Before the men aside could react despite the shock, Darnell had stridden downstairs and knelt in,
frowning with one leg. "Where did you hurt?"
Elaine averted her head in silence and aggrieved tears.
Not only were the bruises on her arms and face, but her trousers were torn out.
Seeing these, Darnell hugged her upstairs and asked, "Call Archer here."
Elaine was resistant. "No! Call my dad to pick me up. I don't want to stay here."
Ignoring her, Darnell said in a low voice. "You will never be back in Riverside City when he finds that
you have returned secretly from Switzerland."
Elaine was indeed fear of it.
She'd known that he wouldn't pamper her anymore since he asked her firmly to study abroad
regardless of her will.
Besides, she returned in such a shameful way.
He could give up on her.
After Darnell brought her back to the room and put her on the sofa, he turned to find the disinfectant.
Ariel leaned on the wall, watching and pondering.
Feeling it, Elaine levelled up her eyes to meet hers.
Ariel showed a smile.
"Don't misunderstand. He is my uncle." Elaine sniveled and explained.
She had tried her best to maintain their relationship and regain her dignity.
Ariel didn't expect her words but raised her eyebrows. "I know you, Elaine."
Darnell knelt again in front of Elaine.
The latter pick the instruments from him. "I can do it on my own. Thanks."
She accented the last word as if to remind herself and draw boundaries with him.
"Leave it to me." He sounded cold.
Elaine didn't refuse anymore, for he was so august that he made her scared since her childhood.
"I'm gonna go. See you tomorrow," Ariel said.
Darnell didn't raise his head. "Ask Slade to come here tomorrow."
Ariel was quiet, understanding that he was unwilling to see her again.
"Okay"
Elaine looked at the man disinfecting her wound and whispered, "Are you always this mean to your
girlfriend?"
He looked up at her, saying unsparingly, "Elaine, worry about yourself."
Elaine lowered her head.
Not long afterwards, Archer came in.
He was astonished, looking at Elaine on the sofa. "What's going on? Magic?"
"Check up on her or take her to the hospital."
"I don't..."
The moment Elaine met Darnell's eyes, she dropped the subject.
Archer gave her a careful examination and inquired about her condition. "Nothing big. Except for the
bruises on her face and hands, only her ankle is twisted. Recuperate for a few days, and take some
ointment. She will be fine."
Darnell nodded.
Archer sat next to Elaine and said curiously, "How did you come back? You would have come with us if
you told me before."
"Archer." She suddenly stared at him.
"Yes?"
Something was going to happen.
Elaine tugged on his sleeve. "Can I stay with you for a few days? I'll go back to Switzerland when I'm
better. I can't let my father know, or he'll break my legs."
Archer broke loose from her hand. "Just stay here. Why? Got PTSD?"
Elaine was silent before saying, "He has a girlfriend. It's not proper for me to live with him."
Archer was even more surprised. "When do you have a girlfriend?"
Darnell looked emotionless.
A moment later, he turned around and left.
Archer pondered it and seriously said to Elaine, "I can't turn a blind eye since you bring it up, but I plan
to date. Besides, my room is small. It's unfit for you to live with me. Anyway, you'll go back to
Switzerland in a few days, so his girlfriend won't mind."
After that, he left with strides directly.
Elaine had no idea.
...
Out of the bedroom, Archer saw Darnell standing on the balcony not far away, smoking. "What's going
on? Who did she take as your girlfriend?"
"Ariel."
"Why?"
Darnell didn't explain too much but looked out.
It was okay to let her misunderstand, or it would be troublesome.
The sky was shrouded in hazy smoke and rain, spreading a biting chill.
Archer leaned against the fence. "You two are not even related by blood. She only calls you uncle
according to her seniority. You have had an engagement before, so it is not impossible..."
"I watched her grow up."
"I also grew up under your watch. Why don't you care about me, your nephew?"
Darnell glanced at him, slowly dusting his cigarette ash.
Archer was terrified by the look and laughed awkwardly, "Forget it."
After a few seconds, Darnell said, "Don't let others know about her return."
"Don't worry, I won't gossip about it." Archer added, "How are your injuries?"
"It's fine."
"Okay, call me when necessary. You'd better think about what to do with Elaine. She likes you quite a
lot, not changing her mind even after going to Switzerland for half a year."
Darnell was silent before he said, "I remember that Stella has a younger brother about the same age
as Elaine."
"Forget it. He's even more stubborn than Elaine. But they're quite similar, for they both like someone
who's a few years older than they are and not accepted by others."
...
By the time Darnell returned to the bedroom, Elaine had fallen asleep on the sofa with tears on her
face.
She was so haggard that she wore dark circles.
Darnell covered her with a blanket and asked the servant to clean up a guest room.
...
Elaine woke up and found herself in an unfamiliar environment, momentarily unable to react to where
she was.
What had just happened was like a dream.
She sat up violently, feeling hurt, tugging at her every nerve.
She looked at the blurred blood marks on her palms, so painful that tears almost came to her eyes.
That humiliating scene resurfaced in her mind, etched into her bones.
"Oh, I really want to go home."
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda