Chapter 228


    As ra walked away from the doorway, the sight of May''s torn poster caused an unexpected pang


    in her heart. She stood before the ruined poster, gazing at the poised and graceful May, and a wave


    of guilt washed over her.


    She hadn''t intended to tarnish May''s reputation in her quest to deal with Heidi.


    May, an artist renowned in her day, was the epitome of gentleness and humility, sophisticated and


    modest. How could she have birthed a daughter as sly and cruel as Heidi?


    With care, ra pieced the shredded poster back together, looking into May''s smiling eyes as she


    whispered a soft, "I''m sorry." Then she turned and walked away.


    She hadn''t gotten far when her cell phone began to ring. It was a call from Ian. As soon as she


    answered, a voice tinged with a touch of vulnerability came through. "Attorney ra, did you forget


    there''s a man waiting for you toe home for dinner?"


    His voice was raspy and faintly whiny, sending a shiver down ra''s spine. She had never noticed


    this delicate side of Ian before.


    Hesitating, she replied, "I''ve got ns tonight, so I won''t make it. You''ll have to eat alone."


    She was about to hang up when Ian''s voice, now firm, called out to her. "ra, I took a tumble


    down the stairs earlier and aggravated my wound. It''s bleeding a bit. Could youe over and help


    me bandage it up again?"


    His tone was earnest, soothing. There was no hint of guile to be heard.


    ra''s voice immediately tightened with concern. "Didn''t I tell you to stay in bed? Why won''t you


    listen?"


    "I''m sorry, ra. I just got worried when you didn''te home, so I thought I''de down to meet


    you."


    "Wait for me. I''ll be right there."


    After hanging up, a smug smile crossed Ian''s face. Roger''s advice was spot on. ying the


    weakling certainly had its uses.


    While hospitalized, his feigned frailty kept ra by his side every night, speaking softly to him.


    Once discharged, he yed the pitiable card that his family had deserted him, and there was no


    one to look after him, convincing ra to move back in. Sure, she took the guest room, but at least


    she was within sight every evening.


    Ian nced at the wound on his belly and clenched his teeth. He made his way to the top of the


    stairs, and deliberately threw himself down. This was the price for keeping his girl close.


    When ra arrived, Ian was lying weakly on the couch, fresh blood seeping from his wound, his


    arm and thigh sporting several bruises.


    ra gritted her teeth in anger. "Ian, what are you doing?"


    But Ian shook his head with sincerity. "ra, it wasn''t on purpose. I was just too worried about you


    and wanted to wait for you downstairs. Just seeing the headlights meant you were back, and I could


    rest easy."


    He was telling the truth. Since leaving the hospital, he had spent every evening waiting by the


    window. He was always waiting for that beam of light and that familiar figure to approach. It was


    happiness he''d never known before.


    Had ra also awaited his return like this? No wonder she''d always thrown herself into his arms the


    moment he arrived. Now, he understood the joy of waiting for someone.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Back then, he''d been so oblivious to it.


    Hearing the honesty in his voice, ra couldn''t bring herself to scold him any longer. She fetched


    the first aid kit and started to re-dress his wounds.


    Just then, ra''s phone rang with an unknown number. Assuming it was a client, she answered


    without hesitation.


    A cold male voice came through. "ra, it''s Paolo. We need to talk."