SWNOVELS Chapter 1161-1180
Chapter 1161
Sure, Crystal meant well, seeing Logan and Taylor in danger, she just wanted to
help.
But what if Carol was just an average girl, who hadn’t gotten herself into any
trouble, would this even be happening?
“I don’t approve of your relationship,’ Louisa said bluntly.
“L side with your mother’ Kenneth said, avoiding his son’s heartbroken gaze.
“Dad, Mom. You don’t understand Carol. She’s a wonderful person. She’s the
only one for me for life. I only want her.”
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“The Collins family will never accept her’ Louisa stated firmly, “Give up on this
idea. I’d rather you stay single your whole life than bring such a dangerous
person into our home. Your life will never be the same. Once she’s recovered,
find a way to talk things out with her.”
Louisa was just about to leave after her speech.
“Mom, Carol has many good qualities.”
“Don’t you understand yet? I don’t want anyone close to me to end up like Mr.
Alger’s daughter, scarred and lying on an operating table. I don’t want to feel the
pain of losing a loved one. Those people, their influence is widespread. If you
marry her, it’s like setting a time bomb in our home. You never know when or
where it will go off. Can you neutralize one bad guy? What about a hundred, a
thousand, ten thousand?
Even one slip could drag her life into an irreparable abyss.
She didn’t want to experience the pain of losing friends and family. Wasn’t she
allowed to?
“Mom, I understand your concerns. I can handle this.”
“How will you handle it? With what? Can you guarantee perfection? Not a single
slip? Clark, if you’re tired of these rich girls and want to marry an ordinary girl,
I’m all for it. But someone like her, who could bring danger to those close to her,
I can’t let her come into our home.”
Louisa wasn’t worried about herself, but rather, feared her children, parents, and
in-laws would suffer.
Losing any of them would be unbearable.
“Calm down, don’t let your anger affect your health.” Kenneth hadn’t finished
comforting her when Louisa left, leaving behind a cold and determined
silhouette.
All Kenneth could do was tell his son, “Crystal used to visit us often, always
bringing a bunch of things. After Bella and Serena went off to college, the house
felt empty. It was Crystal who kept us company, even going for spa days and
afternoon tea sessions with your mom. The last time I had a backache, Crystal
brought over homemade soup, a massage chair, and even arranged for a topnotch doctor to come over. I’m telling you all this to remind you that even if you
don’t have feelings for her, this girl who sincerely cares about you and your
parents is now lying in the ICU because of your girlfriend’s enemies. Don’t you
think you should at least show some concern? Consider how Alger and Celeste
feel.”
After he said his piece, Kenneth hurried off to find his wife.
Clark leaned against the wall, as if the harsh reality had struck him hard.
In the ICU, Tears silently streamed down Carol’s face.
She had heard all the arguing outside.
She knew it was her fault, causing so much trouble for those around her. If it
hadn’t been for her, her foster parents wouldn’t have died.
“Dr. Bella, Dr. Bella.” a nurse noticed something was off and quickly called out
softly, handing Carol a tissue to wipe her tears, “Please, don’t cry.” Chapter 1162
The argument that had just transpired echoed in the ears of the nurse, and she
was filled with sympathy.
But Arabella didn’t hear it. She was on the phone with Grandpa Beck, confirming
their research findings.
Grandpa Beck relayed the results of several tests to her, and she shared her
input. It was Grandpa Beck’s job to tweak accordingly.
Hearing the nurse, Arabella asked the person on the phone to hold on, then
turned to the nurse, “What’s up?”
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Suddenly, the sound of a single beep echoed from the EKG, as Carol gave up
hope of survival, her eyes closing.
“Damn, the patient has no will to live,” the nurse said urgently. “Dr. Bella, what
do we do?”
“Grandpa, get the antidote here as soon as you’re done!” Arabella hung up the
phone, immediately diving into the rescue work.
“Hey, I didn’t finish. This antidote hasn’t passed the final test. If there are any
side effects, who’s responsible?”
Unfortunately, Grandpa Beck’s last words were cut off by the dial tone. He tried
calling Arabella twice more, but she didn’t pick up. She must’ve been busy.
Clark was waiting outside, and soon enough, he saw several doctors rushing to
assist Arabella.
Clark was growing anxious, unsure if something had happened to Carol. The
moment the door swung open, he rushed to peek inside, but he couldn’t see
anything. All he could hear was the nurse’s voice, saying the patient was in
critical condition.
He knocked on the door frantically, shouting, “Carol, Carol, you must hang on!
You promised me, you said you would stay with me forever. Carol, you can’t
back out now!”
“Sir, I’m sorry, could you please lower your voice?” A nurse emerged from the
room, pleading. “You’re disrupting the doctors.”
“How’s Carol? Nurse, is she okay?” Clark asked anxiously.
“The patient has lost the will to live, probably because of your argument.”
“No, I need to go in and explain”
“I’m sorry, sir, but it would be best if you wait outside. Any explanation at this
point would only salt her wounds.
Let Dr. Bella handle this.”
The nurse shut the door again, leaving Clark desperately waiting outside.
Time passed, thunder roared, and the sky grew dim. A storm was brewing.
The branches of the trees by the road were shaking heavily, and the
temperature dropped. This winter seemed especially cold.
Clark sat from noon till night, not knowing how he made it through. All he knew
was that the two girls connected to him were in the ICU, their fates unknown.
Meanwhile, Crystal, lying on the hospital bed, suddenly called out, “Dad.”
At first, Alger thought he had misheard, but when he looked up, he saw his
daughter had indeed opened her eyes slightly. Tears welled up in his eyes
instantly.
He quickly leaned in, “I’m here. Your mom and I are both here, and Mr. and Mrs.
Collins too. Are you feeling okay? Should I get the doctor to check on you?”
“Yes, yes, I’ll get the doctor.” Celeste quickly rang the nurse’s bell, and the nurse
went to get Arabella.
Looking at her daughter’s battered body, Celeste felt a mix of heartache and
relief, “You’re finally awake, you scared me. It’s okay now, it’s okay.”
“Mom. Crystal’s voice was still weak, but she managed to put on a small smile,
“Don’t cry.”
Celeste didn’t want to cry in front of her daughter, but when she heard these
words, her tears flowed freely.
Her daughter was badly injured, yet she was the one comforting her.
“Mom, I want to go home.”
Upon hearing this, Alger and Celeste were stunned!Chapter 1163
Was this what they call “the last rally”?
It was reminiscent of the time when Alger’s Uncle Jerry was gravely ill. One day,
when he was on the brink of death, he suddenly became lucid and asked to be
taken home. His family quickly fulfilled his wish, and after one last look at the
home where he had lived for so many years, he peacefully closed his eyes.
The older generation often said that those about to die have one final request: “I
want to go home.”
“No, sweetheart, we’re not going home. You’re not well yet. We need to stay
here for your treatment. Once you’re better, we will take you home.” Celeste
Enter title…
held her darling daughter’s hand, tears streaming down her face. The thought of
losing her daughter was too terrifying to bear.
“Dad, Morn.” Crystal tried to grasp her parents’ hands, but she was so weak.
Her voice was barely above a whisper, each word an evident struggle.
“In this life, I’m so proud to be your daughter”
Hearing these words, Alger and Celeste broke down in tears.
“After I’m gone, don’t cry. Don’t be sad.”
It was as if Crystal was leaving her last words, painstakingly uttering each word
of advice.
“Live your lives well. I’ll just be in a different form watching over you from
heaven, being with you.”
“Silly girl, what are you talking about? You’re going to live, perhaps even live
longer than us; Celeste sobbed, “Stop talking about such morbid things. Are you
thirsty? Let me get you a glass of water.”
“Mom, let me finish.” Crystal seemed to be failing, pausing for a while before
continuing, “Don’t blame Clark or Carol. Promise me, don’t harm them.”
Shaking her head, Celeste cried uncontrollably, “No, no, don’t say any more.”
