Chapter 262 Are You Hurt
Renee had just exited Ivory’s house when a sleek black Mercedes pulled up in front of her. The car’s presence sparked an odd, familiar feeling, prompting her to stop and wait for it to come to a complete stop.
As soon as the car halted, the rear door swung open, and a tall figure soon emerged.
Renee’s expression froze.
The man, silhouetted against the sun, walked swiftly toward her. With each step, the concern on his face became more evident.
“I—” Renee started to speak, but before she could finish speaking, she was enveloped in a firm embrace.
At that moment, for reasons she couldn’t explain, her heart was flooded with a mixture of emotions.
“Are you hurt?” William’s voice was filled with concern as he held Renee tightly.
Renee gently shook her head. Then, afraid he might not notice, she whispered, “No.”
But William, unconvinced, refused to loosen his hold.
“I’m really fine now,” Renee reassured him softly.
“Okay, okay, she said she’s fine. Could you maybe save the hugs for when you’re at home?” Denton couldn’t resist chiming in.
Renee and William stood there in the middle of the street, near a cozy old apartment complex, with a few curious elderly residents watching the scene unfold from their windows.
004
“Shall we pick up Felix and head back together?” William asked Renee, his voice softening.
Renee nodded, but then, her gaze shifted toward Rosa, a sudden pause in her step.
Rosa’s eyes locked onto hers, filled with silent hope, clearly pleading for Renee to bring her along.
“Denton,” William called out.
Denton moved forward. “What is it? Another request?”
William turned toward him and said, “Please take Rosa back.”
“Renee,” Rosa quickly called out, her voice thick with both reluctance and sadness.
Renee sighed, massaging her temples as she spoke gently. “Rosa, you need to go back. Your mother can take better care of you. Don’t follow me.”
Renee’s words came out sharper than intended, and instantly, Rosa’s eyes were filled with tears.
Seeing her like this, a surge of guilt washed over Renee. This was not the Rosa she had once known.
When Rosa turned away, dejected, and climbed into Denton’s car, Renee couldn’t help but call out, “Next time, if your mother says it’s okay, have her bring you to visit me.”
Rosa’s face brightened immediately, her eyes alight with joy as she nodded eagerly. “Okay!”
Only after watching Denton’s car disappear did Renee get into her own, sliding into the driver’s seat with William settling beside her.
As the car started, Renee’s gaze drifted to William’s hand. She remembered his injuries and the fact that he was still supposed to be in the hospital. She noticed the bloodstains on his cuff, and her brow furrowed.
“How did you get discharged from the hospital?” Renee asked, her voice laced with displeasure.
William kept his expression neutral. “I just left.”
Renee’s concern deepened as she reached over, taking his hand. The skin around the needle mark was inflamed, with dried blood caked around it.
“Did you take out the needle yourself?” she asked, her tone sharp.
As the weight of her anger settled in, William finally grasped the seriousness of the situation. Unease crept in, making him uneasy.
“It doesn’t hurt,” he muttered.
“This isn’t about pain, William. You’re still a patient,” Renee said.
“It’s nothing. I have had worse back in the army and didn’t think twice about it!” William replied.
But the more William tried to brush it off, the more Renee’s anger flared. In
the end, she chose silence, her focus shifting solely to the road.
