Chapter531JosiahInDanger
Ifthatruckuscontinued,morethan halfofthehotel’sguestswouleout toseewhatwashappening
Lysandersteeledherselfandsaid,“I’lltakehimnextdoorandexinthingsproperly.”
Josiahstoppedher.“Letme<b>go</b>instead.YoutakecareofAurora.”
WiththebothofthembyAurora’ssideandafterapeacefulsleepthenightbefore,therewasnoimmediatesignofherimpendingwailing.Aurorawasstillopeningitsmouthinablissful,sillygrin.
Then,sheturnedtoJosiahandartictedclearly,“Daddy.”
Lysanderfeltachillrunthroughherscalp.<i>If</i><i>my</i><i>father</i>hearsthis…Josiahisindanger.
Josiah,ontheotherhand,wasquiteallright.HegentlyteasedAurorabypokinghercheekwithalighugh.
LysanderheldAuroratightly,continuallfortingthtter.Atthesametime,shegotupfromtheedgeofthebedandmovedtostandinfrontofthetable.
Josiahhastilytidiedhimselfup,stridingquicklytoopenthedoor.HewasgreetedbythesightofMaverick’sred,angryface.Hegreetedpolitely,“Mr.Thorne-
Maverickworeasternexpression.“Where’sLysa?”
Josiahswiftlysteppedaside,allowingMavericktoseeLysander,
LysanderbracedherselfbeforegreetingMaverick.“Dad,<b>what</b>bringsyouhere?”
Lysanderhadsleptfullyclothestnight,soallsheneededtodowastotidyupher<b>hair</b>abit.However,thesignsthatsomeonehadsleptinthebedcouldnotbeerasedinsuchashortspanoftime.
Also,shewasholdingababyinherarms,andtherewerebabysuppliesscatteredonthecouch andcoffeetable.Thesceneappearedquitechaotic.
Maverick’shand,poisedtoknockonthedoor,frozemid–air.Inaninstant,hispupilsconstrictedsharply.Hewassoshockedthathewasrenderedspeechless..
Thesurroundingstaffremained<b>as</b>quietasamouse,notevendaringtobreathe.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.
Josiahordered,“Everyone,returntowork.”
Allthestaffimmediatelyscattered.
Theareainfrontoftheroomwaseerilysilent.
Lysanderfeltastormbrewing,steppingforwardtoexin.“Dad,let’stalkinside.Thingsaren’tasyouthink-”
Beforeshecouldfinishspeaking,Maverickraisedhishand,whichwaspreviouslysuspendedinmid–<b>air</b>,andthrewafiercepunchtowardJosiah.
Josiahhad mentallypreparedhimselfbeforehand.Hedidn’tdodgeorhide.Instead,hetookthepunch
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Hisbodywavered,<b>and</b>hebarelymanagedtosteadyhimselfbyleaningonthelowcabbeside<b>him</b><b>.</b>
Maverickpointedathimandcursed,“Iwarnedyoubefore!Youcanliveyourluxuriouslifealone!TheThornefamilyisn’tinterested!WhyareyoustillbotheringmyLysa?Today,I’llbeatthelifeoutofyou!”
Lysanderwasstartledandquicklypleaded,“Dad,pleasecalmdown…”
Maverickwasalreadyblindedbyrage.ThemorehelookedatJosiah,whohethoughtwas<b>a</b>wolfinsheep’sclothing,theangrierhebecame.Ignoringallreason,heonce<b>again</b>pickeduptheshoe–changingstoolthatwassetaside,andwithoutasecondthought,hehurleditdown.
Thestoolwasmadeofwood,andifithitsomeone,itcouldgenuinelydrawblood.
Maverickbegantomove,andLysanderwasutterlypowerlesstostophim.Allshecoulddowaswatchhelplesslyasthechaircamecrashingdown.
Yet,Josiahremainedunmoved.
Apaniedbyadullthud.Josiahstumbledbackseveralstepsandcollideddirectlywiththewallbehind
him.
Thechairsmashedintohisshoulder, instantlyfallingapartandcrashingontothegroundwithatter.
Thesituationhadalreadyspiraledoutofcontrol.
Terrified.Aurorareachedouthertinyhand,grippingontoLysander’sclothes.Thebabywasonthevergeoftears,whimperingsoftly.
LysanderwasdeterminedtoprotectAurora,butwhathappenedwasfrightening.BloodhadbeguntotricklefromJosiah’sforehead,windingdownfromhistempleinastartlingshadeofcrimson.
Maverickwasnotyetsatisfied.Hegrabbed whateverwaswithinhisreachandhurleditalltowardJosiahwithoutasecondthought.
Ifthingscontinuedthatway,Josiahcouldlosehislife.
Lysanderdidn’twantMavericktogetintotroublebecauseofher.