“Promise me.” Crystal was struggling to breathe, but she insisted on getting a
response, “Promise me!”
Seeing his daughter in such agony, Alger was heartbroken, “Okay, I promise, as
long as.”
Before he could finish, the door suddenly burst open. Clark, upon hearing that
Crystal had woken up, was the first one to rush over.
He was even faster than the doctors.
“Crystal.” Clark stood there, weighed down by guilt.
Tears filled Crystal’s eyes. She tried to muster a smile, but her strength was
quickly leaving her. She could barely make out Clark’s face.
All she knew was that the man who had rushed in was Clark. He sounded
anxious and worried.
She forced a smile and with her last bit of strength, managed to utter three
words, “Be happy.”
Tears streamed down Clark’s face.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The monitor flatlined.
The medical team ushered them out. Alger and Celeste were inconsolable.
After updating Carol on the situation, Arabella rushed back to join the
resuscitation efforts.
Kenneth and Louisa’s eyes were filled with tears. Chapter 1164
Arabella’s movements finally came to a halt, and the actions of all the doctors in
the room followed suit.
All the medical equipment indicated that the patient had completely lost vital
signs. There was no hope left.
Arabella glanced at the clock on the wall, and solemnly announced, “Time of
death, December 28, 7:23 p.m.”
The doctors and nurses in the operating room all bowed their heads in silence,
bidding the patient their final farewell in this manner.
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Scenes from the past kept replaying in Arabella’s mind.
“Arabella, I heard you just moved back home. How are you settling in?”
“I heard you used to live in Summerfield too. It’s been ages since I last visited.
Shall we go for a shopping spree sometime?”
“Let’s go to the Cave Diner!”
“Do you mind if I chat with you on WhatsApp?”
Crystal’s voice and laughter were still lingering in her mind.
Tears welled up in Arabella’s eyes as she pulled the tubes out of the girl an the
bed, covered her with a white sheet, and said in a hoarse voice, “Take her out.”
The movements of all the doctors and nurses were silent, but the unseen
sadness was overwhelming.
When the door opened, Celeste saw her daughter covered with a white sheet.
She was hit with a wave of grief, tears streaming down her face.
Alger couldn’t believe his eyes until the gurney was pushed in front of him. He
trembled as he slowly lifted the sheet.
The girl’s face was pale, lying peacefully on the gurney, motionless.
Alger’s hand trembled as he placed his finger under his daughter’s nose. There
was no breath. He moved his hand to her neck. There was no pulse.
One moment she was talking to him, the next she was gone.
“Crystal!” Alger broke down, throwing himself onto the sheet, crying his heart
out.
“How could you just leave us like this? How could you bear to abandon your
parents? How is your mother going to live without you?” Celeste clung to her
daughter’s body, crying uncontrollably.
Kenneth and Louisa were heartbroken. They couldn’t believe that such a lively,
bright, and intelligent girl was suddenly gone. Their tears flowed uncontrollably.
Clark, standing to the side, had red-rimmed eyes. Tears rolled down his cheeks.
In his mind, he kept seeing Crystal’s brilliant smile and hearing her cheerful
voice.
“Clark, what have you been up to lately?”
“Lunderstand a girl’s mind better. Next time you guys go out, take me with you. I
promise to make your sister happy.”
“Your mom bought me lots of beautiful clothes, I’m so happy.”
“Clark, did I say something wrong to upset you? I’m sorry”
Clark’s shoulders shook as he looked at the girl lying on the gurney. He
remembered the cold morning when she came to see him with breakfast.
“know Carol is in your heart, and I know you’ll never like anyone else in this
lifetime. I’m just clinging to the hope that I could maybe change your mind. I do
like you. I used the excuse of being ‘bros’ to get close to you.
Now that you two are back together, I sincerely wish you happiness. Even
though I can’t be your girlfriend, and I can’t get over you quickly. Just knowing
that she’s back and your smile will be even brighter than before, that alone
satisfies me.”
“Clark, as long as you’re happy, it doesn’t matter who you’re dating, even if it’s
not me. Although, it does hurt a little” Chapter 1165
Clark felt as if his world had come crashing down.
“This is the breakfast I made for you. If it receives your approval, then I feel their
purpose has been served.”
“These clothes and dresses were given to me by your aunt last night. Given my
status, it’s not appropriate for me to return them in person. Could you please
pass them on and thank her for her kindness?”
“I’ve recorded some of the likes and dislikes of your uncle and aunt in this
notebook, along with some of their favorite hangout spots. I’ve arranged for VIP
Enter title…
memberships for them, and I’ve noted down the passwords and security
questions for these cards.”
“Now that you have a girlfriend, unless it’s a group activity, I won’t show up in
case there might be any misunderstandings. Take care of yourself and don’t
forget to look after your girlfriend. I’m off now. Be happy!”
Clark slid down the wall, his hand over his eyes, his shoulders shaking violently.
He was inconsolable.
“Baby girl, what am I supposed to do? The rest of my life is still so long, how am
I supposed to live?”
Celeste wept bitterly, her heart filled with indescribable pain. “How could you let
me bury my own child? You promised me, said you’d take me to Oakridge City
after you finished your work. How could you lie to me? Get up, get up, my girl.”
“Open your eyes, and I’ll give you anything you want, Alger sobbed
uncontrollably. “Crystal, my lovely girl, can you hear me? If you wake up, I’ll do
anything you ask of me. Please, wake up. I’ve never begged you for anything
before, just this once. Wake up and look at me, okay?”
“You can’t leave us like this.” Celeste cried uncontrollably.
Seeing the couple in such a state, the nurse wheeling the gurney looked at
Arabella with a difficult expression.
Arabella motioned for them to leave.
Celeste clung to the body of her daughter, her voice choked with emotion as she
began to sing, “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.”
This was Crystal’s favorite song when she was little, the first song she learned
on the piano.
As Celeste sang, she was reminded of her daughter’s lively and adorable figure.
Tears streamed down her face as she continued, “Up above the world so high,
like a diamond in the sky.”
The girl on the bed was now motionless, her hands starting to turn cold.
Celeste touched her hand, feeling her fading warmth, and suddenly let out a
gut-wrenching cry.
Her daughter was gone.
Her precious girl, whom she had raised, was suddenly gone.
Gone for real.
Really gone.
Celeste was devastated, unable to bear this enormous loss.
At that moment, Louisa’s phone vibrated incessantly.
She didn’t want to answer it, but the caller was relentless, calling repeatedly.
She was forced to swipe the screen, holding back her tears, only to hear the
voice on the other end.
“Hello, is this Mrs. Collins? The CVO Fashion Medicinal Elixir that Crystal
ordered for you has arrived in Summerfield. Are you home right now? Can we
deliver it?”
The CVO Fashion Medicinal Elixir was exclusive to the royal family.
Kenneth had worked himself too hard when he was young, and now suffered
from aching shoulders and neck.
Sometimes, the pain kept him up at night.Chapter 1165
Clark felt as if his world had come crashing down.
“This is the breakfast I made for you. If it receives your approval, then I feel their
purpose has been served.”
“These clothes and dresses were given to me by your aunt last night. Given my
status, it’s not appropriate for me to return them in person. Could you please
pass them on and thank her for her kindness?”
“I’ve recorded some of the likes and dislikes of your uncle and aunt in this
notebook, along with some of their favorite hangout spots. I’ve arranged for VIP
Enter title…
memberships for them, and I’ve noted down the passwords and security
questions for these cards.”
“Now that you have a girlfriend, unless it’s a group activity, I won’t show up in
case there might be any misunderstandings. Take care of yourself and don’t
forget to look after your girlfriend. I’m off now. Be happy!”
Clark slid down the wall, his hand over his eyes, his shoulders shaking violently.
He was inconsolable.
“Baby girl, what am I supposed to do? The rest of my life is still so long, how am
I supposed to live?”
