The Poor Billionaire

Chapter 35 Two-sided Crush

Horace and Laila silently walked on the sidewalk of the road. He suddenly looked at her and asked

softly, "Laila, where are you heading from here? I can give you a ride if we are going the same way."

"What?" His words took her by surprise. She didn't understand how he intended to give her a ride. She

asked in confusion, "Horace, did you buy an electric scooter?"

"Huh? An electric scooter? No, I didn't. Why do you ask?" Horace was also taken aback by her

question.

"Well..." Laila was short of words after hearing his response. 'Since he didn't buy an electric scooter, This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

how does he plan to give me a ride? Or does he want to board a bus with me? Is that it?' If that was the

case, she didn't have any problem with that. It would be nice to be in his company for a little longer.

After a while, she replied nervously, "No... It's nothing. Since the day is far spent, I'm just going home."

"Okay!" Horace nodded and asked, "If my memory serves me right, your home is located in Zoria

Community. I'm going to the hospital, so we are going the same way!"

"What?" Horace's words immediately caused Laila to be lost in thought. 'Horace still remembers where

I live. Does he have a crush on me? Is that why he's escorting me home? What if he professes his love

to me? Oh my God! I'm so nervous!'

As Laila imagined how things would go if Horace confessed his love, her heart began to race. She

became so nervous that her face turned red.

The sudden change in Laila's face didn't go unnoticed by Horace. He asked with concern, "Laila, what's

wrong with you? Do you have a fever? Why did your face turn red all of a sudden?"

Without waiting for a response, he put his right hand on her forehead.

"Ah!" Laila was already burning up, so the coldness of Horace's hand on her forehead was startling.

Her face turned even redder. She stammered, "Horace... I... I'm fine!"

"Really? If you are fine, why is your forehead so hot? Your temperature is even increasing by the

second. You are not fine, Laila. You must go to the hospital with me!" Horace insisted when he noticed

that her face was not only red, but her temperature was skyrocketing.

'Humph! Horace, you're touching my forehead. How can I not blush or feel hot?' Laila knew that her

sudden high temperature wasn't due to ill health, but she couldn't tell him what the real reason was.

She just shook her head and disagreed, "No... No, thanks. I'm really fine. I guess it's the heat from the

Vloni Bakery that's making my temperature spike."

"Really?" Still in an uncertain state, Horace put down his right hand and said, "Make sure you inform

me if you feel unwell later, okay? Delaying treatment is inadvisable. The longer you stay without

receiving treatment, the more serious the illness becomes. Do you know that?"

"Yes!" With a voice as low as a mosquito's, she added, "I... I know. Don't worry. I will inform you. Thank

you, Horace."

"There's no need to thank me. In fact, I should be the one thanking you. You are such a selfless

person, Laila. Your birthday is tomorrow, but you still lent me all your money yesterday. You prioritized

my mother's medical bills over celebrating your birthday. I'm moved."

As Horace thought of Laila's kindness yesterday, he felt warm in his heart.

"Stop making it sound like I gave you a million dollars. What I did yesterday isn't a big deal. And I don't

care if I celebrate my birthday or not. You need the money more than me. I only wanted to help you in

my own little way."

"Yeah, I get it. That's why I said I should be the one saying thank you. You are so kind-hearted and

beautiful. Your future husband will be so lucky. I really envy him!" Horace looked at her beautiful face

and sighed. He meant every word he just said.

Laila was a total package. She was not only beautiful, but also kind-hearted, hardworking, and well-

mannered.

"What?" Laila was stunned again. She blushed more than before. Small beads of sweat appeared on

her forehead.

She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and looked at Horace with a scowl. She thought,

'Humph! Horace, you are such a smooth talker. If I'm really as good as you said, why don't you woo

me? Do you just see me as a friend? Besides, why are you envious of my future husband? Why don't

you take action now that I'm single?'

"Jeez!" Noticing that Laila's face was becoming redder, Horace queried, "Laila, be honest with me.

Have you caught a cold? Your face is redder now!"

'Bad Horace, foolish boy. You are just a piece of wood. All talk and no action!' At the sight of Horace's

concerned expression, Laila cursed him out in her mind. She didn't say those words to him because

she only cursed him inwardly due to her embarrassment. It was even more embarrassing because she

wasn't sure if he had feelings for her or not.

After suppressing her displeasure, she shook her head and reiterated, "Horace, I'm really fine. I haven't

caught a cold."

"Okay, that's good!" With these words, Horace hailed a passing taxi.

He then opened the back door of the taxi like the gentleman that he was. With a hand gesture, he said,

"Laila, please get in. I'll take you home.

It was at this moment that Laila finally realized what he meant when he offered her a ride home. A taxi

fare was more than a bus fare, and she didn't like him to waste money. But for some weird reason, she

felt happy that he generously spent money for her sake.

'Oh, he's such a perfect gentleman. If things go on like this, will I fall in love with him? Wait, do I already

fall for him?'

Fantasy thoughts flashed through Laila's mind as she looked at Horace.

'No, I don't think so. I just have a little crush on him. Yes, that's all!" Due to Laila's humble background,

she battled with an inferiority complex and was also reserved. She didn't think she was worthy of

someone's love or to be in love.

After Laila got in the car, Horace also got in. He politely told the driver, "Sir, Rinas Infirmary, please.

And please make a stop at Zoria Community on the way. Thank you!"

"Okay!" The driver was happy with the way Horace instructed him politely. He eagerly nodded and

drove to their destinations.

The ride went smoothly for ten minutes. All of a sudden, the driver smiled mysteriously when he looked

at the two passengers through the rearview mirror. He made a swerve and changed lanes. It wasn't a

dangerous move because the car didn't slide off the road. However, Horace and Laila collided against

each other due to the impact.

The driver then looked at Laila through the rearview mirror and sighed inwardly, 'Young lady, this is the

only way I can help you now!'

When they got in the car ten minutes ago, the driver had noticed how Laila kept staring at Horace with

affection in her eyes.

He deduced that she was too shy to make her feelings known, so he decided to help her out.

"Ouch!" Laila lost her balance and bumped against Horace's chest. The next second, she quickly

struggled out of his arms.

'My goodness! This is so embarrassing!' Laila glanced at him and fanned herself with her hand in

embarrassment.

On the other hand, Horace was sad when Laila quickly broke free from his embrace. A hint of sadness

and longing appeared in his eyes. Her behavior made him suspect that she didn't like him. Unbeknown

to him, she actually had a crush on him and was just too shy to stay in his embrace for a little longer.

'Damn it!' The taxi driver cursed in his mind when he saw Horace's dejected expression. 'Oh, my God! I

have made things worse. This young man is so fucking stupid. Even I can tell that she has a crush on

him, but he hasn't realized it. How can he be so oblivious? What a shame!'