Chapter 333

A row of trash cans lined the street. Hervey pointed to the green one. "Howard," he nodded slightly.

Howard swallowed hard, understanding. He stepped forward, approaching the green can. Someone nearby helped him lift the lid.

"Ah…" A terrified scream—Rosie's voice—escaped from within, followed by a whimper and a desperate plea for mercy. "Don't… don't come over… please, don't hit me, don't hit me," Rosie cried as Howard peered into the can.

Rosie was curled in a tiny ball, dirt smeared across her face and body, looking pitiful. Scratches marred her face, her hands were scraped, and he couldn't assess other injuries beneath her dirty clothes. Howard's heart ached. He had to get her out. He reached for her. "Rosie…"

"Ah, ah, ah…" At the sound of his voice, Rosie startled, screaming, "Don't come over! Don't come over!" She wildly waved her arms, trying to fend him off. She had scared away the crowd searching for her just moments before.

Howard furrowed his brow. Instead of retreating, he gently grasped her shoulders. "Rosie, calm down."

"Ah, ah, ah…" The instant he touched her, she tensed, her eyes wide with fear.

"Rosie," he said softly; seeing her like this broke his heart. He pulled her closer, cupping the back of her head and pressing her against his chest. Leaning down, he whispered, "I'm Hendrix. Do you recognize my voice?"

Rosie leaned against him, uncertain. "Hendrix?"

"Yes, I'm Hendrix," Howard said soothingly. "You know my voice, don't you?"

Rosie nodded dazedly. Yes, she recognized it. A rush of safety washed over her. This person had saved her. He was a good person.

"I won't hurt you," Howard said gently, reassuring her. "Come on, let's get you out. You need a bath, a change of clothes, and then the doctor needs to check you over."

Rosie remained silent, her tense body slowly relaxing, though fear lingered in her eyes. Hesitantly, she nodded.

"It's a bit high," Howard remarked, puzzled by how she'd managed to climb in. After a moment, he said softly, "Sorry for intruding. I need to carry you out."

His hands settled on her waist, securing her gently as if she were a child, lifting her effortlessly.

"Ah!" Rosie exclaimed as her feet left the ground. Instinctively, she clung to Howard, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her toes rested on his shoes the moment she touched down.

"It's okay," Howard reassured her, cradling her and pulling her close. He spoke soothing words to calm her. "You're safe now. No one can hurt you."

Rosie blinked, nestled in his arms, and tentatively replied, "Thank you."

Howard offered a bitter smile. If only she knew he was the source of her suffering.

He picked her up in a sideways carry. "Let's go back," he said.

Turning, he spotted three people standing a short distance away, shoulder to shoulder, each with a different expression. Sienna, most shocked of all, had suspected something, but this confirmed her wild guesses. Watching Howard hold Rosie, her mind raced with questions: How did this develop? When did it begin? What sparked it? How far has it progressed?

Josiah frowned, his eyes heavy with concern, occasionally glancing at Yvette, who seemed equally troubled. Yvette watched coldly, a smirk playing on her lips, as if observing an unrelated show.

Passing them, Howard shot them a quick glance. "Let's talk later," he said quietly. He needed to care for Rosie and had no time to explain.

Back at the villa, a caretaker bathed Rosie. The doctor awaited to treat her injuries. In the living room, Josiah and Yvette sat in silence. In another room, Josiah spoke with Sienna.

"Sienna," Howard said, choosing his words carefully, "I hope you can keep Rosie and my matter secret from Yvette for now."

"Why?" Sienna frowned. "What do you mean? Rosie's in an unhappy marriage; she's already suffering. Don't bully her." Howard's brow twitched. "You think I'm bullying her? Playing games?"

"What else would I think?" Sienna replied, gesturing outside. Lowering her voice, she said, "Before I even joined the Flynn family, I knew you and Yvette were a couple." This was no secret in Jelacrity; Josiah's feelings for Yvette were the envy of many. "Howard, you can't…"

"That's all in the past," Howard gently interrupted, his gaze sharp yet calm. "Yvette and I have broken up." Sienna was speechless, shocked. They had seemed the perfect, unbreakable couple.

"Yes," Howard nodded, sensing her disbelief. "We've broken up." He rarely discussed personal matters, only sharing this with Sienna because she was one of Rosie's few friends. He added simply, "I'm serious about Rosie. I'm not playing with her feelings, so you can rest easy."

The bathroom water stopped running. Howard glanced toward the door. "Sienna, you should go. The doctor needs to treat Rosie's wounds."

Sienna, still dazed, said, "Okay," getting up and leaving.

7:09 AM

Chapter 333

In the living room, Josiah watched Yvette's silence, debating whether to speak.

Suddenly, Yvette stood, smiling at Josiah. "I'm thirsty. Want anything?"

"I get it," Josiah stood.

"No need," Yvette replied, going to the kitchen and opening the fridge, pulling out a bottle. "We have cappuccino; is that okay?"

"Sure," Josiah said indifferently.

"Great," Yvette lifted the bottle, struggling to open it. "Why won't this open?"

"I can help…" Josiah reached out.

"No!" Yvette barked, clutching his hand. "I can do it myself!"

She strained, but the cap wouldn't budge; she broke a nail instead. Josiah froze, taking the bottle.

"Josiah," Yvette suddenly grasped his hand tightly, her eyes filled with pain. "I'm in so much pain… it hurts…"