Celeste wept bitterly, her heart filled with indescribable pain. “How could you let
me bury my own child? You promised me, said you’d take me to Oakridge City
after you finished your work. How could you lie to me? Get up, get up, my girl.”
“Open your eyes, and I’ll give you anything you want, Alger sobbed
uncontrollably. “Crystal, my lovely girl, can you hear me? If you wake up, I’ll do
anything you ask of me. Please, wake up. I’ve never begged you for anything
before, just this once. Wake up and look at me, okay?”
“You can’t leave us like this.” Celeste cried uncontrollably.
Seeing the couple in such a state, the nurse wheeling the gurney looked at
Arabella with a difficult expression.
Arabella motioned for them to leave.
Celeste clung to the body of her daughter, her voice choked with emotion as she
began to sing, “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.”
This was Crystal’s favorite song when she was little, the first song she learned
on the piano.
As Celeste sang, she was reminded of her daughter’s lively and adorable figure.
Tears streamed down her face as she continued, “Up above the world so high,
like a diamond in the sky.”
The girl on the bed was now motionless, her hands starting to turn cold.
Celeste touched her hand, feeling her fading warmth, and suddenly let out a
gut-wrenching cry.
Her daughter was gone.
Her precious girl, whom she had raised, was suddenly gone.
Gone for real.
Really gone.
Celeste was devastated, unable to bear this enormous loss.
At that moment, Louisa’s phone vibrated incessantly.
She didn’t want to answer it, but the caller was relentless, calling repeatedly.
She was forced to swipe the screen, holding back her tears, only to hear the
voice on the other end.
“Hello, is this Mrs. Collins? The CVO Fashion Medicinal Elixir that Crystal
ordered for you has arrived in Summerfield. Are you home right now? Can we
deliver it?”
The CVO Fashion Medicinal Elixir was exclusive to the royal family.
Kenneth had worked himself too hard when he was young, and now suffered
from aching shoulders and neck.
Sometimes, the pain kept him up at night. Chapter 1166
A month ago, Crystal had pulled some strings and pre-ordered a decade’s worth
of medication, which would be delivered annually to Reflections Villa.
When Louisa picked up the phone, she broke down into uncontrollable tears.
The maturity and empathy of Crystal cut into her heart like a sharp knife.
“Mrs. Collins? What’s wrong?” The person on the other end of the line was
utterly confused by Mrs. Collins”
sudden outburst, their voice filled with concern. “Hello, Mrs. Collins, are you
okay?”
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Seeing that Louisa’s wave of sorrow was far from over, Arabella excused herself
to change out of her sterile suit and sanitize her hands.
Romeo prepared a bowl of warm soup, ready to serve it to her as soon as she
came back. “Here, drink some.”
From last night at 10 o’clock to tonight, Arabella had been working for a straight
21 hours without a break, either trying to save Crystal or Carol.
In between, she had barely had a bottle of milk, let alone a chance to sit down
or catch her breath.
Seeing the tired redness in her eyes, Romeo murmured sympathetically, “The
chef has prepared dinner fresh.
Let me feed you.”
Arabella drank a bow! of soup, already feeling somewhat exhausted. “I’ll speak
to Clark for a bit. Then I’ll leave”
“Alright.”
Romeo thought to himself that the girl must be completely worn out, too tired to
eat, which made him feel even more sympathetic.
“Bella, Louisa noticed that her daughter looked quite haggard, hastily wiped
away her tears and lovingly said, “You must be exhausted. I’ll have the driver
take you home, and I’ll ask the chef to prepare whatever you’d like for dinner.
What do you fancy?”
“No need to go to any trouble. Romeo has already taken care of it. But Clark…
Arabella glanced at the man sitting in the corner of the room, his shoulders
hunched, as if he had fallen into a deep pit of despair and couldn’t pull himself
out.
“Leave Clark.” Louisa said, seeing his distraught state, “You shouldn’t worry
about him. Mr. and Mrs. Alger must be very upset. Your father and I will stay
here with them. You go on home.”
“I’m sorry to have put you through this” Kenneth said, filled with guilt.
“It’s no trouble.”
Arabella went over to Clark, crouched down beside him and gently consoled,
‘Let it all out. Crying will help.”
Clark looked up, his eyes bloodshot and filled with confusion. “Why?”
Why did those men have to be so cruel to Logan, Taylor, and Crystal?
They had three hostages. Why weren’t they simply using them to force him, or
Carol, or Bella to show up?
Why did they have to torment those three hostages so mercilessly?
What did they gain from all this?
“Before, they wanted to capture the people close to us to force us to reveal
ourselves,’ Arabella explained in a soft voice. “But that’s not the case anymore.”
Clark looked at her, his eyes red and swollen, not quite understanding.
“It seems like they want to see the people close to us die one by one, to make
us suffer the pain of losing our loved ones.”
Carol was seen as a “traitor” by them. If they couldn’t capture her, they’d harm
the people around her, which would also cause Carol to suffer.
And Arabella was targeted by them because she had “meddle” in their affairs
multiple times and helped Carol escape.
Of course, they wouldn’t let Clark off the hook either. It was because Carol was
with Clark that she had the idea of “betrayal”, wanting to leave them and stay
with Clark till the end. Chapter 1167
“The next target is those close to me,’ Arabella stated calmly, her demeanor
detached as if the subject at hand was unrelated to her.
It was at this point Clark realized why his sister had been so reluctant to reveal
her identity as the heiress to the Collins family fortune.
Not to mention, her aid to Carol had brought her immense trouble and danger.
Just her status as the head of the family meant she had to keep a low profile.
If everyone knew her true identity from the start, those who couldn’t capture her
would naturally target her friends and family.
Enter title…
Her family was always surrounded by bodyguards and her own men discreetly
protected their parents.
However, not all friends and family were constantly protected. There were
always oversights and moments of vulnerability.
With Arabella’s power, she could protect a portion of the people around her, but
how could she possibly protect them all?
“We all need to be careful next’ Clark warned hoarsely, “I will find their IP
addresses, bring them to justice, and avenge them.”
“Right, Arabella replied gently, “I’ve given Caral the antidote. We didn’t have
time for a final test, but it’s better than nothing. Carol should wake up in 24
hours. I overheard the nurses say she heard your conversation with Mom and
Dad. You should think about how to comfort her.”
“Thanks,’ Clark responded gratefully, his eyes reddening, “Without you, I
wouldn’t know what to do.”
“Just call me if you need anything.”
Although under normal circumstances, Carol wouldn’t wake up tonight.
Just in case.
Arabella wanted to clarify it beforehand.
“I should go now, Arabella announced, standing up, “I’ll leave this to you.”
“Don’t worry.”
Arabella left with Romeo.
After a busy 21 hours, she finally checked her phone in the car.
There were many missed calls and unread messages, mostly from her uncle,
grandmother, and May.
Sampson: [Bella, have you arrived at Reflections Villa? Are you tired from the
twelve-hour flight?) Belinda: [You just left, and I misses you already. Do you still
like the gift? I didn’t have much time, so I wasn’t sure what to get for you. I heard
your parents and uncle bought you a lot of clothes and bags, so gifting those
seemed redundant. The box contains a small token of my affection, I hope you
like it.]
May: [Ms. Bella, have you arrived at Reflections Villa? The old lady has been
missing you a lot during your absence. I miss you too, and look forward to your
next visit.]
After she replied to their messages, her phone vibrated again before she could
open the box from her grandma.
It was Sampson.
“Bella, your mother told me there was an incident at the Temple family’s place.
You performed surgery on their daughter right after getting off the plane last
night. You also saved another person, and have been busy for 21 hours
straight.”
Arabella, sensing her uncle’s concern, reassures him, “I’m not tired.”
“You silly girl, always throwing yourself into others’ problems without taking care
of yourself. When you get home, eat something, take a shower, and rest well.
don’t wear yourself out.”
