"I know what Erik wants, and the mont he shows up, I’m gonna catch him. I want to trade him for Serena’s life. Is that okay?" Martin pleaded as he bowed deeply, "Please."
The four exchanged knowing glances, silently concluding that the kid was a lost cause. He was hopelessly devoted to that girl, Serena, who just couldn’t see it. Her heart had always belonged to Roo.
"Just go ho." Louisa was adamant about not releasing Serena, "She’s hurt Rose ti and ti again. I’m not about to let her off the hook that easily. And to be brutally honest, if she’s really dying, it’s
Erik’s fault. Why hasn’t he shown up all this ti? If he can ignore his own daughter’s life or death, why should you, just her boyfriend, bother?"
"Mrs. Collins." Martin began, but Louisa cut him off.
"Even if you linger around for a day or two, I won’t release her. Get that through your head." She said coldly and wearily, not desiring to make any interactions with him, "Go ho, Martin. You’re a decent man, and I have no intention of having soone escort you out. There’s no room for negotiation with about that girl, so don’t waste your energy."
Martin looked to the other elders for support, but they remained silent, evidently in agreent with Louisa.
He knew further words were futile, "My apologies for upsetting you, Mrs. Collins."
He bowed once more, his voice as polite and respectful as ever, "I’ll bring Erik back as soon as possible to trade for Serena. It’s late; I won’t disturb your rest any longer. Goodbye."
He knew he couldn’t use force to get her, especially with Bard and Eunice here, their clout partially extended to this place.
The holidays were approaching, and Serena’s brothers would be returning ho. The Collins family had deep roots in this city. Outnumbered and outgunned, Martin knew that brute force was neither his preferred thod nor his style.
There was only one way left: to capture Erik. Erik held the truth about the clinic fire that the Collins family wanted to know. Even if Erik fell into their hands, he wouldn’t be killed outright - he’d likely suffer so physical pain at most.
But Serena was a different story. She had been without food and water for two days and nights,wounded, and he didn’t know how much longer she could last.
Watching Martin’s retreating figure, Kenneth sighed, "Why doesn’t the kid see? Is that girl really worth all this trouble?"
"The Cooper family have raised him too well. A person with such heart and soul is rare these days. It’s a sha, but Serena is destined to break his heart," Bard remarked regretfully.
"If that girl survives, with her temperant, she’s bound for trouble." Eunice added, "She and Martin won’t last, and the Cooper family wouldn’t welco soone like her into their family. Let’s not worry needlessly. We’ve done what we could; the rest is up to him."
"Two days have passed, and Erik is still nowhere to be seen," Louisa’s concern was barely concealed.
Just then, a servant ca with urgent news, "Mr. and Mrs. Collins, there’s been no sound from the girl in the basent. When I opened the door, she was lying there, motionless and cold to the touch, with a burning fever. Her breathing’s almost gone. I had to check for a long ti before I could feel a faint breath."
The servant’s voice trembled with fear. With New Year around the corner, they dreaded the thought of a death in the house.
"Why don’t we have the doctor take a look? Then we’ll know her condition." Eunice suggested, and then looked around, "Let’s see how much longer she can hold out."
Without food or drink and injured, she probably had a day or two, at most three, left to live.
If Erik continued to be absent., having her die in the house would indeed be an ill on.
After examining her, the family doctor rushed with her dical bag to the stone table in the garden.
"Mr. and Mrs. Collins, the person in the basent, her infection is gotten nasty, fever’s through the roof, and I reckon she won’t last another 24 hours at this rate."
The faces around the room soured, as everyone realized the situation had taken a turn for the worse.
"What do you think? Should we give her so ds or clean up the wound a bit? There’s still ti to save her if we act now, but waiting until tomorrow might be too late, even for Ms. Collins."
After all, Ms. Collins was the doctor she’d t who was renowned for her exceptional dical skills.
If Serena’s condition worsened by tomorrow, not even Ms. Collins could perform miracles.
"Just leave it be and go," Louisa steeled herself. If her own father could be heartless, why should they,re strangers without blood ties, act any differently?
"I bet that Erik is banking on us to save her. He’s willing to let her suffer another day rather than show his face and get caught. Can’t believe there’s a father out there who cares so little about his child.
Cruel, just cruel," Kenneth scoffed in disdain.
"We’re known for doting on our kids. Compared to her siblings, everyone knows she’s the darling of the family. Erik’s gambling on that, thinking that after eighteen years, we couldn’t possibly stand by and do nothing." Louisa said, her anger flaring, "But this ti, we’re going to disappoint him! If he doesn’t care about his own daughter, neither will we!"
"Better off dead. We’ll just dump the body outside; let Erik find it. He’ll at least have to claim his own daughter’s body, right? That way, catching him will just be a matter of days," Eunice spoke with a chilling indifference.
The doctor said Serena had less than 24 hours left. They could even throw her out three or four hours early; Erik would surely co for her. It all hinged on Kenneth and Louisa’s final decision.
"Enough of this for now. It’s getting late; everyone should head off to bed," Bard suggested, rising as Ready for a new hairstyle?
Her beauty
the night air grew cooler.
The group dispersed, each with their own thoughts, leaving the person in the basent lying on the cold ground.
The next morning.
Sean stord straight into the McMllian Corporation’s reception room. Roo had just finished a morning eting and was surprised to hear that Mr. Sean Collins had arrived. Why had he co?
In the lounge, Sean was as arrogantly self-assured as ever. Just sitting there, his intimidating presence was enough to make the young secretary tremble, barely able to hold the coffee steady.
"Mr. Sean Collins, your coffee," the secretary avoided eye contact as she placed the coffee in front of him with shaky hands.
The rumors about Sean’s escapades were less than flattering, spreading tales of his unpredictable moods and brutal nature. The fact that he kept a collection of wild animals as pets was terrifying enough.
"Got Parkinson’s so young? Hands shaking that badly."
And the stutter? Who on earth was Roo hiring? How could soone like this even be a secretary??
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