Chapter 224


    After finishing her words, Leonora fled from the scene with Heidi.


    ra was under Ian''s watchful guard, and a direct confrontation was out of the question. Besides,


    Teo had just reconsidered the divorce because she saved Rose and didn''t want to escte things


    further. Her primary objective was to secure her ce as the head, as Teo’s wife. As for that bitch


    ra, she''d deal with her sooner orter.


    When ra entered, Ian immediately voiced his concern, "Where have you been? What took so


    long?"


    "Just out for a stroll," she replied, her eyes darting away, unable to meet his gaze.


    Ian sensed something was off. Inhaling sharply, he eximed, "ra, I''m in so much pain."


    She rushed over to him, about to lift his shirt to check the wound, when Ian grabbed her wrist. It was


    then that Ian noticed the red mark of a p on ra''s face. His eyes turned icy as he lifted her hair


    and demanded, "Who did this to you?"


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    ra remained silent, and Ian clenched his teeth in anger. "Was it my mother? I''m going to confront


    her right now!"


    He attempted to get out of bed, furious that someone dared to strike the woman he wouldn’t even


    allow a scratch upon. The fury within Ian reached a boiling point, his forehead veins bulging


    prominently.


    But before he could move, ra stopped him. "I didn''t suffer in silence. I pped her back."


    Twice, in fact.


    Ian stared at her incredulously. "Are you telling me the truth?"


    "I am. I did it for our child – she deserved that."


    Ian felt a twinge of pain in his heart at her words. He slowly wrapped his arms around ra,


    whispering soothingly, "ra, I''m sorry. I failed to protect you and our child."


    The mention of their child brought a profound ache to both their hearts. The child had brought ra


    much distress and had driven a wedge between them.


    For the first time since their split, ra allowed herself to be held without resistance. Ian cherished


    the fragile bliss, gently stroking her hair as his warm lips grazed her head unintentionally.


    Just then, the hospital room door swung open. Dawson froze, taking in the scene before him.


    “I didn’t realize you were—” Dawson began, only to be cut off by Ian''s coldmand, "Get out!"


    “Yes, Mr. Hayes, right away.” Dawson shut the door softly, patting his chest in relief, having seen the


    predatory look in Ian’s eyes. He knew if he had lingered, he might have been in grave danger.


    ra snapped out of her reverie and pulled away from Ian. "I have to be in court today. I should go."


    She grabbed her things and headed for the door.


    Ian''s voice followed her,ced with a touch of self-pity, "ra,e over after work, will you? My


    family has gone on vacation, and no one is around to look after me. You''re all I have."


    His tone was tender and pleading, with a hint of vulnerability. To convince her further, he yed the


    voice message sent by Grandma Rose. "Ian, take care of yourself, dear. We''re off abroad, and even


    the housekeepers are on holiday. Look after yourself."


    ra could see right through the Hayes family''s intentions. She nced at Dawson outside the


    door and said, "Dawson can keep youpany. I have to take care of Snow."


    Ian looked at her with a mournful gaze. "If you don''t want to, that''s fine. Dawson has his girlfriend to


    attend to. I''ll manage on my own. The doctors and nurses are here anyway. I won''t die. You better


    hurry to yourmitments." With that, he gave her an understanding wave.


    Leaving the hospital room, ra felt each step weighed down with guilt.


    Once she was gone, Dawson re-entered and updated his boss. "Mr. Hayes, the paternity test


    results are in. May is indeed Attorney ra''s mother, but Victoria has no blood rtion to Heidi."