Chapter 33
past five years, but she finally managed to fall asleep–for
Perhaps it was because Courtney had grown used to having Hayilen by her side over the p oise, a peaceful rest.
She started to dream, though, and the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. In it, she was back in South Weldan, five years ago, reliving the day she first arrived.
“Courtney!” It was Mark’s voice.
Their convoy had been ambushed. The vehicle she was in had been violently rammed and sent rolling across the desolate expanse of the desert,
In that instant, Mark shielded Courtney with hi
this body, holding her tightly.
When the car finally came to a stop, Courtney was completely unharmed, but Mark was injured–blood trickled from a wound on his head.
“Mark!” Courtney cried out, calling his name.
Mark was the one lingering regret Courtney could never move past
“Don’t be scared. Fin fine Mark reassured her with a faint smile. He barely had time to comfort her before gunfire erupted, and they were captured by the enemy, dragged away as hostages
Mark said calmly, trying to soothe Courtney. “Don’t worry. They won’t kill us. We’re here on a peacekeeping mission.”
Throughout the journey, Mark kept reassuring her. “Don’t be afraid, Courtney. We’ll get through this. We’ll make it back alive.”
“Courtney, I’ll protect you. Austin’s still waiting for you at home.” In the end, Mark kept his promise. With his life, he secured Courtney’s safety and dignity.
“Mark, do you regret it?” Courtney often asked this question, over and over in her mind.
If she could see Mark again, she would ask him if he regretted saving her
“He doesn’t regret it…” She heard a voice.
In the dream, Courtney tossed and turned, unable to find peace.
But through the haze of her nightmare, a voice seemed to reach her, soft and reassuring.
“Courtney he doesn’t regret saving you,” the voice said.
up in his arms. His
The dim glow of the rightlight east a faint warmth in the room. Hayden watched Courtney as she trembled in her sleep, curled up gaze was derp and steady.
He raised his hand gently, soothing her back with soft strokes, and leaned in to press a quiet kiss to her forehead.
“Don’t be scared. I’m here now, he murmured, his voice low and full of quiet determination. “From now on, no one will lay a finger on you again,
That night, Courtney had the most restful sleep she’d had in years. She stretched lazily, only for her foot to kick into something
Opening her eyes, she found Hayden sitting there, dark circles under his eyes, looking at her with a pitiful expression.
“You…” Courtney started to say instinctively
In moments like this, when she wasn’t thinking, she could actually make sounds.
once she realized it
it, her voice faltered again,
and she couldn’t
Hayden droge for a secondGefore pulling her into his
is arms, holding her tightly like an octopus. “Honey, I’m hungry.”
me that?
Courtney’s fare flushed with anger and frustration. She signed furiously, “Stop calling me
“Got it, bonry. In
Chungry, though… Hayden replied shamelessly
Furning, Courtney sat up abruptly, simped into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, and then headed to the kitchen to make breakfast
She was mad, sure, but it was more like a brief spark of anger that didn’t linger. Hayden smirked, rolled over, ai
and went back to sleep.
The truth was, Courtney had been plagued by nightmares all night, and Hayden had stayed up the entire time, keeping watch over her.
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2:46 PM ·
Chapter 33
Now, at last, he could sleep in peace.
It wasn’t clear how long Hayden slept, but when he woke up, Courtney was gone again. She’d left only a note and a breakfast that was now destined to become his dinner.
After taking a shower and wrapping himself in her towel. Hayden looked at the note and chuckled helplessly.
The note read: [Hayden, the food is in the pot, kept warm. I’m off to work]
“So hardworking. Courtney, Hayden n muttered as he dried his hair. But when he glanced at his phone and saw the missed call from Warren, his face darkened.
A missed call from Warren could only mean one thing–his grandfather had already found out that he was back in the country
There was no hiding it now.
At the Lewis residence, Vera clutched her phone tightly, pacing back and forth as panic turned her face pale.
“Marilyn! That Courtney is back–she actually came back! You said it was impossible, that she couldn’t survive, but she’s alive. What do we do! Austin’s completely lost his mind over her!” she looked as Marilyn.
Vera wasn’t even half as smart as her sister Marilyn, her thoughts perpetually consumed by Austin.
Marilyn, on the other hand, had different concerns. If Courtney was back, she would definitely reclaim the Edwards family’s old mansion and the compensation money–along with her parents‘ death settlement.
“The Edwards family’s old mansion, the compensation money, and her parents‘ death settlement–together over 30 million dollars. That’s what you should be worried about, because she’s going to demand it back.” Marilyn said, her voice cold as she lounged on the sofa.
Marilyn and Vera bore a striking resemblance, but their personalities and intellect couldn’t have been more different. Marilyn radiated the cunning and ambition of a corporate powerhouse, a woman of undeniable ability.
“You’re right. Vera finally caught on. “Marilyn, what do we do? Are we really going to give it back to her!”
Marilyn flashed an ice–cold smile. That’s impossible. If the problem can’t be resolved, then the person causing the problem must be dealt with.”
If everything was just an accident, then she would keep letting “accidents happen to Courtney.
“Eliminating someone isn’t exactly difficult, is it?” Marilyn stood up, her voice calm and calculating. “She’s got no family, no support, and she’s mute. If we can’t handle even her, then the Lewis family has wasted all these years in Henisburg”
Vera’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Marilyn, what are you planning?” She wondered if her sister was going to kill Courtney.
Marilyn shot Vera a warning glance. If Austin still has feelings for her, it’s only a matter of time before he discards you. Are you willing to let that threat linger?”
Vera gritted her teeth. “You’re right! We should get rid of her”
Marilyn looked at Vera with a steely gaze. “This task can only fall to
to you”
As the future mistress of the Reed family, Marilyn couldn’t afford to get her hands dirty with something so unsavory. She could strategize and plot, but she would never risk implicating herself.
