Duke put Adina onto the bed. He then sat on the couch beside the bed and watched her in
silence. He could already guess what happened, but he did not dare to ask her. Some things could not
be answered, even if he posed questions. Daylight was emerging as the bright sun rose from the east.
A new day had come. The pain at the back of Adina‘s head had gotten worse. She lay on the bed,
about to break down.
Duke clenched his jaw and looked at his phone.
“We were able to spot Earl last night. Indeed, he was just around here. “He changed cars three times,
and in the middle of it, we lost track of him. But he‘s definitely in Sea City. He couldn‘t have gotten far.”
His gaze darkened.
‘It‘s my fault. I should‘ve insisted on following Adina downstairs.
‘I‘ve only given Earl another chance to meet her... Duke pursed his lips guiltily. He went downstairs to
cook a plate of pasta. He then came back upstairs.
?
“Addy, eat up.”
“I told you not to talk to me! Get out!” She pulled her hair and screamed hysterically. As soon as she
said this, she came back to her senses. She held her head and said in pain,“ Duke, I‘m sorry, I didn‘t
mean to...”
?
She felt herself splitting into half. On one end, the command wanted her to throw Alden out of the
Winters family‘s mansion. On the other end, she tried to go against it.
Her head was about to explode. She could not hold it anymore. ‘Earl is ruthless.
‘Not only does he want me to harm Duke, but he also wants me to hurt my own child too...
‘No matter how sensible or considerate Al is, he will definitely be hurt...
‘I‘d rather die than make him go through this.
“Duke, please leave me alone. Close the door, and lock me up here...”
‘With that, even if I can‘t control myself anymore, I won’t be able to go find Al...’
Duke was saddened.
He approached and hugged her as he whispered, “Addy, what did Earl command you to do?”
“If he asked you to hurt me, just do it. It‘s okay. I can stand a little injury.”
He comforted her as he took out the dagger under her pillow.
Somehow, he started getting used to knowing that a dagger would always be hidden under Adina‘s
pillow, in the drawer, in the crack of the couch, in the pocket of her clothes, and even in her sleeves.
“No...” She shook her head.
“He asked me to...”
Before she could finish her sentence in between her pauses, they heard lively voices from downstairs.
It was the children‘s laughter.
She froze suddenly. “Duke, you mustn‘t let me see the children. I must not see them. You can tell them
that I‘m still sleeping...”
She pulled the blanket over her head and hid in there.
Duke patted her back gently a couple of times. “Alright. I‘ll go downstairs and have a few words with
them and send them back.”
Mabel was chatting with the children in the living room, with her luggage at the front door.
“I brought the children out for New Year shopping, and we happened to pass by here,” Mabel said with
a smile. “They say they haven‘t seen both of you for a long time, so I brought them here for a visit. I
hope I‘m not bothering both of you.”
Duke said calmly, “Addy is still sleeping. Take a seat, everyone. Have a cup of tea before leaving.”
Harold said cautiously, “Daddy, can I sneak in and look at Mommy before we go?”
‘I‘ve been behaving very well for the past two weeks. I didn‘t make a fuss. Today, George and Al finally
gave in and let Grandma bring us here for a visit. Since we‘re here, I‘m sure we can definitely at least
meet Mommy...‘
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