Dominic remained motionless, his deep, captivating eyes fixed on Vespera. Vespera didn’t want to meet his gaze; every time their eyes locked, she quickly averted her gaze. He studied her face while she focused on his collarbone. Their eyes never quite aligned. Several seconds passed, and the room remained eerily quiet.

She waited for him to take off his robe, but after a while, she began to grow anxious. She wondered if he expected her to help him remove it. Vespera couldn’t help but look up, wanting to ask, but she didn’t know how. After a long moment of holding her breath, she finally blurted out, “I’ll help.”

Ti was just taking off the robe and applying medicine; instead of dragging it out, she decided it would be better to get it over with quickly. Without waiting for him to respond, she immediately moved forward, bending down toward his chest. An inch of fragrance brushed across Dominic’s face. Her slender fingers, delicate and pale, pressed against his chest. Time seemed to freeze. The sound of her heart pounding echoed in her ears, and Vespera’s pupils twitched uncontrollably. Her mind went black.

Her hand paused. She had intended to start at the slightly open collar of his robe, sliding it down. But as her fingers touched his warm, firm chest and her eyes saw the outline of his muscles under the silk, she froze, stunned.

“Ms. Gildon, what exactly do you think you’re doing?”

His low voice, filled with confusion and a hint of suspicion, rang in her ear. The warmth of his breath brushed against her face. A light sensation of itchiness spread. Vespera quickly withdrew her hand. “I’ll change positions,” she muttered.

Dominic raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to change positions?”

Vespera felt like she was going to die of embarrassment. “It’s not what you think. I want to take your robe off!” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how wrong it sounded.

Dominic chuckled softly. “Keep your voice down. Don’t get so worked up.”

Vespera was momentarily speechless. Her face burned hotter, and she could hardly maintain her composure anymore. Meanwhile, Dominic’s expression of helpless amusement only seemed to confirm her worst fears, as if it were proof of her inner, unspoken intentions.

Vespera took a deep breath, wanting to explain herself, but realized that doing so would only make things more awkward. In the end, she decided to remain silent and moved to position herself behind him. What she meant by changing positions was that she wanted to move behind him.

She mentally panicked for a few seconds, forcing herself to refocus. She just needed to take out his tube to apply the medicine and change the bandages. It was a simple, straightforward task.

“Ms. Gildon, you’re not planning to ambush me from behind my back, are you?” Dominic teased.

Vespera was speechless. She let out an awkward chuckle but didn’t hesitate any longer. Reaching for his neck, her fingers slipped skillfully inside the collar of his robe. She tried to avoid touching his skin, but it was impossible—not when her hands brushed against his neck, collarbone, shoulders, and arms. It wasn’t intentional—just unavoidable.

As the robe slid off his upper body, a broad expanse of smooth, pale skin came into view. His broad shoulders tapered into a lean, defined waist. From the side, the sharp lines of his obliques flowed seamlessly down his abdomen. Every muscle was sculpted to perfection—strung, balanced, and impossibly well-proportioned. Just looking at him, she could feel the sheer power he carried. It was a feast for the eyes—an undeniably striking sight. That was the first thought that crossed Vespera’s mind.

Now that she was behind him, away from his direct gaze, Vespera felt noticeably more at ease. Feeling more relaxed, she still had the presence of mind to take in the shape of Dominic’s physique; still, she didn’t linger. She had a job to do.

Kneeling on the bed, she leaned forward and carefully unwrapped the bandages around his waist. Dipping a cotton swab into the ointment, she applied it meticulously, bit by bit. The texture was thick and sticky, so without thinking, she blew on it lightly to help it dry faster.

Dominic tensed. The muscles along his back gradually tightened. Unaware of his reaction, Vespera waited a moment before reaching for a fresh roll of bandages. She wrapped them around his waist, her hands moving in steady circles as she secured them in place.

“Enough. Stop!” His sudden command cut through the quiet. His voice was low and hoarse, edged with tension. The veins along his arms and neck stood out, defined and tense.