1 August must have
I promised Hailey he would save her child. That was probably why she had fought so desperately for him.
I was well
wouldn’t
To outsiders,
must
Sms. After swallowing so many gemstones and being tortured to the brink
much longer. But she must have wanted her pup to survive.
I cold and ruthless, but I knew he would never allow Darren or feel terribly guilty.
of
eath, Hailey surely
to
be hurt in any way. My injury
this time
Everything
that had happened was simply
Anna had described Ryder Darren as devils, but I didn’t find them frightening August and the others reaping what they had sown.
at all.
I had given them a chan
They were the ones who had thrown it away.
Still, I couldn’t
help but
effect on him.
worry. Darren was so young. I pondered whether being raised with such a mindset would have a psychological
I was about to say something more to Anna when the treatment room suddenly burst open. Ryder and Darren appeared instantly, both of their faces lighting up with relief.
Darren didn’t hesitate for a second. He squeezed past Anna and grabbed my hand tightly. “Mommy, how are you feeling? Are you
better now?”
Ryder stepped closer, his voice gentle with concern. “Is there anywhere you’re still hurting? Don’t worry, I’ve already taken care of everyone who dared to hurt you.‘
”
Looking at the bloodshot redness in Ryder’s eyes and the deep shadows beneath them, my heart ached. He must have stayed up all night, sick with worry.
“I’m okay now. Don’t worry anymore.”
I then turned to look at Darren and asked gently, “Sweetheart, did your dad scold you?”
Darren froze for a moment. His lips pouted, and tears welled up in his eyes from the injustice he felt. But he still shook his head lightly. “No… Daddy didn’t scold me.‘
“Liar.”
I didn’t like the idea of Darren picking up the habit of lying, even to protect someone. But Darren stubbornly refused to admit that Ryder had scolded him.
Knowing Ryder as I did, I was certain that he must’ve taken out his anger on Darren. After all, I’d gotten hurt while protecting him.
So I gently pulled Darren into my arms to comfort him, then shot Ryder a sharp glare. He had better not take his temper out on Darren again.
Ryder guiltily scratched his nose and lowered his head in embarrassment, clearly at a loss for how to respond.