Before Sampson could finish, Belinda took the phone, “Bella, I am going to nag
one more time. You must eat something first, get a massage if your hands are
sore, take a good shower, and relax in bed. Don’t wear yourself out, or I will be
heartbroken.”
“Alright, got it.”Chapter 1168
“Get some rest, Granny. I’ll hang up now.’ After ending the call, Belinda sighed
deeply. “She could really use a massage right about now.”
Inside the RV.
Romeo removed Arabella’s shoes, asking her to lie down and rest for a while.
Covering the girl lightly with a blanket, Romeo massaged her slim arms, gently
saying, “Sleep a bit.”
Arabella was exhausted. She closed her eyes and was soon deep in slumber.
Enter title…
In her dream, she heard nurses talking. One moment they said Carol was in
trouble, and the next, they claimed Crystal was in trouble.
Arabella ran back and forth in the long corridor, feeling dizzy from busyness.
Romeo continued to massage her as she dreamed. Seeing her brows knit
together, he knew she was having a bad dream.
“Bella, Romeo caressed her face, his voice soft, ‘Don’t be scared. No matter
what happens, I’m always by your side.”
Her brows gradually relaxed, as if she could hear his comforting words.
Romeo continued to massage her hands and feet. After holding surgical
instruments for so long and standing for such duration, they must be sore.
Time ticked away.
When Arabella opened her eyes again, she found herself still in the RV. “Are we
there? Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“I wanted you to sleep a little more,” Romeo continued to massage her, “Look,
it’s snowing outside.”
Under the streetlight, snowflakes fell gently. Arabella noticed that this was the
streetlight outside Romeo’s house.
The RV was parked outside his house, not driven in.
To reach the garage, they would have to go down two slopes and make several
turns. Any significant movement might wake her up.
So Romeo had asked his staff to park the vehicle outside.
“What time is it?” She asked.
Seeing her sit up, Romeo wrapped her up in the blanket, afraid she’d catch a
cold. “It’s a little after four”
“Have I slept that long?”
“You were exhausted, and your body is drained’ Romeo gently brushed her hair,
his voice soft, “Are you hungry?
Let’s eat something”
While Arabella was sleeping, Romeo had asked the chef to prepare some food
and bring it to the RV.
A dozen dishes were kept warm. When opened, each was her favorite.
“Cover yourself with the blanket. It’s chilly at dawn. Don’t catch a cold.” Romeo
picked up a fork, “Let me feed you.”
Despite the heating on in the RY, it was still cold. Arabella was wrapped in a
blanket, only her head showing.
She looked adorable.
Romeo’s gaze was full of affection. “You’d look good even in a burlap sack.”
“So, should I wear a sack when I go out?”
“No way, too revealing.”
Arabella couldn’t help but chuckle, watching him scoop up food, “Aren’t your
arms tired?”
“Not at all. I could feed you not just this meal, but for a lifetime.”
Under the warm light, Romeo fed her, bite by bite.
Suddenly Arabella remembered something, “Did Clark call you?”
“Yes, he asked me to take good care of you. He said he’d call you once he woke
up.”
Seeing Romeo continuing to feed her without eating himself, Arabella couldn’t
help but ask, “Haven’t you eaten since morning?”
Romeo gave a slight smile, “I’m not hungry”
Arabella picked up a fork and offered him a piece of meat.
Romeo was surprised yet pleased, taking a bite, “It tastes even better when you
feed me.”
“Want me to feed you more?” Chapter 1169
“No way. I can’t let you.” Romeo pulled her hand back under the blanket,
“You’ve had enough for one day.”
“Just do your job in the future. Don’t worry about me.” Arabella was referring to
him waiting for her day and hight at the hospital.
“What’s more important than you?” Romeo looked into her eyes, enunciating
each word, “You didn’t sleep, didn’t eat, and spent a full 21 hours in the OR. I
worry about you.”
“Worried I’ll collapse from exhaustion?” Arabella couldn’t help but laugh, “I’m not
a child. I know my limits.
Enter title…
“In my heart, you are still a child.” Romeo fed her another spoonful of soup, “So
young, yet carrying a burden heavier than anyone else’s. Sometimes, I wish
you’d take it easy, mind your own business more, and care about yourself.”
“But I have you to look after me, don’t I?”
“There will always be times when I can’t look after you enough.”
Arabella noticed a change in his mood, “What’s wrong?”
Romeo was reminded of Arabella at the hospital today, she had only consumed
a bottle of milk, and that too only because he had handed it to her. Arabella
didn’t want him to worry, so she chugged it down all at once.
If he wasn’t there today, would she have gone 21 hours without eating?
The mere thought of it pained him.
“It’s nothing.” Romeo concealed the worry in his eyes, not wanting to burden
Arabella with his worries.
“Alright, I know you care about me.” Arabella laughed, her eyes sparkling with a
tender light, “Today was an exception, won’t happen again.”
“Your promises never come to fruition.”
She had promised him before that she wouldn’t risk danger, that she wouldn’t
get hurt, that she would take care of herself, not to worry him.
“Next time, even if you’re busy, you’re not allowed to skip meals.”
“Okay.
After some time, Romeo held her as they watched the snow falling outside, the
pristine snowflakes fluttering down.
Romeo breathed in her scent, “It feels like we’ve known each other for a long
time.”
Their companionship felt as natural as a couple who had been together for
decades.
“I feel the same way. Arabella watched the falling snowflakes, feeling as if time
was slowing down once again.
Having someone by her side gave her life a new layer of meaning. It was nice.
After a while, they parked the RV in the garage. Romeo wrapped a warm coat
around her and carried her into the villa’s elevator.
This residence, called Bella Villa, was something he had bought specifically to
be closer to her, near the school.
It had a bedroom, a walk-in closet, a hot spring bath, a lab and everything he
prepared for her.
Romeo carried her into the bedroom.
“lL want to take a shower.”
Romeo fetched fresh clothes for her and prepared a bath. Only after reminding
her of a few things did he leave.
It was still dark at five in the morning, but a light had entered Arabella’s world
that had been gloomy for years.
Meanwhile, Clark stayed by Carol’s bedside, awake all night.
He hacked into the surveillance of the area around the street where the incident
took place. He sorted out all the information and movements of the people
involved and sent it to the police.
Some of the hidden culprits were also found.
After a while, he heard some devastating news.
During police interrogation, someone confessed that over twenty people were
involved in violating Crystal’s innocence.
Throughout the ordeal, the name Crystal kept crying out was: Clark.
“Clark, rest assured. These people will be punished.”
Clark’s eyes reddened again, his fists clenched tightly, his voice tinged with
anger, “Are all those scumbags caught?Chapter 1170
“We’ve got nineteen of them. We’ll have the rest by noon tomorrow.”
“I’m on my way.”
As soon as Clark hung up the phone, he called over the couple of staff who had
recently been taking care of Carol at home.
“Keep an eye on her. If any emergency happens, contact me immediately.”
“Understood, Mr. Collins.”
Clark sped to confront the scum, fists clenched, ready to beat them senseless.
Enter title…
Perhaps his fists weren’t enough.
Clark used everything within his reach to hammer into them relentlessly.
“Spare us, please” one of them pleaded, “We were just following orders.”
“Did your bosses order you to touch her?”
“N-no.”
“She’s just a defenseless girl. Why couldn’t you leave her alone?”
Clark picked up a chair and smashed it onto the man. The chair splintered upon
impact.
The man was drenched in blood, looking up at Clark with fear in his eyes,
wanting to back away but lacking the strength to do so.
Clark grabbed him again, beating him over and over.
“You wanted trouble with me? Well, here I am. Come at me.”
Clark proceeded to give them a thorough beatdown.
“Any man who lays a hand on a woman is no man at all.”
Clark slammed one of their heads into the wall.
“Are you even human?”
The man was barely breathing, yet Clark continued to pound him with his fists.
“Calling you beasts would be an insult to beasts.”
After what felt like an eternity, Clark looked around at the room filled with
battered bodies, his eyes welling up with anger.
