CHAPTER 172: CHAPTER 172: VENTING ANGER

Henry Preston stood by the bed, looking down at me. His eyes were inexplicably cold, with a hint of unfamiliarity.

"Your parents should come to take care of you later, you should rest well." After saying this, Henry Preston took the coat from the chair beside him, turned, and left.

As for the question I asked, he didn’t answer.

It wasn’t until someone from the traffic police came to ask me about the accident that I learned it was Henry Preston who took me to the hospital; he happened to be passing by at the time.

At the same time, I also found out that the two people who hit me had been bailed out, and the matter still needed further investigation.

I felt a headache; encountering such unlucky things really ruined my mood.

Earlier, I heard the name "Third Master Lawson"; those two were his men. Could he have found out that I secretly reported them to the police?

After the traffic police left, my phone rang. The broken screen stubbornly displayed the name "Crystal Dawson."

"Zoe, are you okay? I’m almost there!" Crystal Dawson said anxiously.

"You’re pregnant, don’t worry. I’m fine, just got some superficial wounds on my face." I replied.

"Oh, how can I not be worried? Do you know this car accident possibly was an intentional attempt on your life? Henry Preston was furious and bailed those two guys out, who knows where he took them. Silas Lockwood is worried he might go too far and kill them!" Crystal Dawson said in one breath.

I was stunned, was it really Henry Preston who bailed those two out?

At this moment, I heard Silas Lockwood’s voice from Crystal Dawson’s side, "Zoe, you should call and talk to Brother Henry. He’s already in a bad mood; I’m afraid he might lose control and accidentally kill someone."

Is it that serious? I listened with some trepidation. Henry Preston does have a bad temper and usually acts on his impulses, but wouldn’t go out of his way for me, right?

After hanging up, I hesitated several times but finally dialed Henry Preston’s number.

It took three calls before Henry picked up. It was quiet on his end.

"What’s up?" His voice suddenly sounded, and it seemed there was nothing wrong.

"Nothing much, are you home yet?" I randomly asked for a reason.

"Yeah, I’m home, you get some rest," Henry replied.

Feeling he was about to hang up, I said directly, "Henry, if today’s car accident was someone intentionally trying to harm me, I believe the police will figure it out and capture the culprit. You don’t need to stand up for me; you owe me nothing, and I don’t want to owe you anything either."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end before Henry spoke, "Alright, I know."

Only then did I feel relieved enough to hang up. I really don’t want him doing anything for me; it’s enough to just be familiar strangers without incident.

The next day, Crystal Dawson came to see me, her belly quite big, and she brought some news.

The two guys who hit me were beaten half to death and thrown into a ditch by a highway surrounding the mountains; if someone hadn’t heard their weak cries for help, they might have died.

I was shocked and disturbed, not hoping Henry Preston would do such a thing; if it went wrong, I couldn’t escape culpability.

"Zoe, City A’s not that big; if you stay here, you’ll inevitably run into Henry Preston. I always feel he has other designs on you, wanting to get back together!" Crystal Dawson said while peeling an apple.

Talking about this matter gave me even more of a headache.

I avoided the topic, "Crystal, are you sure those two didn’t report the assault?"

"Do they have the nerve to call the police?" Crystal was furious, "They intentionally hit your car, wanting to kill you, even confessed the mastermind behind it was Sean Lawson, that ridiculous Third Master Lawson!"

My heart sank; I couldn’t figure out why Third Master Lawson would target me.

Just as I was deep in thought, Crystal suddenly handed me the peeled apple, stood up with an ambiguous smile, "Ivan Underwood is here, I’m off!"

Saying that, she really grabbed her bag and dashed off. Despite her big belly, she moved as if greased on her feet.

Holding the apple, I was speechless as I looked at Ivan Underwood standing at the door.

"Where are you hurt?" Ivan’s brow furrowed, and he walked quickly to my bedside, carefully observing my condition.

I shook my head, "I’m fine, a few days of rest is all, how did you know I was hospitalized?"