ShewantedtoputAurorabackonthebedandstopherfather,butthemomentAuroraleftherarms,thtterburstintotears,clearlyfrightenedbythescenebeforeit
Lysanderwatchedwithrm,fearingadisasterwasabouttour.However,shewashindered byAurora.andcouldonlyrepeatedlyplead,“Dad,pleasedon’tdothis<b>…</b>”
Throughouttheordeal,Josiahneverretaliated.Heonlyraisedhisarmstoshieldhisvitreas.Nheless,hestilltookseveralsolidhits,withafresh,bleedingwoundaddedtohisbrow.Hesaid,“It’sallright,Lysander.<b>You</b>don’tneedtoworry.”
Maverickwasso<b>furious</b>thathishandsweretrembling.Hiswordsweredisjointed,andhecouldhardlyformpletesentence.Holdingontoastool,heaskedLysanderindisbelief.“Thischild…Thechildis…”
Henearlydidn’tcatchhisbreath.
Lysanderquicklyrified.“She’sthedaughterofmyfriend,whowentmountainclimbing.Myfriend
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askedustolookafterherforacoupleofdays.Dad,pleasecalmdown.You’vescared Auroraintocrying
Aurorawascrying sohardthatshecouldhardlycatchherbreath,witrgetearsstreamingdownher
face.
Uponseeingsuchasmallchildcrysopitifully,Maverickfelthisheartsoftened.Heputdownthestoolhehadbeenholdingwithathud.“A<b>friend’s</b>child?”
“Yeah,”repliedLysander.
“Whichfriend?<b>Daphne</b>?”
“Youdon’tknowher.She’sabusinessacquaintance,surnameLionhart.ShtercoboratedwithDaphne’sfamilpany.”
Maverickwasstillsomewhatskeptical.“You’venevermentionedthisfriendsurnamedLionhartbefore.haveyou?”
Lysanderwashelpless.“DoyoureallythinkIcouldhavegoApexCity,andinlessthantendays.somehowhaveafullygrownchild?”
ShegentlypushedAuroratowardMaverick,ensuringhehadagoodlook.
Aurorawasalreadyhalfayearoldandlookedverydifferentfromanewborn.
OnlythendidMavericktrulybelieveLysander’swords.
Theatmospherewasn’t<b>as</b>tenseanymore.
Aurorawastrulyfrightened,cryingloudlyanduncontrobly.Lysanderwasunabletosoothethebaby,nomatterwhatshetried.
JosiahwantedtogooveranfortLysander’sbaby,but<b>as</b>soonashetookastep,hemetMaverick’swarninggaze.
Maverickstooddirectlyinfrontofhimandwarned,“I’monlylettingthisslide<b>because</b>ofAurora.Don’tthink youcantakeadvantageofthesituationanduseyoursweettalktodeceiveLysander!”
“Mr.Thorne,IjustwantedtopasssomestufftoAurora.”HegesturedtowardAurora’sbottleonthecoffeetable.
Maverickcautioned,“Hey,stop!Letmedoit!”
Auroradidn’tstopcryinguntilshehadherform<b>milk</b>.
Lysandergentlysoothedthechild,thensettledthtterbackintothestrollerbeforefinallyhavingachancetolookoverJosiah.
HalfofJosiah’sface<b>was</b>stainedredwithblood,hisbodycoveredinwoodfragments.
MaverickhatedJosiahforhurtingLysander,soheexertedhisfullstrengthwhenheattackedJosiah.
Lysanderfeltawaveofoverwhelmingfrustration.Shequietlyasked,“Dad,didsomethingurgeneupthatyouhadtofindmesoquickly?HowisMichelle’sinjury?”
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Chapter531JosiahInDanger.
“Michisalreadyoutofdanger.”Maverick’sangerwasstilllingering,buthistonewasmuchsofterwhenhespoketoher.“Earlier,youmentionedthischildisafriend’s daughter.Whosefriendarewetalkingabout,yoursor<b>his</b>?”
HepointedirritablyatJosial.
Lysanderrepliedhesitantly,“It’shis.”
“Allright.Ifthat’sthecase,thenyoushouldstopworryingaboutthischild.Lethimtakecareofher.Isn’theall–powerful?Heshouldstoptroublingyou.GiveAuroratohim,andlet’sleave!”HetookLysander’shand,readytowalkaway.
Unabletooutwithimandnotwantingtoprovokehim,Lysandersimplysaid,“Dad,Ihaven’ttakenmyluggageyet!”
Immediately,Maverickhaltedtohelpherpack,expressinghisconcern<b>.</b>“Makesure<b>you</b>don’tleave anythingbehind.Takeeverythingthat’syours,andonceyouleavethistime,don’tmeethimagain<b>!</b>”
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