A group of lowlifes bullying an innocent, cheerful girl.
He remembered Crystal’s radiant smile and bubbly personality.
Clark wanted nothing more than to bury them alive!
“Mr. Collins, your hands are injured,” Someone noticed as Clark left the room
and quickly approached him, “Should I get you a band-aid?”
“No need.” Clark said, just before getting in his car to leave, “Make sure to keep
torturing them.”
“Understood.”
On the other side.
Alger and Celeste stayed by their daughter’s body, tearfully sleepless.
Their most precious part of their lives was gone.
They felt empty.
“Celeste, if you don’t want to eat, at least drink some water.’ Louisa sobbed,
“How can Crystal rest peacefully if you’re like this?”
“I want her to be restless.” Celeste’s dry eyes welled up with tears again, “I want
her to feel guilty and restless. I want her to wake up.”
Louisa felt even more heartbroken upon hearing this.
She knew that Crystal would never wake up again, her body had already turned
ice-cold.Chapter 1171
“Mr. Alger, we’re heartbroken over this tragedy,’ Kenneth said, struggling to find
the right words of consolation.
“Please have some food. You’re the head of the household and the backbone of
the family. They still need you.”
“Where’s Clark?” Alger suddenly lifted his weary eyes to ask.
“Ah, Clark’s just outside,” Kenneth responded, suddenly realizing. “I’ll go fetch
him.
But the corridor was already void of Clark’s presence.
Enter title…
Upon reaching Carol’s hospital room, Kenneth found several servants attending
her.
Alger and Celeste had just lost their beloved daughter, and here was Carol
being looked after by all these people.
Kenneth suddenly realized his son hadn’t empathized with the Temple family’s
situation.
After all, Crystal had died because of the powerful force behind Carol.
Knocking on the door again, Clark asked the servants, “Where’s Clark?”
“We’re not sure.”
Kenneth then dialed his son’s number.
Clark’s fist was bleeding from a wound, staining his white shirt with spots of
crimson. Two buttons were undone, giving him an aura of cold ruthlessness.
Hearing his phone ring, Clark picked it up. His wound worsened, but he seemed
indifferent.
“Where the hell have you been? Alger wants to see you! I understand you want
to take care of your girlfriend, but Crystal just passed away. Have you thought
about how Alger and Celeste might feel?”
“I’ll be there soon.”
Before Kenneth could finish his sentence, he heard the busy tone on the other
end of the line. “Silly boy.” he muttered.
He was so thoughtless!
Clark rushed to the hospital as fast as he could, put on his coat to cover the
prominent red stain on his shirt.
Kenneth anxiously waited by the elevator. Seeing his son appear, he couldn’t
help but scold, “Where the hell have you been? If Alger and Celeste decide to
give you a hard time, you better brace yourself, got it?”
After all, the Temple family only had one daughter.
And because of the powerful force behind his girlfriend, Crystal died so
tragically.
“Alright.” Clark agreed and pushed open the door to Crystal’s hospital room.
The girl lay quietly on the bed, but Clark noticed a change in her since he last
saw her a few hours ago.
Her face was even paler now, the pallor of the dead.
Alger suppressed his urge to punch Clark when he saw him. In front of his
daughter, he asked in a hoarse voice, “Where are they? I want to avenge my
daughter.”
“All those who harmed Crystal are in police custody. The remaining few will be
caught by noon tomorrow.”
Upon noticing Clark’s bleeding fist, Alger understood what had transpired.
“You’ve seen them, haven’t you?”
“Yes,’ Clark admitted. “I have.”
“No matter how many times they are punished, it won’t bring my baby girl back,’
Celeste cried, agony etched in her voice.
“Even though we can’t bring Crystal back, we can’t let them off easily. They must
pay the price.”
Clark clenched his fist before bowing deeply, “I’m sorry. This happened because
of me. I don’t dare to ask for your forgiveness, but I hope you won’t grieve
excessively. Your health is important.”
“My daughter is gone. What’s the point of being healthy or living a long life!”
Celeste cried. “Clark, you don’t understand the pain of a parent who has raised
a beloved daughter, only to lose her in such a horrific manner.”
Yes, their daughter had “meddled” and was captured by the bad guys while
trying to save Logan and Taylor.
But if Carol hadn’t been targeted by those forces, if Carol wasn’t Clark’s
girlfriend, then their precious daughter would have been home that day, having
dinner with them after successfully closing a deal with a client.
Their precious daughter, who was already taking steps to take over the family
business. The future of the Temple family’s assets was supposed to be in her
hands.
But now.
How were they, as parents, supposed to accept that their daughter was
suddenly gone? Chapter 1172
Clark could only bow deeply, his voice a mix of sorrow and regret, “I’m sorry.”
He knew that no amount of apologies could mend their broken hearts from the
loss of their beloved daughter, but he genuinely felt sorry for them. He felt sorry
for Crystal.
“I’ll take care of you both till I die” Clark seemed to make a decision, saying
seriously, “You can treat me as your son. I’ll often come to visit and take care of
you in your old age.”
Even though this couldn’t alleviate the pain felt by Alger and Celeste, at least
they wouldn’t be left alone in this world.
Enter title…
“Give me all the information related to those people.’ Alger said, his voice weary,
“And never show up in front of us again”
“But.”
“Leave.” Alger didn’t even want to glance at him, “I want to spend some time
with my daughter.”
He had thought that he would have a lifetime to watch his daughter walk down
the aisle in a wedding dress, have her own children.
But he never expected that their time together would be so short.
Clark’s eyes dimmed, “I’ll come back tonight”
He planned to wait until they calmed down a bit before visiting again. He wanted
to help them in any way he could, including organizing Crystal’s funeral.
Time passed, and the day broke.
Carol opened her eyes to find someone sleeping next to her. It was Clark.
He was lying on the edge of the bed, his head resting on one hand. He looked
tired.
Carol noticed his fists were cracked, the blood had coagulated on the surface of
his skin.
Growing up in such a harsh environment, Carol could tell at a glance that these
were injuries from a fight.
Who did he fight with?
Was it those people?
Carol remembered how her foster parents were killed by those people, and how
they dragged innocent Crystal into it.
Tears suddenly welled up in Carol’s eyes.
Clark was clutching Carol’s hand in his sleep. Maybe he felt her moving, and he
opened his eyes. He was overjoyed, “Carol, you’re awake.”
Nothing could make him happier than seeing her awake.
Carol turned her face away, not wanting him to see the tear tracks on her face.
Clark quickly reached out to wipe them away, “Don’t cry. It’s my fault for sleeping
so soundly. How long have you been awake? Don’t worry, those people have
been caught. I’ve tracked down the IP of the person who ordered them. My men
are on their way. They will make them wish they were dead.”
Clark wanted these people to pay doubly for how Logan, Taylor, and Crystal
were killed and the pain they suffered.
Carol didn’t say anything, staring at the snowflakes falling outside the window.
She remembered a snowy day when she was young. Taylor was with her in the
yard making a snowman, and Logan had a snowball fight with them.
They all laughed so happily.
Clark followed her gaze, gently holding her, “We agreed that once you’re better,
we’ll go skiing. How are you feeling? Are you better? Should I call the doctor to
check on you?”
Carol shook her head.
She kept her gaze away from him, not looking at him.
Clark’s heart skipped a beat.Chapter 1173
“Would you like a glass of water? You’ve slept for so long. You must be
parched.” Clark pecked her cheek and rose to pour her a drink, intending to help
her sit up.
Carol kept her gaze fixed on the snowflakes outside the window, her voice
cooling as she spoke, “Clark, there’s something I need to tell you.”
She didn’t call him darling or even look at him.
Her tone was even somewhat chilly.
A sinking feeling washed over Clark as a sense of foreboding bubbled up.
Enter title…
“Carol, do you know how you woke up? It was Bella and her talented Grandpa
Beck who concocted the vital antidote, which you took in time. By the way, I
haven’t told Bella yet that you’ve woken up. She’d be thrilled. I should tell her
right now.”