I wasn’t sure if Henry Preston did it on purpose; despite Ivan’s hospital being closer to where the accident happened, Henry took me to a more distant hospital.

"Silas Lockwood told me," Ivan’s face was stern, "Sean Lawson sent people to hit your car purposely; do you know him?"

I don’t, so I told Ivan about reporting The Preston Group’s chemical engineering project to the police.

I suspected Sean Lawson knew about it and was targeting me for revenge.

But I had no idea how he found out.

After hearing it all, Ivan’s face, already stern, turned darker. He stood up to leave, and I immediately grabbed his hand, "Where are you going?"

"To find Sean Lawson!" Ivan’s sudden surge of hostility shocked me; he was usually calm and collected.

I hurriedly stopped him, "Don’t go, I’ve reported this to the police, it’ll be investigated. Those two who hit me were already taken away by Henry for a lesson. That’s enough; don’t get involved any further."

When hearing Henry’s name from my lips, Ivan’s expression subtly changed, with a hint of coldness.

But he didn’t ask further, just pressed his lips together tightly, tucked me in, and then left.

I felt a bit weary; being a femme fatale wasn’t easy. Seeing Henry and Ivan at odds because of me, with violent incidents happening, made me quite uneasy.

By evening, Joel Sutton appeared hastily in my hospital room, carrying fruits. His face was full of anxious concern.

"Miss Hathaway, what’s going on? Have they caught the people who hit you?" he asked nervously.

"The police are handling it, don’t worry," I replied.

"Lately, the security in City A seems off. I was inexplicably beaten up in my rented apartment not too long ago. If someone hadn’t noticed something amiss and called the police, I might not have survived," Joel Sutton said, frowning and with a lingering fear in his voice.

I was shocked, "Why didn’t you tell me? Is it serious?"

"I didn’t want you to worry. I reported it, but they haven’t found the perpetrators." Joel flashed a smile, "It’s okay, Miss Hathaway."

It couldn’t be nothing; I always felt there was a connection between these two incidents, but couldn’t figure out where.

"You should find a new place to live," I advised Joel Sutton, "until they catch the attackers, it’s not safe there."

Joel’s expression was troubled; he avoided my eyes and spoke softly, "Miss Hathaway, I’m fine, the rent there is quite reasonable."

I immediately offered, "Move to a nicer place, I’ll cover the cost."

But Joel Sutton was unwilling; he’s a boy with strong self-esteem and only accepts my help in financial matters when it’s urgent or important.

As he kept refusing, I could only ask, "Have you heard of Evershine Realty?"

I’ve known that Joel’s current company is quite small, and I wanted to help him get into a bigger platform.

This idea has been on my mind, but today I took the chance to ask what he thought.

After hearing my suggestion, Joel stood still at first, then his eyes instantly filled with joy, "Sure, that sounds great; once I earn money, I’ll buy you a gift, Miss Hathaway!"

Seeing Joel so happy lifted my spirits a bit, "But don’t get your hopes up too much; I plan to ask someone to help, but I can’t do it myself."

"Even if it doesn’t work out, I’m happy because you’re supportive and caring, Miss Hathaway. I realized I—" Joel was so excited that he started speaking rapidly.

I had a premonition of what he was about to say and immediately interrupted him, "Sutton, I really see you as a younger brother, no need to be formal with me."

Joel’s words stopped abruptly, the light in his clear eyes dimmed with a tint of embarrassment. After a few seconds, he smiled, "I know, Miss Hathaway, and I will care for you as a sister too."

I felt a bit sorry for him but also relieved. Joel is a smart guy who should understand that our relationship can only be this way.

We were in the middle of a conversation when the sound of high heels clicking came from outside. Following the sound, Azure Vaughn appeared at the door.

Right now, she’s like a walking luxury advertisement, exuding wealth, which doesn’t suit her as much as the sky-blue apron she wore when I first met her in the café.

Azure probably didn’t expect to see Joel Sutton here; a flash of surprise crossed her face, followed by indifference.