Katherine was slow to respond. Standing by her side, Hector was not. He jumped over and covered her
in his arms, his back turned against the crowd.
A few steps from Katherine, it was too late for Marshall to react. The porcelain fragment landed right on
Hector’s back, before falling to the ground and breaking into many smaller pieces.
Katherine felt pain in her calf. The shattered pieces must have been given her a cut.
Watching Hector and Katherine with his eyes wide open, Kyle forgot to stomp around.
The whole room went quiet for a few seconds.
Marshall was the first to respond, moving forward to push Hector away before he gave Katherine a
thorough scan. “You alright?” asked Marshall, his hands on her shoulder.
Pursing her lips, Katherine looked up to Marshall and then Hector. “I’ve got pain in my calves, but I
don’t want to look. Is it bleeding?”
Katherine was wearing dungarees, and most of her thighs and all of all calves were exposed.
Hurried, Marshall crouched down to find her calves indeed bleeding from cuts by the porcelain
fragments. There were a couple of wounds, one of which looked bigger and more serious.
Katherine was afraid of pains. She would refuse to watch getting injections, and naturally she wouldn’t
look at her injuries, either.
Having taken some time to recollect himself, Kyle leapt straight towards Alexis. “How dare you hurt her!
I’ll kill you!”
Kyle was never one for ethical behaviors, being the sort of guy that would threaten to beat up his own
father when he disputed with him. So now, faced with Alexis Bennett, who he had loathed from the very
start, he didn’t even think twice before lifting his leg to kick her.
Patrick leaned over to pull Alexis away, and Kyle’s kick landed on Patrick full throttle.
Over at the side, Ariel leapt across the room to stand before Patrick and Alexis. “What do you think
you’re doing hurting my children?”
Standing very still, Katherine didn’t even dare to look down. Her voice trembling, she asked, “Marshall,
is that a big wound? Does it look scary? My legs hurt and I can’t stand anymore. Come give me a
hand.”
The wounds weren’t particularly big. With blood seeping out, they just looked serious on Katherine’s
carefully maintained skin.
Marshall looked thunderous as he moved to carry Katherine in his arms.
Finally coming to their senses, David came over and demanded the family physician’s presence; the
call was joined by Mr. Bennett, standing up with a crutch.
“There’s no need for that,” said Marshall coldly. Turning around, he glared at the old Mr. Bennett, then
at David, and, finally and carefully, at the mother-children trio, among whom Alexis was trying to hide
behind Ariel after realizing what she’d done.
Nesting in Marshall’s arms, Katherine was pouting and on the verge of tears.
After a while, Marshall spoke. “I’m not going to forget what transpired today. I will be coming for you as
soon as I’m free.”
Then, he went outside with Katherine grumbling in his arms.
Inside the car, Marshall took a tissue to gently dab off the blood around the wounds, which, though a
little long, were obviously superficial and nothing serious. But still, Katherine was too scared to look.
She never used to be a delicate flower, but she just couldn’t bear watching the flesh-and-blood sort of
thing.
Voice shaking, she asked, “Is it scary at all? I can’t even feel my legs.”
Looking up at her, Marshall said with a resigned sigh, “Told you to stay back. You should never have
gotten involved in the first place.”
“I did stay behind Kyle!” retorted Katherine, adding, “such an unreliable guy he is. He could never be as
trusty as Hector.”
Just like that, Marshall stopped in his tracks. He could still recall vividly how Hector had Katherine in his
arms.
The fragments had cut into Hector’s clothes. Marshall wondered if Hector’d been hurt.
Well, he was quick to respond. So quick that Marshall kind of resented him for it.
Katherine’s leg wounds weren’t serious. Still, Marshall said, “I’m taking you to the hospital to get you
bandaged up.”
At the mention of a hospital, Katherine got nervous. “Is it necessary?” she asked, mouth wide open.
Marshall buckled her up and started the car. Kyle was still with the Bennetts, and he wouldn’t let them
off the hook easily.
Marshall drove to the hospital and, understandably, carried Katherine all the way into ER.
A doctor in ER knew him. As he carried Katherine in, the doctor stood up. “Marshall?”
Sighing in relief, Marshall responded, “Uncle Hollis, I’ve brought Kathy over to get her leg bandaged
up.”
The doctor immediately inspected on Katherine’s legs, since for doctors, a wound in any shape or form
would probably still count as a wound.
The doctor asked Marshall to carry Katherine onto the hospital bed inside, as he himself grabbed some
disinfectant and clean cloth.
Pulling at Marshall’s arm, Katherine murmured, “I’m scared.”
And the usually fearless Ms. Katherine Jordan was nowhere to be seen at that exact moment.
Marshall gathered Katherine in his arms. “It’ll be fine. It won’t hurt.”
“It’s nothing serious,” laughed the doctor, “the wounds aren’t big enough to even warrant a tetanus
shot. I will simply bandage it up.”
Katherine dipped her head in Marshall’s embrace, not wanting to look.
Dr. Hollis easily cleared up the wounds and covered them in medical gauze. “Done. They’ll heal in two
days as long as you don’t get them wet.”
Katherine was still clutching on Marshall’s waist. Looking up at him, Katherine said weakly, “I can’t
stand on my legs.”
Therefore, Marshall carried her up and out of ER after thanking the doctor.
Looping one arm around Marshall’s neck, Katherine reached for her phone with the other after
considering.
“Stop that,” demanded Marshall, frowning.
“What?” said Katherine, “I’m simply trying to call Hector to see what’s going on over there.”
Marshall’s expression darkened. “Still thinking about Hector’s problems, are we?”
“Hey,” replied Katherine, her lips pursed, “what’s that long face for? Is it wrong for me to ask?”
Silent, Marshall carried Katherine into the car.
Upon settling onto the car seat, Katherine received a call from Kyle before she could even make one.
Instantly forgetting her leg wounds, she snatched the phone and picked up.
Kyle had left the Bennett household. He described how he had cussed out every single member of the
family, who, presumably because of his threats, had no choice but to listen obediently as they waited
for him to leave.
Over the phone, Kyle asked about Katherine’s wounds.
“They’re already bandaged up,” Katherine hummed, “and said to be nothing serious. I’m heading home,
so I’ll have to take a rain check on poker.”
Kyle wasn’t in the mood for poker, either. Asking Katherine to take care of herself, he hung up after
saying he’d be in touch.
Reclining into the seat, Katherine slowly managed to cross her legs.
Marshall spoke coldly. “Buckle up. I’m starting the car.”
As Katherine buckled the seatbelt, the car pulled away.
Nobody made a sound during the ride home. After they stopped in front of their house, Marshall got out
the vehicle to unlock the front door.
Turning around, he found Katherine still in the car, looking all upset.
Marshall knew what she meant. Sighing, he went back to carry Katherine out of the car and into the
house.
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