Stuart repeatedly tried to call Jepherson until finally, one of those calls connected. At the same time, Jepherson had just come out from the conference room.
"What happened?"
"I'm not sure. I'm also on my way to the hospital."
Stuart's heart was in his throat all the way, he was so anxious that he was about to faint.
Raeleigh was just about to rest when she received a phone call from Jared.
She switched off her phone when she saw it was him who called. The phone never rang again. This was followed by Jepherson's arrival from outside.
The door to the ward burst open as he skidded to a halt at the doorway. He rushed to Raeleigh's side and sat down, his eyes darted from one place to another on her figure. "Which part of you has been frostbitten?"
"Why are you here?" Raeleigh was more than a little surprised. Jepherson's arrival was quite spot on. The moment the phone was hung up, he was here.
Did Jared make the call when he saw that Jepherson was here?
"You were fine earlier, how in the world did you get frostbite?" He asked instead at the sight of her red and swollen hands. Then Raeleigh recounted the events of the day from Crevor's arrival onwards. After he got the whole story, he frowned. "You called me?"
Raeleigh nodded. She also knew, from the look of things, that Jepherson's phone was with Jared and he hadn't returned it. Moreover, Jepherson wouldn't have known about her call if she hadn't brought it up of her own volition.
"This is getting more and more outrageous."
Jepherson's expression was dark with rage. Raeleigh said in appeasement, "Jared has his own way of thinking. I saved his life, and with his character, it isn't unusual for him to want to repay that debt."
"Hmph, it looks to me like he plans to give all of himself to you. I warned him back at the manor, but he still didn't give up."
Jepherson shot up from his seat as he spoke while Raeleigh said, "You should know better than anyone that when Jared is determined on what he wants to do, he would never throw in the towel so easily."
"What do you mean?" Jepherson's eyes burned brightly like torches. Raeleigh didn't want to explain anything. From the look in his eyes, she could tell that he had misunderstood.
Just like that year, he was also prone to misunderstand things and probed them.
People always said that a woman's thoughts were impossible to fathom, but what about the men? Weren't their thoughts just as impossible to perceive?
Raeleigh said instead, "I don't think it's necessary for you to use heavy-handed means to deal with this issue. You and I have nothing to do with each other in the first place. If we have to define what we have between us, it is undoubtedly lovers.
The word 'lover' is the most unreliable term. If you're compatible, you're one with each other; if you're not, you separate from each other. When you mention a lover, you also don't have to take it for real.
By now, Austin must already know about the relationship between us. But I still held a thread of hope, and waited for him to come find me.
Now that he's back, I don't have to worry anymore. I believe that with Austin's ability, he can definitely protect me.
As for you, you are the one who wants to entangle with me. If something really happens, it is your business and has nothing to do with me."
Raeleigh finished what she wanted to say at that point whereas Jepherson's face had become despondent, "I will handle Jared's matter. As for the matter with Austin, I will come up with a proper conclusion."
"I'm afraid that when he comes to find you, the one who will be in trouble is you." she remarked.
"Then let him come. If he has the guts to come, I'll leave him with no road of retreat."
Jepherson's gaze was vicious as he declared this. Raeleigh, who was laid out in bed, questioned, "I really don't understand. You have never understood how to appreciate those around you, why is it only I can?"
"It's not that I don't understand how to appreciate, it's your eyes that are blinded by dust. If that isn't it, then you just haven't woken up. Don't you know who is right or wrong anymore?"
"All right, enough, I'm tired. I want to rest. Say whatever you like."
Raeleigh pulled the quilt over herself only for her hands to recoil in discomfort.
Jepherson's countenance changed slightly. He bent down to check on Raeleigh's hand. "All right, I was wrong. Whatever you say, goes. Is that still
not okay?"
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