Chapter 334
Austin put down the handkerchief he’d used to wipe his sweat, pulled his phone out of his pocket, and unlocked it. He glanced at the screen and saw the message.
[He’s come to Cloudridge.]
Just four words, no other information, but Austin understood instantly. He gripped his phone tightly and frowned. He thought, “That guy actually came to Cloudridge himself?”
Back when he was searching for a doctor for Charles, Austin had already considered that his movements might get exposed.
By then, his arrangements were pretty much set, so it didn’t really matter if he was found out a bit sooner or later. He’d already braced himself for that man discovering his whereabouts.
He’d expected that man to pull all sorts of tricks against him, or even against Emily, but he hadn’t expected him to show up in person. Given what he knew about that man, there was no way this was going to be simple.
Austin quickly scrolled through his phone, issuing a string of instructions. Once everything was taken care of, he sat back down by the bed and kept watch over Emily, who still seemed trapped in a nightmare.
He held her tightly clenched hand in one of his and used the other to wipe the sweat from her forehead with a serious look.
He knew that with that man coming to Cloudridge himself, Emily would definitely be the one he set his sights on. But he just couldn’t let go, because he longed so much for someone who’d actually hold his hand back.
Austin stared at the sleeping Emily and murmured with stubborn resolve and vulnerability, “Emily, don’t ever… ever let go. of my hand.”
Otherwise, he might just go crazy. Maybe Emily heard him, because her hand in his squeezed a little tighter, as if in
response.
Austin glanced down at their intertwined hands, and then the sullenness in his eyes faded away. A gentle smile bloomed on his lips, and two sweet dimples appeared.
Feeling the dampness in his palm and realizing Emily was drenched in sweat, Austin decided to help her change into some fresh clothes.
After all, there were still lines that shouldn’t be crossed between a man and a woman. Austin might not have been a saint, but when it came to Emily, he still had his sense of propriety.
He lifted the hem of her shirt and was just about to close his eyes when his gaze suddenly froze. Exposed on Emily’s belly were all kinds of scars, crisscrossing her skin-brutal and frightening to look at.
Austin had seen scars like these before, right on his body. In fact, he’d had even more than what he was seeing now. The pain those scars had left behind-he knew he’d never be able to forget it, not in this lifetime.
Suddenly, it hit him that ever since he’d known Emily, she’d always worn long sleeves and pants, never showing any skin other than her face, hands, and feet.
Almost as if possessed, he lifted more of her clothes, revealing her arms and legs. Even though Austin had mentally prepared himself, the sight still made him gasp in shock.
Every inch of skin that had been hidden under her clothes was covered in hideous scars. Fresh wounds crisscrossed with old ones, and the sight was so gut-wrenching that it was impossible to imagine what kind of hell she must have endured.
Austin’s reason was instantly consumed by a surge of rage. His eyes burned with murderous intent, as if he wanted to tear the whole world apart.
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Chapter 004
He roared in his mind, ‘St. Gabriel Reform Academy. The Bennett Family. What the hell did they do to Emily?”
What Austin saw made his heart throb. After what felt like an eternity of silence, he finally reached out, slowly helping Emily out of her sweat-drenched clothes.
Throughout the whole process, his face was tight, completely devoid of emotion. His usually bright, youthful face was now clouded in sullenness, as if he might lose control at any second.
After helping Emily change into fresh clothes, he stayed by her side for a while longer before finally getting up and leaving
the room.
