When Michael entered her room, Elena was still unconscious. The doctor had examined her and cleaned her wounds. They had given her a sedative and put her on an I. V. drip.
She would probably remain asleep until the evening. The sky was still dark, and the sun had not risen yet.
Michael sat down by the bed and took her hand. Her slender hand was limp as if they were boneless. Soft and weak, as it rested lifelessly on his palm.
He felt a pain in his heart as he cradled her hand gently. The scenes of the previous night flashed back into his mind. His heart hurt every time he thought about it. He had lost control of his behavior, and yet he was fully aware of his actions.
He had pinned her down. She had panicked at first, and then she despaired, and finally, she had passed out.
As she laid in the hospital bed, her face appeared even more pale than usual!
He did not know how long he sat by the bed. Even when Henry arrived, he still sat there quietly as he stared at Elena, whose eyes remained closed.
Levi had managed to brief Henry before he walked through the door. He knew that the situation was bad, but after he saw Elena, he realized that the situation was far worse than he had imagined.
Her face was also injured, and there were several bloodstained lacerations across her lower jaw, all of which were covered in traces of blood.
There were also several scratches on her neck. Even though they were already treated, one could only imagine how bloodied those must have been at that time.
Even the hand that Michael held in his hand had wounds on it. The scars were either made from scratches or something sharp. The exposed areas were covered in scars and injuries, so he could only deduce that it was the same with the other areas of her body.
Henry clenched his fists tightly. If the person who had hurt her was not Michael, or if Michael had not already been so remorseful, he could not guarantee that he would not tear the culprit to shreds.
“Look after her.” Michael suddenly stood up and proceeded to leave.
“Where are you going?” They were only supposed to leave for Aryastan tomorrow, not that day itself.
Henry panicked and hurriedly said, “Do you plan to leave earlier?”
Michael remained silent and only turned his back toward him. Henry followed him out of the room. That was not a good place to speak, so he kept his voice as low as possible.
“We have already planned the routes. If you change them at the last minute, they might not be safe.”
“You don’t have to go,” Michael said in a cold, deep voice.
Henry was stunned for a moment, and then he quickened his pace to step in front of him.
“What do you mean?” Had he not agreed to go with them?
“She needs someone to accompany her…”
“Bullsh*t! Many are willing to accompany her. You don’t need me to do that!”
Michael tried to move forward, but Henry still stood in front of him. He could not stop him, so he could only move backward. However, he stayed firm in front of him.
“I won’t accompany her. She’s not anyone to me. You stay and accompany her yourself. I’m going with you!”
Michael was unmoved, and Henry was anxious. If Michael had made up his mind for him not to go, then there was no way he could catch up to him.
“Big Brother!” Henry’s tone finally softened, “We shall stick to the original plan. No, if you want to bring it forward, I will immediately ask them to replan the route said. We can leave tomorrow, or even tonight!”
The main point was to let Henry go with him too! No matter how good Eldest Young Master Williams was, Aryastan was a dangerous place. Michael finally stopped and stared at Henry’s anxious face.
“I will take Fourth Brother with me. It would cause too much suspicion if you were to leave too.”
“What are you planning to do?” Did he want ‘Michael’ to remain in Bentson?
“Ryan knows what to do.”
“Unacceptable! You must bring Ryan along!” Big Brother was determined to leave him behind.
Henry knew that no matter what he said, it was impossible to change his big brother’s mind. Nevertheless, if Ryan stayed behind, what would happen to him in Aryastan?
“If both Ryan and Levi were to leave with me, they would suspect that I’m not in Bentson either.”
“What? You even want Levi to stay behind?” Absurd! That was totally absurd!
What did he have in mind? Did Paradise Island’s actions anger him that much?
“I know how you feel, but…”
“Since you know, then there are no buts.” Michael stopped and stared at him.
He said his next words slowly and decidedly. “Look after her. If anything were to happen to her, I’d hold you responsible!”
Before Henry had a chance to reply, Michael shoved him aside. Henry still wanted to pursue the matter, but Levi stopped him.
“Do not try to persuade him, Second Young Master Sharp. Please, take care of Young Madam while Eldest Young Master Williams is away.”
There was only ever one Young Madam of WongRiver Pavilion. Ava was someone that Eldest Young Master had promised the old madam to care for. She would never be the mistress of the WongRiver Pavilion.
“Even if you manage to bring the men, you won’t be able to deal with Paradise Island overnight.”
Henry stared at Michael’s back. He had wanted to leave while his woman was at the hospital. Was he not worried? When Elena woke up, would she not be in despair?
He was the only one who had inflicted those injuries on Elena. Even if he did not mean to do it, he should not leave her alone after that traumatic experience.
Michael continued to ignore him. His tall figure walked toward the elevator and soon disappeared behind the elevator door. Henry was at a loss. Would his big brother manage to return safely if he were to go to Aryastan just like that?
“We shall leave the young madam in your hands, Second Young Master Sharp.”
Levi was in a bad mood as well. After he bade Henry farewell, he also left the hospital. It seemed like he also bore an unspeakable amount of loss.
Levi was disappointed that Big Brother had left him behind, just like how he had felt. All of their previous plans were disrupted as he wanted to leave in a hurry. There was no need to rush to Aryastan by a mere day or two. Was it not possible to stick to the original plan?
Henry could not guess what was in Michael’s mind. Nevertheless, he felt that his big brother’s trip to Aryastan was not that straightforward.
‘Big Brother, what are you planning to do?’
…
When Elena woke up, it was already the evening of the next day. It was as if she had been in a long dream, and a wild beast mauled her in that dream.
It bit frantically into her body and left bloody wounds all over her. It had hurt. It had hurt all over. It had hurt so much that she wanted to scream.
She picked a rock off the ground and wanted to smash it into the beast’s head, but then the creature transformed into Michael. She could not bring the rock down.
Michael’s eyes were fiery red, and his body was as if the devil had possessed it. He gripped her as if he wanted to rip her apart, and he almost crushed and tore her in half. The pain got stronger and more real.
The pain; it had hurt.
“No…” She tried to fling her arms to push him away.
However, it was futile!
Her strength was utterly exhausted, and she could no longer struggle. She was about to die!