The doctors and nurses hurriedly fled the room, dragging the sedated Dr. Griffin out as well.
Marcus also left, and the room was now empty, with only Caitlin and Sebastian remaining.
Caitlin quietly observed Sebastian. Although the man was injured, with bandages around his head and casts from his knees to his calves, he still exuded an unstoppable charm with his high nose bridge, tightly pressed thin lips, and thick brows furrowed in frustration. His cold, chiseled face still held a magnetic appeal.
Sebastian reached out toward the nightstand, fumbling for something. From his gaze and actions, it wasn’t hard to deduce that the man might also be blind.
For a man who had once been on top of the world, paralysis and blindness would undoubtedly be a devastating blow.
It was like an angel having their wings torn off!
She understood him. He must be in so much pain!
Caitlin bent down to pick up a pillow from the floor and walked toward him.
Sebastian couldn’t see, but he heard the sound of footsteps approaching and immediately snapped angrily, “I told you to get out! Why aren’t you gone? I don’t need anyone to take care of me! Get out!”
His proud, powerful body had become disabled, and his eyes saw nothing but darkness.
Now, he was living in a hellish void!
He didn’t want anyone to see him in such a pathetic state!
“Why should I leave? From today onward, I am your wife, Sebastian!”
Caitlin placed the pillow behind him, ignoring his resistance.
Sebastian, sensing her presence, grabbed her wrist fiercely. “What wife? I never agreed to marry you! You’re just someone they arranged. Go back to wherever you came from! Get lost, did you hear me?”
He pushed her away with such force that he ended up falling back onto the bed himself.
Caitlin stumbled but quickly regained her balance, staring at the overbearing man. She smiled. “I’m not going anywhere! After all, I finally have the chance to marry you. Do you know how many women dream of this? Marrying you makes me Mrs. Vanderbilt, the future mistress of The Vanderbilt Family. Why would I give up such a great opportunity?”
“I don’t care what you think. I will never acknowledge you as my wife!”
Hearing her words, Sebastian assumed she was just another gold-digger, someone after The Vanderbilt Family’s wealth and status.
“Whether you acknowledge it or not, I am your wife!”
Caitlin continued, “No matter how you feel, I’m staying here to take care of you until you recover!”
Caitlin was here to repay a debt.
Five years ago, at her lowest point, he had helped her.
Now, at his lowest point, it was her turn to repay him!
“I don’t need you! I don’t need anyone! Did you hear me?”
He roared, his voice filled with despair.
“You just woke up, Mr. Vanderbilt, and yet you have so much energy, your voice is loud and clear. It seems you’re not going to die after all.”
Sebastian was still seething, his handsome face etched with hopelessness.
Hearing the woman’s teasing tone only deepened his frustration. How could she still be making jokes when he was this furious?
Caitlin lifted the blanket and pinched his foot. Suddenly feeling the pain, Sebastian furrowed his brow. “What are you doing?”
“You can feel pain. That means your legs are only fractured, not paralyzed. Your blindness is likely due to a blood clot pressing on your nerves. Once the blood clears, you should regain your sight.”
“You’re not a doctor. I don’t need your opinion! Get out!”
Instead of leaving, Caitlin suddenly leaned closer.
“What are you doing?”
A soft hand suddenly reached out.
Sebastian, shocked, tried to raise his hand to stop her, but Caitlin grabbed his wrist.
She wasn’t weak either, holding his arm in place with a teasing smile. “Everything seems intact. It looks like Mr. Vanderbilt can still be a full man!”
“You…”
Sebastian, at a loss for words, finally spat out, “You shameless woman!”
Apart from his encounter with Camellia five years ago, Sebastian had never been with another woman. Never before had anyone touched him like this.
What a humiliation!
“Who needs shame? I want you to get better soon! Only when you recover can I enjoy my life as a wealthy Vanderbilt wife! So, let’s work hard, Sebastian!”
Caitlin deliberately patted his face, the sound echoing loudly.
No one had ever dared touch his face like that!
No woman had ever been so audacious as to tease him!
This woman was simply asking for it!
Her actions left a terrible first impression on Sebastian.
He was so furious, he could barely contain his anger. If he could get up, he’d strangle her right now. “Get out! Get out! I don’t want to see you! Get out!”
“I already told you, I’m not leaving. I’ll stay and take care of you until you’re fully recovered. When you’re better, I’ll leave. And when that time comes, even if you beg me to stay, I might not agree.
“And you should be grateful that you can’t see right now. If you could, I’m afraid you’d fall in love with me.
“And that would make things very painful for you.”
No matter what he said or how he cursed, Caitlin’s attitude was like soft cotton—impenetrable, but maddeningly frustrating.
Sebastian was truly enraged, his chest heaving with every breath. He realized this woman was a narcissist!
Fall in love with her? What a joke!
At the door, Caitlin called for the maids to come clean up the room.
The maids entered nervously, casting anxious glances toward the man on the bed, afraid he might start smashing things again.
They noticed that Mr. Vanderbilt was no longer in a rage but simply lying there, staring blankly, his face etched with hopelessness.
The maids were curious. How had the new Miss Lewis managed to subdue their notoriously irritable Mr. Vanderbilt?
While the maids cleaned the room, Caitlin went downstairs, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of her eldest son. Where was he now?
Standing in the garden outside, Caitlin heard the sound of children playing in the distance.
She followed the noise and found three children under a large tree.
Two chubby boys, about five or six years old, were chanting a rhyme, “Little mute! Howard! Shadow boy! Waa-waa baby! No-mother bastard, drinks pee every day!”
The boy being bullied was much smaller, probably only four or five years old.
Though small in stature, he wasn’t backing down. Like a stubborn little bull, he charged at the two chubby boys, headbutting them.
The chubby boys fell down but quickly got up, grabbing the small boy and pinning him to the ground, shoving dirt and leaves into his mouth.
“How dare you hit us? We’ll beat you up, you little mute!”
The chubby boys were having a great time bullying him, clapping their hands and laughing.
The small boy struggled to his feet, ready to fight them again.
But he was no match for the two bigger boys. Even though his nose was bleeding, and his face was covered in dirt, he didn’t give up.
Pinned to the ground, he still glared fiercely at the chubby boys!
Caitlin approached, her heart aching as she saw the boy’s face.
Though it was dirty and bloodied, she could clearly see the resemblance to Bruce and Arthur.
He was her eldest son, the one she had given birth to years ago!
They called him a little mute. Did that mean he couldn’t speak?
Seeing her son being bullied like this made Caitlin’s heart twist with pain!
“So it’s meeting the parents, huh? Alright then. First you’ll need a gift.”“Right, right. But it’s my first time meeting her mother. What should I bring?”Molly had no experience with this and wanted Caitlin’s advice.“Rebecca raised two kids on her own. She’s thrifty and practical. If you give her something too expensive, it might not win her favor.”“You’re right.”“Better if it’s something meaningful you made yourself.”“I could… but what should I make?”“As far as I know, Rebecca was once a ballet dancer. Why don’t we start from there?”Molly looked embarrassed. “Ballet? You mean I should perform for her? No way, I can’t dance!”“I’m not asking you to dance. Here’s what I mean…”With Caitlin’s coaching, Molly fin
Outside the prison, Sebastian waited until Caitlin came out. He stepped forward and asked, “How was it? Did he talk?”“Not yet. Let’s just go back first.”Caitlin got into the car, and Sebastian drove them away.On the way back, Sebastian said, “You’re being too gentle. For someone like him, who’s killed so many, the only way is to fight fire with fire. If it were up to me, I’d bring his sister here to the US. Only if he sees her in danger with his own eyes will he compromise.”“I’ve thought about that. But Ida’s health isn’t good enough for long-distance transfer. She needs treatment as soon as possible. As for the grudge between me and Black Hawk, his sister isn’t the one to bear it.”Caitlin remembered the pained look on Black Hawk’s face as he covered himself, and she wanted to gamble on one last chance. “I think we can wait a few m
Caitlin studied Black Hawk’s face, cold and sharp as a blade. His composure was terrifying—no flicker, no weakness, not even the faintest twitch. His control was flawless.“Why ask me?”The realization struck him like ice water: she had begun to suspect. This woman was dangerous. She wanted to use Ida to pry open his defenses—he could not afford to take the bait.Caitlin’s smile faded. Her voice cut sharper. “Why do you think I asked? You really believe I came here to chat for fun? I already know the truth. Ida is your sister. You’re her brother, aren’t you?”His fingers dug into his palms, his stare fixed and hard on her.Caitlin pulled a faded photograph from her folder, sliding it against the glass. “Your sister’s picture. She’s only a child in it, and her brother was barely a teenager, but the resemblance is there. The eyes don’t lie. Without this photogra
Hayden’s lips were a breath away from Jillian’s when he noticed her wide, startled eyes, like a frightened little doe. He pulled back at the last second, his voice steady.“We’re here. Time to get out.”He stepped out first. Jillian’s body slackened, but her heart still thudded wildly.He didn’t kiss her.Why?A small, secret part of her had been hoping he would. Now the missed kiss left a faint, inexplicable ache in her chest. Did this mean he didn’t like her?She followed him into the estate, eyes widening at the sight of the low-key yet extravagant manor. “This… is The Fixer’s home?”“Mm.”Hayden led her inside. Jillian’s pulse raced faster. For a man to invite a woman into his most private space—didn’t that mean she was different from the others?He arranged a guest room for her. That night Jillian tossed and
“Jillian!”Caitlin spun around just in time to see her slipping, a cry escaping her lips. Julie and Zinnia both gasped, eyes wide with horror.They were too far away. None of them could reach her in time.Just as Jillian was about to plunge headfirst into the pond, a strong hand shot out and seized her wrist.Hayden.He had moved like lightning, striding forward in three powerful steps, yanking her back with a firm pull.Jillian tumbled straight into his chest, her face pale as paper, her heart pounding so violently it hurt.The others finally exhaled in relief. Jillian lifted her head from Hayden’s embrace, her lips trembling as she whispered, “Thank you.”“Idiot. Watch where you’re going,” Hayden said, his voice laced with reproach—but under it was something softer, warmer, protective.“I… got it.”Instead of getting angry at being ca
“For now, there’s still no trace of Forrest,” Caitlin replied with a small smile. “But we’ve finally found a lead on my mother.”“Really? Where is she?” Billy asked, his voice full of concern.“We tracked her to Country A. I’ve already sent people there. If nothing goes wrong, when we return home, we should be able to follow this lead and finally find her.”“Good, good, good! The sooner you find her, the sooner your family can be whole again.” Billy’s expression softened with hope.The evening ended on a warm note. After dinner, Caitlin and the others left Billy’s home and returned to their villa.Before bed, Caitlin tried to call Sebastian. He didn’t answer. She sent a message, but there was still no reply long after. Her chest tightened with unease. What was happening in the far northern seas?Far north, across the vast, icy waters.