Chapter 148

Eleven had just been a simple reply from Austin, but Charles couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran through him. Austin was out for blood! No one had ever made Austin this furious before. The Yates family was about to be turned upside down. And yet, Charles felt no sympathy for them. Anyone who dared to torment Austin’s woman deserved whatever was coming.

After finishing his task, Charles let out a breath. “Austin, everything is fine now.”

Austin nodded and was about to rise, but Suzanne clung tightly to his clothing. His movements paused as his gaze dropped to her delicate fingers gripping his shirt. Perhaps disturbed by his subtle movement, Suzanne’s brows knitted together, and her eyelids trembled as if she were on the verge of waking. Austin gently ran his hand down her back, soothing her with slow strokes. Only then did her expression relax, and she drifted back into deep sleep.

Charles smirked. “You should stay with her and rest. She must have been terrified.” A woman who had gone through such a traumatic ordeal was bound to feel vulnerable and unsafe.

Austin gave a faint nod, not moving. Charles stepped out of the ward and carefully closed the door behind him. Standing in the hallway, his usually nonchalant expression darkened. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a pair of scissors, and snapped them open and shut in the air with sharp clicks. If Henry ever came to him for medical treatment, he would make sure that bastard never walked out the same.

Inside the hospital ward, Austin, who was still holding Suzanne, eventually lay down beside her on the bed. Her sleep was restless, tormented by relentless nightmares. In her dream, she was running endlessly from those chasing her. Just as the hands behind her nearly grasped her clothes, Suzanne jolted awake and sat up abruptly in bed. She gasped for air, her heart pounding erratically. Todd Lloyd! Memories came flooding back, sending a wave of panic through her. Where was she?

She hurriedly swung her legs over the bed, but the moment her feet touched the floor, the bathroom door opened. Austin stepped out, his tall, lean figure emerging from the doorway. Relief flooded through her; her anxiety instantly subsided. Her heart, which had been suspended in her chest, settled. His sharp gaze landed on her bare feet against the cold floor. His brows furrowed, and he strode over swiftly, scooping her up and placing her back on the bed. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes?” His voice was firm, but the concern beneath it was unmistakable.

Suzanne’s memories returned in full force. She hesitated to meet his gaze as every horrific detail of the past hours was etched clearly into her mind. Her fingers curled slightly, and she turned her head away, responding softly, “I thought I was still in danger.”

Austin’s eyes darkened with distress as he gently brushed off the dust from her feet. The gesture made her uncomfortable, and she instinctively tried to pull back. But Austin had already pulled the blanket over her, tucking her in securely. His gaze met hers, unwavering. “How do you feel now?”

Though her wrists bore angry red marks, they were no longer as severe. Suzanne checked her own pulse; the residual toxins had been flushed from her system. She looked back at Austin and said, “I’m fine now. Today I owe you everything. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what would have happened.” She didn’t want to imagine.

A flicker of pain crossed Austin’s eyes, and his expression softened. Yet he nodded reassuringly. “That’s all that matters.” He poured her a cup of warm water and said gravely, “Tell me everything.” Gabriel had uncovered some details, and what happened with the Yates family was no mere coincidence. Austin needed every detail to ensure that everyone involved was eliminated.

Suzanne’s eyes glowed with a cold, simmering fury, her anger rising uncontrollably. She took the cup from his hands and gripped it so tightly her knuckles turned white. After a pause, she let out a bitter laugh. “It’s my fault. I was blind to their true nature.” Austin’s gaze sharpened. Slowly, Suzanne recounted everything. Her entire body trembled as she spoke.