After making sure Lariette was sound asleep, Ruediger quietly left the bedroom. He didn’t forget to pull the curtains in, blocking the faint light from the windows.
Ruediger let out a sigh of relief. Rubbing his face with one hand, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
He hated feeling this worthless.
As if... he had failed her.
Never once did Ruediger imagine their day trip to this isle would end up like this. He still recalled the beaming look on Lariette’s face as she told him about the wonder of this isle.
"Eddy! You’ll surely love it!"
Exhaling a long and deep sigh, Ruediger reminded himself not to dwell on his feeling of self-loathing. Doing so wouldn’t bring any benefits to him.
’At least... She’s less frightened now.’
Lariette seed more stable than before, much to Ruediger’s delight. She drifted to sleep faster than he expected. Most likely due to her nerves loosening from her previous fear.
Lariette didn’t eat much of the food, saying she had no appetite. Ruediger thought to make so porridge for her but, Chairman Delaney was already on his way here. He would cook it once they got back to the villa.
"I lost my phone... Maybe when I ran."
Lariette lanted the loss of her phone as she lay on the bed earlier. Ruediger reassured her that he would try looking for it. She joked how useless the phone would be after being soaked by the heavy rain.
Chairman Delaney and his n would arrive soon.
’I better check on them.’
Despite everything that happened today, the clock had just hit three in the afternoon. Night wouldn’t fall until much later yet, the sky was still gray from the previous rain.
Heading toward the main door of the cabin, Ruediger’s movents were quiet and steady. He wore his damp, mud-stained shoes before striding to the backyard.
Footsteps trailed after him on the muddy soil, his steps asured and soundless. Water trickled down from the roof, lightly hitting the ground.
"You’re awake."
Devoid of warmth, Ruediger’s husky voice reached the two n. Bound and gagged, the intruders sat on the damp ground.
Ruediger secured their hands and feet with the ropes he found inside the storeroom. The n were still unconscious when he dragged them to sit with their backs against one another, also tied.
Dishevelled, the two n’s faces turned pale, their eyes widening with terror as Ruediger approached. The faint sunlight cast shadows across his sharp features, highlighting the storm brewing within him.
Ruediger crouched down opposite the brown-haired man. Both he and his companion squird, trying to inch away but failing.
"It’s so hard to be decent humans, huh? I want to handle you myself but, I’ll let the others decide."
Ruediger’s voice was low and steady but, dripping with restrained anger. The n whimpered through their gags, trying to plead for rcy.
"Oh, seems like they’re here."
Slowly rising to his feet, Ruediger glanced in the direction of the cabin. The muffled thud of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the surrounding area.
Those most likely belonged to Chairman Delaney and his entourage. Walking away from the two n, Ruediger ran to the front of the cabin.
As expected, Chairman Delaney appeared. The black-suited bodyguards flanked him, and more followed from behind. All wore the sa sharp expressions.
"Eddy!"
Lines of concern were evident on Chairman Delaney’s face. Despite the forest floor being slippery, the elderly man still half-ran, the tip of his cane hitting the ground.
"Grandpa."
Ruediger wasn’t surprised to see Madeline along but, Declan and Rafael’s unexpected appearances earned a montary confusion from him. The two siblings looked as tense as their grandfather.
"How’s Lari? Where is she? How about the assailants?"
Chairman Delaney darted his eyes around the area. He was thoroughly horrified once he received the bad news from Ruediger. His old heart beat rapidly in his chest.
Madeline, Declan and Rafael seed to have the sa questions as Chairman Delaney. Their brows furrowing, they eagerly waited for Ruediger’s answer.
"She’s sleeping inside," Ruediger began, his hand reaching for one of Chairman Delaney’s shoulders, "She’s not badly injured but, I’ve treated her as much as I could. The intruders are in the backyard."
The tension on Chairman Delaney’s face loosened slightly. Patting his chest, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Grandpa," Declan tore his eyes away from Ruediger to Chairman Delaney, "You should go to Lari. Let us handle them."
Rafael nodded, echoing the sa view as Declan.
"Okay... I’ll check on Lari first. Oh, I brought a doctor here too. Dr. Larson, follow !"
"Yessir!" chid one of the n. Ruediger had just noticed his appearance among the many.
Chairman Delaney quickly agreed with Declan’s suggestion. His desire to see his granddaughter overca his anger toward the two intruders.
Ruediger glanced at Madeline, to which the lady replied with a nod. Holding one of Chairman Delaney’s arms, she slowly led him to the cabin, leaving the others behind. Dr. Larson also followed them.
"Let’s go."
Unbothered by the hesitant looks on Declan and Rafael’s faces, Ruediger spun on his heels. Heading back to the backyard, he heard the n follow from behind, including the bodyguards.
The two n were surprised to see more people by Ruediger’s side, especially the burly-looking n in the black suits.
Arghhh!
What had they done to themselves?
What kind of hell did they throw themselves in?
Ruediger stood before the two n, followed by Declan and Rafael by his side. Their towering figures lood over the n, exuding suppressed anger and restrained danger.
"These bastards injured Lari? What have they done?" Rafael frowned, disgust and anger lacing his voice, "Should we kill them now?"
"Hmph! Hmph!"
The n shook their heads, whimpering for rcy yet, they received none.
Declan was as infuriated as Rafael but, he still kept his emotions in check. His eyes, blazing with fury, scanned the pitiful state of the two n.
These scoundrels seed to be around their age, most likely younger than him. Their figures were quite decent but...
Declan subtly shifted his eyes to Ruediger.
This man still easily subdued both of them. Declan could tell nothing had hard the crimson-haired man from the casual way he behaved.
Ruediger’s eyes remained on the two n, not noticing the subtle gaze thrown at him by Declan. Parting his lips, he answered monotonously.
"They chased Lettie into the forest. Luckily, she hid by climbing a tree. I bumped into them when they returned to the cabin."
Declan was at a loss for words. He had heard everything from Chairman Delaney but, it was still hard to believe.
Fortunately, it was really fortunate that Lariette wasn’t hard further.
And...
Declan couldn’t deny how impressive Ruediger was. Not only did he tackle the two n, but he also made sure they wouldn’t get to escape by binding them together.
Declan realized this was the first ti he interacted personally with Ruediger. Even in the previous etings, they barely exchanged a greeting.
Only now did Declan realize.
Ruediger might look relaxed but, he actually exuded the aura of authority and control.
This man... what kind of mystery was he hiding underneath the calm facade?
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