Chapter 292 I Will Not Do It Again

Suddenly, a striking figure surged forward with remarkable swiftness, intercepting the deadly slash aimed at Derek. In one fluid motion, she executed a kick that swept Zachary off his feet.

The fruit knife tumbled to the ground, and a few drops of fresh blood splattered onto the floor.

“Ah!” The sight of the blood left Regina and Eunice utterly horrified.

“Maddie!” Derek exclaimed in sheer astonishment.

In that critical moment just before, Madelyn had bravely stepped in to block the knife with her own body. Though she successfully prevented a fatal injury, the blade nonetheless carved a nearly one-centimeter-deep gash in her hand.

Despite her usual resilience, Madelyn found the pain unbearable this time. She collapsed to the floor, clutching her wounded hand tightly, her breaths shallow and rapid from the intense pain.

As this scene unfolded, the police entered the room promptly, their arrival timely. They quickly subdued Zachary, who was now beyond reason, hurling curses and threats. “Derek, you a*hole! And you, Madelyn, you btch! Your whole family brings nothing but chaos, and you’ll never know peace! Even if I become a ghost, I’ll haunt you! Just you wait!”

Derek ignored his rantings. His focus was entirely on his daughter’s injury, his voice nearly breaking as he barked orders, “Cyrus, start the car! We need to get to the hospital, now!”

Cyrus wasted no time, dashing to the car and flinging the door open. Derek, with Madelyn in his arms, followed swiftly. Regina and Eunice, unwilling to be left behind, quickly joined them in the car, which then sped away.

During the ride, Madelyn’s pain was so severe that her lips turned white, rendering her speechless. The wound on her hand continued to bleed, each drop signaling the gravity of her condition.

It hurts…

Regina, still caught up in the events, pleaded with Derek. “Derek, could you perhaps reconsider? Zachary is my only younger brother. Please, don’t let him face jail alone; he won’t survive the hardship.”

“Exactly, Dad,” Eunice joined in. “Mom has no one else but him. Can’t you show some mercy?”

But Derek’s response was fierce and immediate. “Get lost! If I pity him, who will pity my daughter? If anyone dares advocate for him again, they’re no longer part of the Thornton family!”

He then pressed on Madelyn’s bleeding arm, his heart heavy with worry and sorrow. His voice trembled. “Maddie, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. You’re hurt because of me. Don’t worry, we’re almost at the hospital. You’ll be okay, don’t be scared…”

Seeing her father so distraught made Madelyn’s heart ache even more. It reminded her of her childhood when any injury or storm would bring her father’s comforting embrace. “Don’t be scared, Maddie… There’s nothing to be afraid of. You’re the bravest,” he’d say.

After her mother passed away, Madelyn had been terrified of the dark. Whenever she awoke crying in the middle of the night, searching for her mother, her father would hold her tightly and console her. “Don’t be scared, Maddie… I’m here to protect you. There’s nothing to fear.”

Upon reaching the hospital, Madelyn had passed out from the overwhelming pain.

Derek was frantic as he carried her into the medical room, urging the doctor to attend to her immediately. The doctor, feeling the weight of the urgency, swiftly gathered the necessary supplies like cotton swabs and gauze to staunch the bleeding before commencing a thorough examination of the wound.

It was only upon close inspection that a startling discovery was made.

The laceration inflicted by the knife was alarmingly profound, nearly deep enough to expose the underlying bone, which explained why Madelyn had passed out from the sheer intensity of the pain.

Given the severity of the injury, the doctor had no alternative but to immediately cleanse the wound and proceed with suturing. The procedure required a total of twenty stitches to adequately seal the cut.

Following that, Derek didn’t waste a moment in arranging for a well-appointed hospital room where his beloved daughter could comfortably recuperate.

Only ten minutes had elapsed when Sebastian, having been informed of the situation, made his way to the hospital.

Upon entering the room and laying eyes on the distressing state of Madelyn’s hand, his expression darkened significantly, mirroring the depth of the darkest abyss. His demeanor was so foreboding that it could instill a sense of unease in anyone present.

“Dad, what happened here?” Sebastian inquired, his voice carrying a chill as frosty as ice unthawed for millennia.

Derek, sensing the tension emanating from his son-in-law, felt a stir of anxiety. Yet, as he gazed upon Madelyn, he let out a heavy sigh, his tone laden with sorrow as he began to recount the day’s harrowing events. “Madelyn was acting to protect me, throwing herself in harm’s way to shield me from a lethal attack. It’s just like her, always so self-sacrificing…”

As he spoke, Derek’s voice faltered, his concern for his daughter causing his hands to tremble slightly. Sebastian’s expression grew even colder upon hearing the full extent of Madelyn’s selflessness.

This woman consistently treats her life as though it holds no value!

He then addressed Derek with a firm tone. “Dad, you should go back and rest now, I can manage things from here."

Exhausted from the emotional toll of the day and multiple outbursts of anger, Derek simply nodded in agreement. Entrusting Madelyn’s care to Sebastian felt like the most reassuring decision he could make under the circumstances.

The room fell into a heavy silence following Derek’s departure.

Sebastian’s gaze lingered on the frail figure of Madelyn lying pale and motionless on the hospital bed. A soft sigh escaped him, a rare display of his underlying concern. “When will you finally learn to take care of yourself, you stubborn girl?”

At that moment, Madelyn began to show signs of awakening. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, a subtle indication that she was regaining consciousness.

The effects of the anesthesia during the stitching made the sensation of pain somewhat muted, but as she adjusted to the brightness of the room, her eyes slowly opened.

“Sebastian?” she murmured, surprised and relieved to see him by her side. But her relief quickly faded as she took in the stern set of his features.

Observing his grim expression, Madelyn instantly knew that trouble was brewing. Sebastian’s handsome face, now set in a cold, hard line, was a clear indicator of his displeasure.

It’s over, completely over! Sebastian repeatedly reminded me to tell him before taking any action, but I chose to act alone out of fear that he’d worry. Surprisingly, I ended up like this… Looks like I’m out of luck again this time…

Sebastian, seeing that she was alert, didn’t hesitate. He promptly turned her over onto her back and began to spank her, his actions lacking any gentleness.

“Ah, no more, Sebastian, I was wrong! I won’t do it again.” Madelyn cried out, the pain of the spanking compounded by her acute remorse.

Sebastian, unyielding and stern, released her only to fix a steely gaze upon her. His voice was authoritative as he demanded accountability, “Tell me, what did you do wrong?”

Visibly distressed, Madelyn’s face swelled with emotion, her lips pursed in a display of sorrow and regret.

“I shouldn’t have kept it from you.”