Clark hastily retrieved his cellphone, but in his haste, it slipped from his hands
and clattered to the floor.
As he bent down to pick it up, a hint of sourness tinged his nostrils, “Do you
have any idea how critical your condition was? You stopped breathing for a
whole 30 seconds during treatment. It scared the hell out of me.”
Carol finally tore her gaze from the window and settled it on him.
Clark forced a smile, “Bella said that as long as you woke up, the rest of the
treatment wouldn’t be a big issue.
You can finally break free from your past life.”
Could she really break free?
With her status, it was destined to be a lifelong burden.
Just as Carol was about to speak, Clark cut her off, “I need to text Bella first.
This is undoubtedly fantastic news, a significant breakthrough in her research.”
Typically, Clark was a fast texter, but today, it seemed to take him forever to
type, constantly making errors or forming incoherent sentences.
He joked, ‘I was so excited to see you awake that I forgot how to type.”
Carol could see the heartache and avoidance in his smile. She knew him so
well. Every subtle change in his expression didn’t escape her scrutiny.
“Yesterday at the door.”
“Carol, you haven’t told me how you’re feeling. Is there anything
uncomfortable?” Clark interrupted her again after sending the message, holding
her hand and asking, “Like body aches, dizziness, nausea? If so, you must tell
me so I can call the doctor.”
Carol shook her head again.
“That means Bella and Grandpa Beck’s antidote is working. Congratulations,
you won’t have to suffer from the affliction anymore.” Clark took her hands in
his, raising them to his lips for a gentle kiss, “By the way, are you hungry? I’ll ask
the doctor if I can get you something to eat. Just wait here for me.”
Seeing him rise to leave, Carol wanted to stop him, but he seemed to flee
before she could.
Clark finally stepped out of the ward, his eyes reddening. He knew what she
was going to say next, and he couldn’t accept it. He had only just managed to
bring her back, and he would never let go.
Not even if it killed him.
Clark asked the doctor, who said she could have some light gruel. Just then,
Arabella texted back that she’d be at the hospital in a while. Clark quickly asked,
[Can Carol have some gruel?] Arabella replied in four words: [Yes, in small
amounts.] With his sister’s assurance, Clark purchased some food from the
hospital cafeteria and hurried back to the ward, only to realize that Carol was
gone.
The breakfast he held dropped to the floor, the hot gruel splashing onto his
ankle and dirtying his pants. But he didn’t notice, standing stunned for a moment
before rushing to check the ensuite bathroom.
“Carol?”
She was not in the bathroom, not in the ward, he even checked under the bed
and tossed the curtains.
No one was there.
All that was left on the bed was a pillow and a drawn back blanket.Chapter 1174
Her IV drip had been removed.
Where was she?
“Carol.” Clark burst out of the room, immediately rushing to ask the nurse on
that floor, ‘Where did the patient in bed 308 go?”
“I have no idea.”
Carol had already been out of danger since last night, shifted from the ICU to a
regular ward. It was the early Morning shift change, and no nurse had noticed
where she had gone.
Enter title…
Clark was anxious, suddenly remembering what Carol had mentioned earlier.
She’d said: Yesterday at the ICU door.
Even though she hadn’t finished her sentence, Clark had a bad feeling. She
must have overheard his conversation with his parents and decided to leave.
He frantically hit the elevator’s down button, but seeing it still stuck on the 21st
floor, with no sign of moving, he tan down the stairs, searching everywhere once
he reached the ground floor.
“Carol.
People were everywhere, the falling snowflakes as dense as feathers,
obstructing his vision.
Clark’s eyes turned red, and among the crowd, he couldn’t find his Carol.
Ignoring the biting cold wind that made his wounds ache, he pulled out his cell
phone, repeatedly dialing Carol’s number.
The automated voice just kept saying: I’m sorry, the number you have dialed is
switched off.
She had turned off her phone.
She was missing again!
Tears started to fill Clark’s eyes, this feeling was too similar to when she had
disappeared before.
He was desperate, not knowing where to find her.
Would Carol go back to the Mystic Oak House to pack her things if she was
leaving?
Thinking of this, Clark rushed out of the hospital, nearly getting hit by a taxi. He
opened the passenger door, “Mystic Oak House, fast!”
The taxi driver looked puzzled, “Sorry, sir, there’s still a passenger in the
backseat.”
Clark turned to see a women holding her feverish child, on their way to the
hospital.
The young mother, startled by Clark’s urgency and red eyes, quickly got out of
the car with her child.
“Please step on it.” Clark, suddenly recalling something, pulled out his phone
again, calling the staff at Mystic Oak House, “Has Carol returned?”
“Huh? Has she returned? I haven’t seen her.” The housekeeper sensed
something was off in Clark’s tone, quickly tesponding, “I might have been busy
and didn’t notice. I’ll get some people to look around.”
The mansion was huge. If Carol wanted to avoid the staff, with her agility, it was
entirely possible.
“If you see her, you must stop her.”
“Yes.”
After hanging up, Clark urged the driver again, to which the driver responded
helplessly, “I’m already going as fast as I can””
Finally arriving at Mystic Oak House, Clark dashed in, grabbing the first staff
member he saw, “Has Carol returned?”
“No, I’ve checked the surveillance. She didn’t come back.”
“She’s not here.”
Clark rushed to the bedroom. Everything was as usual.
The mention of “surveillance” by the staff reminded him of something he had
overlooked in his panic!
He immediately accessed the hospital’s surveillance for that floor, discovering
Carol had left by herself, pushing open the fire escape door while he was out
getting breakfast.
No one in the corridor had noticed her then. Chapter 1175
There was no CCTV in the fire escape.
But he didn’t see Carol on his way down.
So, where did Carol go?
Clark could only hack into the first-floor surveillance, but at that time, Carol was
nowhere to be found.
Neither was she on the rooftop.
The more Clark investigated, the more anxious he became. There were blind
spots in the hospital’s CCTV coverage. With Carol’s skills, if she wanted to
Enter title…
leave, avoiding all cameras wasn’t impossible.
Clark called his subordinates again, “Keep an eye on the train station, bus
station, and the airport for any sign of Carol. If you see her, stop her. She might
be in disquise or using a new ID to buy tickets. In any case, remember her face,
don’t let her leave Summerfield!”
“Got it”
“Don’t hurt her when you stop her. We’ll discuss everything when I get there.”
“Understood.”
After hanging up, Clark suddenly thought of Logan and Taylor in the morgue.
Would Carol go to see them?
With that thought, he rushed back to the hospital in his car from the garage. But
when he pushed open the morgue door, there was no one inside.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
Where on earth did Carol go?
Despair, pain, and fear all surged up at this moment. Clark didn’t know how he
managed to pick up his phone and dial his sister’s number.
“Bella, did Carol contact you?” Clark’s eyes were brimming with tears, “She…”
“Carol? She’s right in front of me. What’s going on?” Arabella noticed Clark’s
voice was choked with emotion.
Hearing this, Clark asked in disbelief, “Where are you?”
“we’re in the small pavilion in the hospital’s first-floor garden.” Arabella had
noticed Carol standing alone in the pavilion when she arrived at the hospital.
She wanted to ask what was going on, but just as she greeted Carol, Clark’s call
came in.
“Wait there for me, I’ll be right there.” Before hanging up, Clark added, “Keep an
eye on her for me. Don’t let her leave”
Arabella was a bit confused but she guessed something was going on. After
ending the call, she put her coat on Carol.
“You’re still recovering. Don’t catch a cold, otherwise, Clark will be worried.”
Carol tried to take it off to give it back, but Arabella forcibly put it back on her,
pretending to be serious, “I don’t have time to save you again.”
Carol couldn’t help but give a weak smile, “Thank you.”
“It’s Grandpa Beck you should be thanking. He did us a huge favor.”
Arabella remembered that night, Grandpa Beck rushed to the ICU door with the
antidote, saving Carol’s life in the nick of time.
If it weren’t for that antidote, the outcome would have been unthinkable.
“What happened with you and Clark?” Arabella looked at her gloomy face, “Did
you two have a fight?”
Carol gave a pale smile and shook her head.
She was willing to explain, but Clark didn’t give her a chance.
“Carol”
From afar, Clark saw Carol, draped in Bella’s coat, standing in the pavilion.
In the midst of falling snow, Clark put his coat on his sister, then turned to Carol
with tear-filled eyes, “You silly girl, where did you run off to? Do you know how
worried I was?”
Before Carol could say anything, Clark scooped her up in his arms.
“It’s freezing out here. What if you catch a cold?” Clark carried her towards the
ward, his eyes red and teary, even his voice was choked up, “If it wasn’t for
Bella finding you, where would I even begin to look?”
Carol looked into his eyes, “Are you crying?” Chapter 1176
“Could you at least let me know where you’re going next time?” Clark’s eyes
were even redder, his voice rough and strained.
Carol gently wiped away the tears that had fallen from his eyes. “You’re a grown
man. Why are you crying?”
The moment she wiped his tears, fresh ones welled up, rolling down his face.
His voice choked with hurt, “Why weren’t you answering my call?”
He looked at her with red-rimmed eyes.
Each time the busy tone beeped, it felt like his heart sank a little further.
Enter title…
“I don’t even know where my phone is.”
She hadn’t touched her phone since she woke up. In fact, she didn’t even know
where it was.
“Where did you go?” Clark asked, cradling her into the elevator, drawing the
attention of many.
People watched as he inquired about the girl in his arms with teary eyes, his
puppy-like demeanor tugging at their heartstrings.
With several pairs of eyes on them in the elevator, Carol didn’t respond.
“You’re dressed so lightly, and it’s snowing outside. You’re still recovering. What
if you get a cold?”
“I can accompany you wherever you want to go, do whatever you want to do,
but you can’t just disappear without a trace.” his heart couldn’t take it.
“Do you know how worried I was when I came back from grabbing breakfast and
found the whole room empty?
The nurses hadn’t seen you and your phone was off. I didn’t know where to find
you”
An elderly woman nearby was moved to tears, “Young lady, you scared this
handsome young man. He cares so much about you, don’t break his heart.
Where else can you find such a good man?”
“Indeed. Someone who is willing to hold you like this in public, who cares about
you so deeply, is hard to come by,’ another woman chimed in. “If you don’t
cherish him, many others will. You need to hold onto him.”
Caught off guard, Carol didn’t know what to say.
Clark quickly added, “Thank you both for your kind words. I still need to
improve.”
The elevator dinged open, and Clark thanked the kind strangers, before turning
to Carol again, “You still haven’t told me where you went.”
“The morgue.”
Clark was taken aback, “I’ve been there too. Did you go while I was getting
breakfast?”
So they had missed each other?
“Mhm.”
Carol figured he wouldn’t be back for a while, so she decided to visit her foster
parents.
Seeing their pitiful state, she felt suffocated and wanted to get some fresh air
and see the snow.
She hadn’t expected him to be this worried.
Seeing his reddened eyes, Carol felt a pang of sympathy, “I was only gone for a
while and you’re like this. What if”
What if she couldn’t be saved?
What if the antidote wasn’t developed, or she didn’t take it in time?
What would he do then?
Clark thought she was about leaving him.Chapter 1177
Clark gently laid the girl on the hospital bed, his hands braced on the side, eyes
reddened from unshed tears, observing her closely.
“Did you overhear what my folks told me?° “Mmhm,’ Carol didn’t deny, quietly
meeting his gaze.
“So, are you planning on leaving? Just like last time, leaving me in the lurch,
disappearing off the face of the Earth?”
Clark stared into her eyes, a raw mix of hurt and indignation in his voice, “You
know I can’t live without you.
Enter title…
What am I supposed to do if you leave? Did you even consider my feelings?
The last time you left me like discarded trash, did you ever think about how
heartbroken I would be, how I’d miss you?”
Seeing his tears fall once again, Carol tried to wipe them away, but Clark turned
his face, a hint of petulance in his voice, “If you truly cared about me, you
wouldn’t even think about leaving.”
Carol’s hand froze mid-air.
“Aren’t you going to wipe them?” Clark turned his gaze back to hers.
Carol was at a loss for words, reaching to wipe his tears, only to have her hand
caught by his.
“You just went ahead and removed your IV. Bella barely managed to save you,
and you treat your health like it’s nothing, going out into the cold.”
“Are you done?”
“No.” Clark was looking into her eyes, a hint of anger in his voice, “Do you think
if you disappeared without a word, I wouldn’t be able to find you? I could search
for ten, twenty, thirty years. As long as I’m alive, I won’t stop until there’s
nowhere left for you to hide”
He looked into her eyes, emphasizing each word, “Listen to me, no matter what
happens, I won’t let go of your hand. We’re in this together. I’ll handle my
parents. Once all potential dangers are eliminated, they’ll naturally accept us.
Trust me and give me some time.”
Carol just looked at his sincere expression, not saying a word.
“Everything that happened to your parents, I grieve for them too. I know you feel
guilty for Crystal’s death. What we can do now is to seek justice for them, to
comfort the Temple family, to bring these criminals to justice so they can’t hurt
anyone else.”
She remembered what Logan had said at the Riverside Villa: parents would do
everything for their children’s welfare. They just want their children to live well,
otherwise, how could they justify their own sacrifices?
Looking at Clark, Carol said softly, “I’m not planning on leaving.”
Clark was surprised.
“I just wanted to see them in the morque.” Carol’s voice fell, “I didn’t want to cry
in front of you, or worry you.”
That was why she went to the morgue alone, and cried her heart out.
When she was young, she was taught to not show weakness, to not cry. So
during training, no matter how much she bled or how badly she was hurt, she’d
grit her teeth and never let a tear fall.
But seeing her foster parents’ bodies today, she couldn’t help but weep. She
missed them so much and wished they could come back to life.
“It’s normal that your parents can’t accept me. As parents, they naturally want
their child to live a peaceful life. I understand. If it were my child, I wouldn’t want
them to be with someone with a complicated background. I don’t blame them.”
Carol’s words surprised Clark even more.
“I’ll do my best to earn their approval.” Carol looked into his eyes, her voice
serious, “My parents haven’t been buried yet. I haven’t avenged them or Crystal
yet, so I can’t leave. I can’t let those people get close to the Temple family and
you.”
Standing at the door, Arabella heard this, a smile playing on her lips as she
walked towards the head doctor’s office.
Seeing her approach, the head doctor stood up as if he was greeting an
esteemed person in the medical field.
“Dr. Bella, welcome! Please, come take a seat!“Chapter 1178
“No need for formalities, just call me Arabella.”
“Nonsense, that wouldn’t be right. Your medical skills surpass mine. It’s already
a disservice to call you ‘Doctor’.
Please, have some tea. This is the best we have.”
The attending physician prepared the tea and carefully handed it to Arabella,
saying with the utmost respect, “It’s a bit hot, take your time.”
Arabella accepted the tea and stated her purpose, “I’d like to see all the realtime data from the medical equipment monitoring the patient who was moved
Enter title…
into room 308 last night, as well as any issues identified by the doctors and
nurses.”
“Please, give me a moment. I’ll fetch it for you.” The doctor quickly accessed the
system, turned the computer screen towards Arabella and said respectfully,
“Here it is, four pages in total. Take your time.”
After Arabella finished one page, she clicked to the next.
“No adverse reactions were observed. The patient didn’t ring for assistance,
there were no complaints from family members, and our staff checked on her
every hour for five consecutive hours from late night to early morning, without
finding any issues.
The doctor paused, then asked humbly, “Dr. Bella, may I ask where you sourced
the medication? Could it be introduced for medical usage to save more
patients?”
