CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: RESOLUTE AND GENTLE

The car drove along the not-so-smooth highway for over three hours, then took the winding mountain road for more than an hour, finally reaching "Wrayhaven County Hospital" at 1 a.m.

Wrayhaven is a well-known special poverty county in the country. Even the county public hospital is small and shabby. Simon Forrester circled around the hospital area several times but couldn’t find a parking spot.

Sienna Thornton, anxious, kept calling Jenna Raines, and after learning that Melinda Linton had been sent to the intensive care unit, she couldn’t sit still any longer.

Simon Forrester parked under the inpatient building, took her crutch out of the trunk, and helped her out of the car. "You go up first; I’ll come over after parking."

With red-rimmed eyes, Sienna Thornton nodded and staggered forward a few steps before turning back to look at Simon Forrester.

Her gaze was filled with reliance, which Simon Forrester understood. He nodded at her, "I’ll be right there."

The tone was firm, the gaze gentle.

The wandering heart of Sienna Thornton was instantly grounded.

She wiped away her tears and walked forward with a determined heart.

The inpatient department of the county hospital was desolate in the dead of night, and the corridor of the intensive care unit was eerily chilling.

The crutch knocked against the old tiled floor, making a dull sound as Sienna Thornton headed toward the three people not far ahead.

Though it had been many years, she could still recognize the middle-aged man curled up in a corner, wearing a loose, cheap suit with a tag he couldn’t bear to cut off, yet pretending sophistication with a coarse handkerchief in his breast pocket—her stepfather, Felix Raines.

"Big sis!" Jenna Raines was the first to recognize her, running over from her seat, "You’re here!"

Jenna Raines’s face showed a moment of surprise, but her eyes in that brief moment, carefully scrutinized Sienna’s hands.

The young man sitting next to Jenna Raines was Sienna Thornton’s half-brother, three years younger, Jared Raines. At this moment, he looked indifferent, not even glancing at Sienna Thornton, as if he didn’t know her.

"Where’s my mom?" Sienna Thornton walked toward her stepfather, her voice low, but the tone accusatory.

Felix Raines, who had curled up in a corner worrying, suddenly charged out, cursing, "Your mom is waiting to die inside! I’ve had the worst luck for eight generations to run into you two money-wasters! The old waster keeps going to the hospital every other day, and the young waster has never given me a dime of respect!"

When silent, Felix Raines looked decent, but once he spoke, the dirty nicotine-stained teeth, the bad Mandarin, and the various vulgar curses gave him away.

Seeing him ready to come at her, Sienna Thornton raised her crutch single-handedly in front of her chest, pointing directly at Felix Raines, forcing him back harshly.

"I heard my mom collapsed after arguing with you?" Sienna Thornton looked coldly at Felix Raines, "If anything happens to my mom this time, I won’t let you off!"

Jared Raines dashed from the side, giving Sienna Thornton a hard shove, full of menace, "Who are you pointing the crutch at? How dare you treat my dad like this? I’ll fucking break your other leg!"

Sienna Thornton fell to the ground, her back hitting hard, and the collision left her dazed.

Jared Raines came charging at her, picking up her crutch, about to strike her.

Jenna Raines, who had been silent, suddenly had a change of expression, screaming and rushing up to pull him back, "Second brother, don’t! Don’t do this!"

Jared Raines pushed her away, swung the crutch, ready to strike Sienna Thornton.

Sienna Thornton, on the way here, knew that today it’s not only Melinda Linton, but herself, too, that couldn’t escape this. She opened her eyes wide, wanting to remember the way Jared Raines was going to hit her.

But the crutch never had the chance to fall.

With a wail, Jared Raines was kicked into the corner by Simon Forrester, who came rushing over.