Leland Burns watched for a while, then raised his left hand and put his ring finger in his mouth. The taste of blood filled his mouth, salty like rust. He sucked on it, his tongue gently licking the wound, much like a stray cat or dog would lick its wounds after being injured.
The saliva on the wound did not ease the pain; instead, it aggravated his nerves and made the blood flow even more.
Leland Burns’s face was slightly pale, and the blood on his lower lip contrasted sharply with his complexion.
He didn’t believe in Buddhism, Taoism, or Christianity. He was a materialist who thought that as long as he worked hard enough, nothing was unattainable.
But when it came to Winifred Dawson, he often contradicted his beliefs. When she was in trouble, he prayed to Buddha. When he wanted to marry her and be together forever, he took her to church and made her swear before the statue of Jesus to stay with him for life.
There is always someone who becomes an exception in your life, subtly breaking your principles when you least expect it.
By the time you realize it, it’s already irredeemable and irreversible.
After waking up this time, Leland Burns couldn’t fall back asleep. He looked out the window where he used to see red and white camellia trees. They should have been blooming by now, but he had ordered them cut down. Now that area of the yard was empty, and he regretted cutting down those trees.
Once trees are cut down, they can’t be reattached. Many things are like those trees.
August 1st was his birthday. Initially, he had planned to bring Winifred Dawson back today; having her by his side would be his birthday gift.
Even if she couldn’t come back, just having news about her would have been good enough. But he hadn’t expected such devastating news.
On his birthday, he received news of her death.
Winifred Dawson… Winifred Dawson… Winifred Dawson…
Leland Burns repeated her name over and over in his mind. He couldn’t stop himself. He still had his ring finger in his mouth and hated how much this detestable woman affected him emotionally.
In deep hatred, he bit down hard on his fingertip until his teeth sank into the wound. It hurt a lot but he didn’t let go until his mouth was full of blood. Finally, he spat out a mouthful of blood onto the ground.
“Winifred Dawson, I pray you’re not dead. I hope you’re alive because nothing matters more than you being alive.”
“You better stay alone. If I find you with another man, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Leland Burns was convinced that Winifred Dawson was still alive. Even though three months had passed without finding her, he believed there was no way her body could be in that sea.
Why was he so sure? Leland Burns couldn’t explain it; it was just a gut feeling.
Just like when Winifred Dawson heard news of his death but refused to believe it.
Moreover, Winifred Dawson feared cold and water; she had a phobia of deep seas and sea creatures and disliked the smell of fish. Someone as clean and beautiful as her couldn’t possibly die in the sea…
Leland Burns deceived himself like this all night long. Unconsciously, he wrote the word “Autumn” with blood on the ground-a shocking sight.
Henry and Wesley had already arranged for people to search for Winifred Dawson in J City near the coast. They scoured every nearby surveillance camera but found no trace of her.
J City wasn’t like Peachshire Town; their influence didn’t extend that far. It wasn’t their territory; they weren’t familiar with it. They lacked manpower and connections there, making it costly to search thoroughly for someone and requiring help from local authorities.
Initially giving up on rescuing police officers lost at sea, they received new orders and dispatched more personnel to conduct a grid search along the coast. Finding a living person on the sea seemed almost impossible; they held no illusions about it.
Another person saddened by Winifred Dawson’s death was Mrs. Protich.
Upon hearing “Winifred Dawson is dead,” Mrs. Protich fainted from shock and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. She regained consciousness at 8 PM that evening.
When she first woke up, she felt dizzy and disoriented in an unfamiliar place with dry mouth and throat, unable to speak clearly or open her eyes properly-like waking from sleep paralysis.
She stared blankly at the ceiling until a nurse noticed her condition.
Understanding how uncomfortable patients feel upon waking up with dry throats and lips, the nurse brought a cup of warm water and fed her spoonfuls of it.
“Sister, open your mouth so I can give you some water.” Mrs. Protich obeyed mechanically because she was indeed very thirsty; her throat felt like it was on fire with a bitter taste lingering inside as if she’d swallowed herbal medicine residue.
After drinking a cup of water which soothed her throat slightly allowing speech again Mrs Protich moved fingers touching blanket before finally asking: “Where am I?”
“This is hospital,” replied nurse “Don’t you remember how you got here?”
“Hospital?” Mrs Protich looked around puzzled “Why am I here?”
Trying hard recalling events leading up hospitalization brain triggered self-protection mechanism causing temporary amnesia upon awakening
Nurse explained: “You fainted from shock brought here by Mr James just in time avoiding major issues What happened causing such distress? At our age haven’t we seen everything? Take things lightly keep good mood days will pass smoothly” comforting words continued
Mrs Protich pondered deeply-what triggered hospitalization? She remembered being confined by Leland Burns at “Autumn Joy Estate” cooking meals today August 1st preparing lunch
Nurse asked again: “Are you still thirsty?”
“No.”
“Hungry? Just woke up need food sustain body I’ll heat chicken soup brought earlier while you were unconscious.”
Initially not feeling hungry reminder made stomach ache first time receiving such care felt awkward embarrassed
“Sorry for trouble.”
“No trouble at all paid job after meal I’ll clean you up sleep comfortably Do you want watch TV? Pass time lying bed boring”
Mrs Protich nodded Nurse turned TV on handed remote
“If want change channel just press button heating meal back soon kitchen empty now”
“Okay”
Henry hired enthusiastic nurse carrying thermos left room
Mrs Protich uninterested in TV scanned single-patient room resembling Winifred Dawson’s hospital room equipped with everything including fruit flowers filling air pleasant scent masking disinfectant odor
Staring into night sky outside uncontrollably thinking about daughter Winifred Dawson remembering daily texts received at 7 PM.