunch.
When Angelina woke up, panic struck instantly.
The unfamiliar surroundings made her heart race. She bolted upright and scanned the room wildly.
Seeing no one, she rushed toward the open door, her mind screaming that she had been kidnapped.