Blackout.

Miranda raised her head in an instant, then lowered it again.

"Miranda Hudson"

Hearing him address her in full name, Miranda could tell that he was enraged through his tone. At that, she covered her head with her arms and retracted her neck. She dared not face the infuriated Richard and was also afraid of getting hit by him.

After a long while, she did not hear him say a word.

"You…"

Richard's anger dissipated after seeing what she did. He pursed his lips, snorted and sat on the sofa.

She started rubbing her wrist and Richard noticed that. Without warning, he pulled her hand over to look at the finger marks on her wrist. After that, he messaged that area with his fingertips.

Miranda wanted to retract her hand but was unable to do so. Hence, she allowed him to message her wrist as he pleased.

She frowned and looked at Richard who had a gloomy expression. Then, he said in a cold tone, "Miranda, Behave properly. I am not a man who would beat his wife."

"But you never treat me as your wife. You look down at me all the time. Smoking is bad for your health, the same goes for staying up late. Get some sleep." She said.

Following that, he gripped her wrists and pulled them over her head while leaning forward against her body, trapping her on the sofa. She could not move an inch as all her limbs were restrained.

Richard looked at her, his eyes glinting in the dark. "Is that concern I hear?"

"No, I'm just saying." She replied. "I will make something quick. Freshen up" She said as she pushed him.

-----

When Miranda walked to Richard's room, she was going to knock on his door when her vision went black, causing her a big deal of shock.

Is there a blackout?

Miranda switched on the flashlight on her phone in a hurry. She paused her steps when she vaguely heard some sounds inside the room. It sounded as if something was being knocked down.

"Richard?"

After a few knocks, Richard's muffled voice suddenly sounded from inside. "Come in. The door's not locked."

"Are you alright?" She entered the room while holding her phone, but after walking one round around Richard's huge room, there still seemed to be no sign of him.

Shortly after, she noticed that the restroom door was closed and walked over. "Richard, are you in the restroom?"

"Yeah." A tall figure appeared behind the glass door to the restroom. "I couldn't open the door to the restroom. Could you try to open it from the outside?"

"Okay. Give me a second."

She opened the door. Under the flashlight, her gaze hardened when she saw Richard's back covered with blood.

"Richard, your back…" She gasped.

"It's just a minor injury," Richard said with a calm expression. "Pass the towel." He said.

"Umm..." Miranda took the towel off the rack and passed it to Richard.

Her body trembled when she noticed that the bandage around his chest was already soaked in blood.

"What's wrong? Get out" Richard said.

"Wait here. I will call the doctor." Just as she was about to leave, Richard called out, "The medication and bandage are on the cabinet. Help me."

Using the flashlight, she found the medication and bandage on top of the cabinet just as Richard had said. She then made him back-face her and carefully unraveled the bandages which were soaked in blood.

Because of the blackout, every other part of the room was shrouded in darkness except the couch. Miranda thought that the room was so quiet that she could even hear her breathing.

"How did you get injured?" She asked earning a darkened gaze from Richard under the dim light.

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me." She slowly said.

After a brief pause, he responded, "In construction site. It's just a minor injury."

"Ah!" She wrapped the bandage around his chest. "It must hurt, doesn't it?" She added.

Noticing Richard doesn't want to talk about his injury. Miranda rose to her feet and began to dry the man's hair gently, "Let me help you."

Silence enveloped them, no one started a conversation between them. There was only the sound of the towel Miranda was using to dry Richard's hair.

------

Miranda was surprised to see Richard in her room enjoying the juice she prepared.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

Richard put down the juice and crawled towards the left side of the bed. "Let's go to sleep. I still have work to do tomorrow."

"Lie down comfortably. I won't bite you." He said when he noticed she gazed at him with a little confusion written all over her face.

Seeing Miranda gazing at him, Miranda asked, "Do you want me to carry you?"

"No thanks," Miranda stated as she climbed up and covered herself with their thick quilt. Her back was facing him and she had her eyes closed.

After half an hour, Miranda could feel the steady rhythm of his breathing. His chest was rising and falling faintly and the sound of his heartbeat was loud in her ears. 'He looked cute and adorable when asleep.' She also closed her eyes and fell asleep.