“Not yet.”
It was too expensive for the patients.
Moreover, it was not fully tested yet, there might be side effects.
“Oh.” The doctor nodded carefully, not daring to ask more, “The patient’s
recovery is going quite well.”
After reviewing the four pages of data, Arabella admitted, “Indeed, it’s better
than I expected.”
“if she doesn’t experience any discomfort, she can be discharged in three days.
If there are any complications, feel free to contact me.” Arabella handed over
her personal QR code.
The doctor was taken aback, then ecstatically scrambled for his phone, excited
to add the esteemed Dr. Bella to his WhatsApp contacts.
“I’ll be busy in the next few days and won’t be able to visit often. I’m counting on
you”
“No, no, it’s no trouble at all. I’ll take good care of the patient.’ The doctor was
still thrilled to have added the revered Dr. Bella’s contact.
“I’ll be leaving now.”
Seeing her stand up, the doctor immediately picked up the tea cup, “Dr. Bella,
your tea.”
“No, thank you.”
Watching her leave, the doctor thought to himself how polite, young, beautiful,
and skilled she was.
He wondered who would be the lucky person to win her heart.
After leaving the hospital, Arabella remembered that she’d been neglecting
Romeo recently, so she bought some items and drove to the McMllian
Corporation.
In the office.
Carl reported, “Mr. McMillian, our clothing brand can launch hundreds of new
designs each month. Our new designer is very talented. Our brand’s popularity
is on par with QY’s.”
“Reduce the new designs to eighty per month.” Romeo casually instructed as he
flipped through documents, “Our focus isn’t on the clothing industry.”
Carl understood that Romeo wanted to let QY dominate the market, but he
couldn’t help saying, “Mr. McMillian,
you could also make money with Ms. Bella.”
There was no need to “yield” to her.
“Isn’t the money I make going to be hers in the future?” Romeo asked, lifting his
gaze from the documents.
Carl couldn’t argue with that. “Oh, by the way, there’s a new competitor this
quarter. They’re tailing QY closely, copying their style. Each design is unique
and priced lower than QY’s, they’re stealing customers.” Chapter 1179
The designs were nearly identical to QY’s but at a cheaper price, so the sales
were quite good.
“Take it from the fabric of the clothes, the price, the style, the design, try to find a
way to knock them off the market.” As Romeo spoke, there was a knock at the
door. With a poker face, he uttered a single word, “Come in,
“Mr. McMillian-’
A woman entered, balancing files in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
There was a mix of admiration and eagerness in her eyes that she couldn’t hide.
Enter title…
Romeo looked at her, “I asked for the head of HR.”
Carl, who was standing beside him, couldn’t help but speak up, “Mr. McMillian,
she is the new head of HR, Belinda.”
Belinda, her wavy hair falling over one shoulder, handed him the coffee with a
smile, “Mr. McMillian, I’m Belinda.
It’s nice to meet you. Your secretary sent this coffee, and I brought it in. This is
the file you requested about this quarter’s staff changes. Some of the reasons
are related to a decision made by one of our group’s decision-makers. I wanted
to discuss it with you.”
Romeo inspected her meticulously made-up face, glanced at Carl, and Carl
quickly bowed and left.
As soon as he stepped out of the office, the elevator doors opened with a ding
sound, and Arabella walked out with a bag in her hand.
“Ms. Bella?” Carl was taken aback and rubbed his eyes, doubting if he was
seeing correctly, “Why are you here today?”
Arabella smirked, “Can’t I come?”
“No, no, I’m just surprised. Mr. McMillian will be thrilled to see you!” Carl hurried
forward, “Let me help you with that. Is this for Mr. McMillian?”
“Yes.” Arabella handed him the bag, “Is he still busy?”
“There have been a lot of staff changes recently, and many people have
resigned. It’s said that there’s a reason behind it, and Mr. McMillian is
investigating’
“Then I’ll wait here for a while.”
“Ms. Bella, why don’t you come in and sit in my office?”
Romeo’s office was right next door, and this room was Carl’s workspace.
Arabella entered and found the environment quite pleasant.
She suddenly felt she had been underappreciating the hardworking people who
had been managing her corporation.
Their offices were not even half as large as this one.
“It’s a little messy, Ms. Bella, have a seat. I’ll make some coffee.” As Carl was
speaking, he added, “We can finally use the coffee beans Mr. McMillian bought.
If you didn’t come, the coffee beans would have expired. And the snack cabinet
that’s only for you, those things have been sitting there for quite a while.”
Arabella felt a warmth inside, and was about to speak when she heard the
sound of a cup shattering from the next room.
Following that was the irate voice of a man.
The specifics of what was said were unclear, but it was obvious that Romeo was
very upset.
“Ms. Bella, just sit tight, I’ll go check it out.” Carl quickly opened the door.
“Is he always like this?”
“No, no, no, Mr. McMillian is very considerate of his staff, very easy to talk to.
Maybe something today hit a
nerve.” After knocking on the door next door, Carl pushed it open, only to hear
Romeo angrily say, “Get out.”
Carl shut the door in fright.
Seeing Carl’s scared, shrunken figure, Arabella, out of curiosity, knocked on
Romeo’s door.
“Didn’t you hear me? I said.”
His sentence was cut off when he saw the person who pushed the door open
was Arabella.Chapter 1180
Romeo’s anger quickly simmered down as he moved towards the girl, his eyes
filled with surprise and joy.
“Hey.” Arabella smiled at him, “What did you ask me to do again?”
“Come in? Romeo swiftly pulled her into his arms, greedily inhaling her scent.
“You finally came to see me.”
“Ms. Bella also brought quite a few things for you.” At the doorway, Carl carried
a large bag.
“What is it?” Romeo asked excitedly.
Enter title…
“Food, necessities, all sorts.”
“Well, bring it in then.’ With just a glance from Romeo, Carl immediately brought
the bag in.
“I’ll open this surprise later”
After saying this, Romeo happily looked at the girl in his arms, “Why didn’t you
tell me in advance? I could come down and meet you.”
“I wanted to surprise you”
“Indeed, it was both a surprise and a joy.”
The displeasure from before had completely dissipated, replaced by a warm
feeling of gratitude.
“You haven’t visited me in a while,’ Romeo said, cherishing the girl in front of
him. “Will I get more surprises like this in the future?”
“Of course.”
On the side, Belinda watched their interaction in disbelief, unable to trust her
own eyes.
One minute he was furious with her, the next he was so tender with another girl.
His joy at the girl’s sudden visit was something she had never seen.
Who was this girl?
Could she be Mr. McMillian’s secret girlfriend?
But she looked so young, probably still in high school.
How could Mr. McMillian like such a girl?
“What happened?” Arabella asked, looking concerned.
“The coffee she made for me had something in it.’
Following Romeo’s gaze, Arabella noticed the woman on the side looking
somewhat disheveled. Her white blouse was stained with coffee, and three of
her buttons were undone, as if deliberately so.
There were broken pieces of the coffee cup on the floor, along with black coffee.
Arabella squatted down, dipped her finger into the coffee on the floor, and
smelled it, “Magic Elixir?”
A drop was rumored to make one feel euphoric. It was newly released on the
market.
Belinda’s expression was slightly taken aback. She couldn’t believe the girl had
such a keen sense of smell. But she would never admit to it, shaking her head,
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Weren’t you just discussing personnel changes?” Arabella stood up and walked
over to Belinda, her calm eyes radiating confidence. “Did you need to unbutton
your shirt for that?”
“I don’t know why my buttons were undone.”
In the face of Arabella’s strong presence, Belinda was somewhat lacking in
confidence.
“Anyone who is not properly dressed will not be allowed in this office.’ Arabella
was firm about this. “You unbuttoned your shirt after you came in.”
Belinda hurriedly buttoned up her shirt, not daring to look into Arabella’s eyes.
“Do you like him?” Arabella asked preemptively