Chapter 434


    "Minerva hadn''t eaten anything all day?"


    Maddox furrowed his brows as he looked at the unconscious woman. No wonder she was in so


    much pain; she had little regard for her health.


    As soon as the words escaped Vera''s lips, she instantly mmed her mouth shut. She had revealed


    too much.


    She then hastily asked, "Mr. Yardley, could you let me know which hospital she is in? I''d like to go


    see her."


    "That wouldn''t be convenient."


    He hung up immediately after finishing his sentence.


    Vera was left with the empty sounds of her phone''s dial tone.


    What the f*ck!


    Maddox, that b*stard!


    Did he really think he could do as he pleased just because he was a client? What an a*shole! No


    wonder Minerva could not care less about him!


    He was such an unreasonable, overbearing person!


    Deep in thought, Vera pursed her lips. Although she found Maddox an annoyance, he did however,


    sound evidently distressed, like he had a dismal cloud hung over his head during their brief


    conversation.


    He must be rather worried about Minerva. He had not mentioned that he was not in the hospital, so


    she assumed that he was.


    In the end, Vera, unable to shake the worry off, decided to send out a text.


    ''Mr. Yardley, has Minerva been admitted to a hospital?''


    This was all she needed to know.


    Ding.


    Maddox''s reply was prompt and concise. ''Yes''.


    Although the reply was distant and reserved, Vera felt a wave of relief wash over her as she read


    the message. She then sent out another text.


    ''I shall leave Minerva in your care then, Mr. Yardley. Please watch over her. Just give me a ring if


    you need my help.''


    Maddox initially had no intention of responding to Vera, but as he recalled what the doctor had said


    to him, he decided upon his better judgment to share the doctor''s instructions with Vera. She quickly


    understood what was asked of her, and went on to make her preparations.


    Maddox also disclosed the hospital''s name to her.


    It was already midnight when Vera made it to the hospital.


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    The hospital was quiet, where only the soft and mellow sounds emitting from medical equipment


    could be heard. Vera knocked on the hospital ward''s door, then pushed it open to enter.


    The single wards were as silent as the hospital hallways; Maddox and Minerva were its only


    upants.


    As Vera lightly and quietly tiptoed into the ward, with a vacuum sk secured tightly in her hands,


    her eyes incidentally met Maddox''s cold gaze.


    In a sh, Vera felt a chill run down her spine.


    This man''s terrifying stare was no joke!


    Vera ced the sk on the table, and quietly asked, "She hasn''t woken up yet?"


    "No," Maddox uttered, his voice dark and tinged with fatigue. He sat on the edge of the bed,


    watching Minerva closely. Vera pondered a moment, then took a few deep breaths before stealing a


    nce at Minerva.


    She looked as pale as a ghost. It was clear that her condition was bad.


    "How is she? Is she okay?"


    "She''s going to be fine." Maddox''s cold starended on Vera. He spotted the sk she had brought,


    then indifferently said, "It''s gettingte. You should go home."


    Vera curled her lips, summoned her courage and said, "Since I''m already here, I''ll take care of her.


    Mr. Yardley... Since it''s inconvenient for you to be in the same ward alone with her, why don''t you


    take your leave first?"


    Maddox was quiet.


    He had not said a thing but it was obvious that the air in the room had changed by what Vera said.


    She swallowed her shock and was hesitant in speaking again when she heard a noiseing from


    the ward''s door.


    Vera turned and saw Sam standing by the door.


    When their eyes met, she suddenly felt bashful and embarrassed.


    Why was Sam here?


    "Get her back home," Maddox instructed coldly without even turning to look at Sam.


    "Sure," Sam immediately nodded, then looked at Vera. "Let''s go. It''s gettingte now. I''ll bring you


    home safely."


    Vera was lost for words.


    D*mn it! Had Maddox nned this right after he told her about the hospital''s location? He never


    intended for her to stay. He wanted Minerva all to himself!


    As she thought of this, she took a deep breath and approached Maddox, stating calmly, "Mr.


    Yardley, although you and Minerva were in a rtionship five years ago, it is in the past. Time flies


    and people change. I don''t have to stay here today, but I hope that you respect her and her wishes.


    Still, thank you for saving Minerva today. Please take good care of her. I shall make a move first."


    Shortly after she finished talking, Vera turned around and left the ward, caring little for whatever


    response Maddox had.


    Standing by the door, Sam had overheard everything. He was greatly surprised as he and Vera


    unexpectedly shared the same thoughts.


    He wanted Minerva to stay away from Maddox, just as Vera wished for Maddox to keep a distance


    from Minerva.


    Neither wanted to see someone they cared about get hurt.


    Between Maddox and Minerva, who was the one who could not stay away? Who was the one


    hurting the other?


    "She''s been gone for five years. So, why the sudden return? If she wanted to leave, then she


    should stay gone, no?"


    They had reached the parking lot, and as Vera was about to enter the car, she heard Sam''s words


    like a p in the face, knocking the wind out of her and keeping her rooted to her ground. She then


    turned to look at Sam, who stood under a streemp.


    "Are you serious?" Vera looked at Sam, incredulousness in her stare. "You must be kidding, right?"


    Sam shot her a nk look without making a sound.


    "Is this your territory? Why can''t we return? Besides, what does this have to do with you?" Vera


    said, looking at Sam, offended and amused, "This is ridiculous."


    Sam seemed to realize that he made a mistake.


    "You may think that what I said was harsh, but what you said to Young Master Yardley was just as


    ruthless."


    "Harsh? Ruthless? How so? What happened to your rationale in these five years? Can''t you see


    that your Young Master Yardley is the one constantly pestering Minerva? Why are we the ones at


    fault?"


    As Vera spoke, anger stirred within her and she bit her bottom lip.


    "North City is our home. We don''t need anyone''s permission to return home. If you think that we


    purposely showed up in front of you, then just ignore us!"


    Sam was rendered speechless.


    After she finished speaking, Vera turned to leave.


    Sam''s expression changed. He ran up to her and said, "It''ste. Just let me send you home. It''s not


    safe now."


    "Humph, like it''s safe to be around someone like you. I can take a cab myself, no worries needed!"


    Only then did Sam realize that he had gone too far with his words. He stood in front of her right


    away.


    "I''m sorry, I''m not good with words. You''re worried about Minerva, and I don''t want Young Master


    Yardley to get hurt. Both of us want the same things and have the same goal. The only difference is


    how we achieve that goal. Look, it''s reallyte. I know you''re mad at me, but just let me make it up


    to you by giving you a ride home."