“Hedy, from this moment on, I’ll count down from ten. With every number, your brother will take ten strikes. The doctor said his body is already very weak. If you don’t want him to die, then tell me where Debbii is.”
I shook with rage, glaring at my brother’s bloodied form, wishing I could tear the two of them apart right then.
“Bryson, I told you—I didn’t lay a finger on Debbii! I’m begging you. I’ll kneel if I have to! You know I’ve never lied to you! Please, believe me. Don’t hurt my brother!”
As I said this, I moved to kneel.
My brother was already coughing up blood. He was all I had left. I couldn’t lose him either!
But my pleading and my kneeling didn’t stir Bryson in the slightest.
He watched me sink to the floor and still began to count.
“Ten.”
Hearing that familiar countdown, I felt myself unravel.
“No! Stop! Bryson, you can’t do this! You’ll regret it!”
The batons fell again. Ten strikes. My brother’s mouth poured blood without pause.
“Nine.”
Seeing the guards raise their weapons once more, I wrenched free of Bryson’s grip and threw myself over my brother.
The batons crashed onto me instead. Pain ripped through my stomach, and a warm trickle of blood ran down my thighs.
The crimson seeped into my black dress, but all Bryson saw was my ashen face.
At last, his brows drew together.
“Stop!”
He strode forward, reaching to lift me, his eyes flickering with a trace of pain.
“Hedy, I…”
But before his apology could leave his lips, his secretary rushed up, thrusting a phone into his hand.
“Bryson, I’m in so much pain… Hurry up… Save me.”
Bryson’s outstretched hand froze.
He looked at me—nearly unconscious on the floor—as Debbii’s sobbing voice poured from the phone.
“Sir, we’ve found Miss Debbii’s location. The police are still handling the scene. She still needs your presence.”
Hearing that, Bryson finally made his choice.
His voice came out hoarse. “Take Hedy to the hospital. Get the best doctors for her. As for her brother, if anything happens to him, she’ll hate me forever. I’ll take care of Debbii’s situation first, then I’ll come right away.”
After saying that, he turned without hesitation and stepped into his car.
I could no longer hold on. My eyes fluttered shut, and the world went dark.
Hedy’s POV
When I woke up in the hospital ward, I ignored the pain coursing through my body and forced myself up, rushing to check on my brother’s condition.