Alisha received treatment in the sterile ward, and the whip marks on her arm were properly treated. After the rapid bacterial culture yielded results, Dr. Jones selected the appropriate antibiotics and administered a dose to Alisha before leaving the rest to Jamie.
When Alisha woke up in the hospital, her mental state had improved significantly. However, fear and anxiety still lingered, and she curled up in Luther's embrace, holding onto his neck tightly, unwilling to let go.
Luther and Jamie, with Alisha in tow, drove back to the seaside villa, with Jacob at the wheel.
Along the way, Alisha trembled from time to time. Whenever she thought of Athena's sinister face, she couldn't help but feel scared.
Luther sensed her trembling and gently comforted her, "It's okay, Alisha. Daddy won't let anyone harm you."
Alisha bit her lip and said, "Daddy, don't blame Mommy. It was really my own carelessness that caused me to fall. It has nothing to do with Mommy. Daddy, please don't be mad at Mommy."
Luther looked at Alisha in astonishment and gently touched her cheek, "Alisha, I already know everything that happened. Athena isn't here anymore. Why are you trying to protect her when she was the one who whipped you? You've suffered such severe injuries, why do you still defend her?"
He tried to keep his tone calm, although he was angry, he didn't want to scare Alisha. He wanted to hear her true thoughts.
Alisha's small body trembled slightly. She raised her clear eyes and said innocently, "I just want my daddy and mommy to be with me forever. Every time I go out and see other kids with their happy families, I feel envious."
Luther's lips parted, but in the end, he didn't say anything.
In Alisha's heart, Athena was her mommy. It would be difficult to change that kind of attachment, even though Athena had been so cruel to Alisha. She still longed for her supposed "mommy."
He really wanted to tell Alisha now that Athena wasn't her real mommy, Joyce was. She not only had a daddy and a mommy, but she would soon have two younger brothers. Their family would have six members, joyful and happy.
But he held back.
He just held Alisha tightly in his arms.
"Don't worry, Daddy will never leave you again," he promised. With Athena becoming more and more reckless, he couldn't leave Alisha alone.
Alisha nodded vigorously and shook her hand, "Daddy, don't worry. I'll get better soon."
A sour feeling surged in Luther's throat.
He felt heartache for Alisha's maturity.
On the side, Jamie watched the scene and sighed quietly. With Mr. Warner's capabilities, dealing with Athena shouldn't be difficult. However, Alisha was caught in the middle, making Mr. Warner hesitate. Jamie felt a tinge of frustration on Mr. Warner's behalf. He didn't know when such days would end.
After arriving at the seaside villa, before entering the house, Alisha clearly showed reluctance and fear. After all, she was just a child who had been whipped. The pain and terrifying memories were hard to dispel.
From the bottom of her heart, she didn't want to return here.
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