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Lena felt like she was trapped in a nightmarish place, surrounded by horrible creatures that seemed to be tearing
at her body. The pain was excruciating, and she wanted to scream, but her voice felt stifled.
After what seemed like an eternity, she sensed a faint coolness, and she managed to move her lips, finally
mustering a few words. “Water… Water…”
Then, someone dampened a cotton swab with water and gently touched it to her lips. It brought relief, and her
intense feelings of agitation and anxiety began to ease. She struggled to open her eyes.
“You’re awake?” A familiar voice reached her.
Lena’s heart raced. Her awareness gradually returned, and her surroundings started becoming clearer. “It’s…
you?”
The man before her appeared somewhat different from the Chris she knew. Her image of Chris was that of a
charming and honest person with a strong, rugged face projecting a tough and sturdy demeanor.
But now, his eye sockets looked hollow, dark circles ringed his eyes, and his beard was unkempt. Despite this, his
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtsmile remained just as she remembered.
Lena gazed at him for a moment before speaking in a daze, “You… Why are you here? I…”
“Calm down. Save your energy,” Chris quickly advised, then briefly explained her situation, “When I found you, you
were badly hurt. I rushed you to the hospital, and the doctors worked for two days to pull you back from the brink
of death.”
Lena moved her body slightly, only to feel a sharp pain.
“Thankfully, the wounds are mostly on the surface.” Chris carried on while moistening her lips. “They’re quite
severe, but you’ve been making progress. If you rest and recover properly, you’ll surely improve.”
Chris placed the water cup down and looked at her seriously. “Lena, who are those people who hurt you?”
Lena struggled to piece together the events and context in her mind.
After leaving a letter for Lina, she departed from the Thompsons’. Her goal was to investigate Kaitlyn. Instead of
using her ID to buy a ticket, she hitchhiked the entire way. While traveling, she sensed that someone was following
her, and this feeling intensified after she left Centrolis.
Just a few days ago, those pursuers attacked her right after she passed through the forest.
Lena’s head throbbed. Some events were fragmented. She recalled it being the most brutal fight she had ever
experienced.
Breaking the silence, she softly replied, “I don’t know.
“I can’t recognize those people. Everything was chaotic then. They were ruthless, aiming for my head. It was clear
they wanted me dead! At that moment… I couldn’t clearly see their faces.”
“That’s okay.” Chris listened, his heart heavy. The wounds, both deep and shallow, must have been excruciating,
even for a man. How much pain was she enduring with those injuries?
“Right now, focus on recovering. We can talk about the details later.”
“While I might not identify those individuals, I know who sent them.”
“What?”
“It must be Kaitlyn!”
Lena gazed into his eyes, her tone unwavering.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmChris’ expression darkened, his brows furrowing. “Why are you so sure?”
“I…” Lena began to explain, but a violent cough interrupted her.
Concerned she might strain herself, Chris encouraged her to rest.
In any case, there was ample time to unravel this mystery.
–
The following day, Chris organized Lena’s release from the hospital. He was concerned that her safety might be
compromised if the ill-intentioned individuals were nearby.
Chris had many bank cards containing ample funds with him. There was a tranquil little village close to their
location, which was ideal for her recovery.
He secured a modest courtyard and scheduled a doctor to make two daily visits. During the doctor’s absence, he
took on the role of tending to Lena.
This was the first time in his life that he had assumed the role of a caregiver. While his army experiences included
rigorous training and lengthy marches with his fellow soldiers, attending to a fragile young woman like Lena
demanded an entirely different skill set.
Chris maintained a cheerful expression as he tirelessly prepared soup in the kitchen.
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