Chapter 4 A Slowly Growing Bond

Hazel turned toward the voice, then shook her head, feeling annoyed at her own carelessness.

"Let me help," Theo offered, assisting Hazel in picking up the scattered supplies from the floor.

"I'll take care of it, Theo. Sorry for worrying you."

Theo only cleared his throat, saying nothing as he picked up the canvas and placed it on the stand. Hazel set up several painting tools on the table she had prepared.

"Did anything break?"

"Just one brush. I think I accidentally stepped on it," Hazel replied.

Theo looked at the broken brush. "Hmm, I'll buy you a new one later."

"No need, Theo. I still have plenty of brushes."

"It would be nice to add a new one to your collection. I'm buying you a new one, no objections."

Hazel sighed softly, grabbing some paint. "Do you want to try painting too?"

"No, I just want to watch you."

Hazel nodded in understanding, not wanting to push him if he wasn't interested. Theo kept his gaze on her as she painted, a small smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

"You're very talented," Theo said, admiring the half-finished painting.

"Ah, thank you. But there are plenty of people out there who are far more skilled than I am."

"Yes, I know," Theo replied shortly.

"Oh, by the way, you used my card to buy these, right?" Theo asked seriously.

Hazel stopped painting for a moment, her heart pounding. Although it was just a simple question, she felt slightly nervous.

"The card?" Hazel asked, confirming.

Theo nodded.

Hazel paused, then replied nervously, "Yes, I used it yesterday for the art supplies. Is that okay?"

"Good. At least you didn't spend it on anything else out there," Theo said.

Hazel remained silent, glancing at Theo with a furrowed brow. Why did Theo think so little of her?

"I'm not that kind of girl, so please don't lump me in with others," Hazel said firmly.

Theo nodded slowly. "Alright. I... apologize. Now, please continue painting."

Hazel exhaled softly and returned her focus to the painting.

"I don't know much about you yet. How old are you? You seem young," Theo asked.

"Didn't you look at our marriage certificate?"

Theo paused, then shook his head. "No, I didn't really intend to look at it."

Hazel looked at him blankly. It seemed he wasn't interested in her, which might be why he hadn't bothered to check.

"I'm twenty-three."

Theo nodded slightly. "Alright, I understand. And... do you know how old I am?"

"I do. You're twenty-seven, right?" Hazel replied, continuing to paint.

Theo cleared his throat. "Yes, you know I look quite old, don't you? You're probably not interested in me."

Hazel turned, frowning. "What do you mean? I don't mind being close to anyone, as long as they accept me."

"Impossible. Your type is probably someone your age, right?"

Hazel sighed and rolled her eyes briefly. "Think what you want. There's no point in talking to an old man like you."

Theo only chuckled softly, his gaze remaining fixed on her.

Noticing Hazel struggling with her loose hair, Theo went inside without saying a word and returned with a hair tie.

Seeing Theo come back, Hazel looked puzzled. "Where did you go?"

"Inside. Why? Were you looking for me?" Theo asked.

Hazel sighed softly. "I thought you were going out."

"No, I just went to get a hair tie."

Without asking for permission, Theo gently tied Hazel's hair back.

Hazel froze in surprise, unable to believe Theo was doing that. "Um... Theo?"

Her heart nearly skipped a beat. For some reason, she felt something was different.

"All done. I noticed earlier that your hair was bothering you, so I brought a tie from inside."

Theo moved his wheelchair back to her side, observing the nearly finished painting on the canvas. He was surprised to see it depicted two people-a man and a woman together.

Hazel stayed silent, looking away with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"There are two people there. Is that you?" Theo asked.

Hazel cleared her throat, smoothing out the unfinished colors. "Maybe, or maybe not at all. I painted it for you, and... I hope you like it."

Theo processed her words, gazing at her continuously. "Okay, I'll accept it. Looks like that's us-if not, who else could it be?"

Hazel exhaled softly. "Maybe someone else. When you're healed, I'm sure there will be lots of women chasing you," she said with a small laugh.

"Are you sure? If I'm healed, I'd be looking for someone else?"

Hazel shrugged lightly. "I don't know. Maybe."

"Is this marriage a joke to you? I'm not that cruel, Hazel."

"Forget it."

Theo fell silent, exhaling as if he couldn't believe her assumptions.

A few minutes later, the painting was complete. Hazel took it off the stand and handed it to Theo. "Here, it's yours."

Theo received it happily. "Thank you," he said.

Hazel gave a small nod, tidying up her art supplies. Theo chuckled softly when he saw a smudge of paint on her cheek.

Hazel looked at him, confused. "What's so funny?"

Theo stopped laughing. "You have some paint left on your cheek. Let me wipe it off."

He leaned in and reached out to clean the paint from Hazel's cheek.

Hazel froze, her heart beating faster as she met Theo's gaze. After a few moments, she looked away, rubbing her cheek herself.

"Thank you," Hazel said quietly.

Suddenly, Hazel's phone rang from her pocket. She took it out and saw an unknown number on the screen. Hesitant, she didn't answer.

"Why aren't you answering?" Theo asked, puzzled.

Hazel looked at him and shook her head. "No, I don't know the number."

Just as she was about to put the phone away, Theo quickly took it from her.

"Theo!"

"Let me answer it. You just sit."

Hazel fell silent, and Theo answered, putting it on speaker.

"Hello, Hazel? It's Grandma. Am I disturbing you?"

Hazel recognized the voice. She quickly took the phone back from Theo. "Grandma? Sorry for not answering right away. I thought it was someone else. What's wrong, Grandma?"

"Oh, it's nothing, dear. I was just hoping you could help with some money for my treatment. Do you have any?"

Hazel froze, occasionally glancing at Theo sitting beside her. "Grandma, please wait a bit. I'll bring the money over. I'll come by later," Hazel said.

"Okay. I'll wait. I'll hang up now."

"Yes, Grandma."

The call ended. Hazel sighed heavily. How would she ask Theo for money to help her grandma?

"Hazel? Is everything okay?"