CHAPTER 109: CHAPTER 109: HOLLY CROWE IS DECEIVED

The scene quickly descended into chaos. The man who had rushed forward was already subdued by security, while the director’s angry shouts mixed with the sounds of phone calls and chaotic footsteps.

Holly stood frozen in place, looking at Shannon Yarrow’s reddened eyes, feeling as if something fiercely twisted in her heart, leaving an indescribable soreness.

It wasn’t until she saw the blood slowly seeping through the back of Blake Sinclair’s shirt that she snapped back to reality.

The production team, initially broadcasting live, hurriedly cut off the live feed after witnessing this scene.

Shannon Yarrow’s assistant had already run over to pull her away. Holly’s gaze shifted between Shannon and Blake, and her feet felt nailed to the spot, unsure of what to do.

Blake Sinclair was already being helped up by the director.

"Holly." He pushed away the hands that were supporting him and reached out to her, "Come here."

Holly stepped forward.

He took her hand, looked her over to ensure she was unharmed, his brows knitting in pain, "Are you hurt?"

Holly shook her head, her voice tinged with emotion, "No, your back..."

"It’s just a small wound. A visit to the hospital will take care of it."

He held her hand tightly, leaving no room for refusal, "Come with me."

The car arrived swiftly, and even after sitting in the back seat, Blake Sinclair did not let go of her hand.

Just before the car door closed, Holly clearly saw Shannon outside the car, casting a deeply worried glance.

On the way to the hospital, the car remained silent, with no one speaking a word.

Holly’s hand was firmly gripped by him, slightly warm, even sweating a bit.

She tried to subtly withdraw it to give him some comfort, but Blake Sinclair did not give her the chance, holding her hand even tighter.

At the hospital, the doctor used tweezers to remove shards of porcelain embedded in his back, cleaned the wound, disinfected it, and wrapped a bandage, all without letting go of her hand.

It wasn’t until the doctor left, leaving the two of them alone in the room.

The smell of disinfectant filled the air.

Holly looked up, her gaze fixed on the man leaning against the hospital bed.

"You know Shannon Yarrow."

It was not a question, but a statement.

It was a woman’s sixth sense.

From the way Shannon had looked at him earlier, with undisguised worry, Holly had guessed.

Blake Sinclair looked over, silent for a few seconds.

The wound on his back throbbed with pain, but her look felt like a stab to his heart, making it hard to discern which hurt more.

He reached out to touch her face but she turned away to avoid it.

Silence spread through the air, and after a long pause, the man gave a slight nod.

That nod was like a needle, instantly piercing Holly’s composed façade.

She felt a blockage in her heart, a rush of grievance and anger overwhelming her.

She forcefully pulled her hand away and turned to leave the room.

"Holly!"

Blake Sinclair’s expression changed, and almost by instinct, he threw off the covers, not even caring about his shoes, and chased after her.

He grabbed her from behind, holding her tightly, as if letting go meant she would disappear.

"Let go." Holly struggled, her voice quivering with suppressed emotion.

"Holly, don’t go.. don’t go.."

He buried his face in her neck, his voice low and hoarse, carrying an unknown panic.

Holly deeply exhaled in place, forcing down the stinging in her eyes, but her voice still carried a hint of wetness: "Blake Sinclair, I hate being deceived! You promised me!"

She tried to pry his arms from her waist with all her strength, but his grip was surprisingly firm, only tightening.

"You know everything about my past, the good and the bad. I’ve never kept anything from you. But what about you? I know nothing about your past. How long have you known Shannon Yarrow? What exactly is your relationship? You don’t tell me anything, it’s completely unfair!"

The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, her eyes welling up with tears.

Blake Sinclair held her tightly, filled with regret, apologizing urgently: "I’m sorry Holly, there’s nothing between Shannon and me. We just met in Brelond, we aren’t even close. I would never lie to you, never."

"If there’s nothing, why couldn’t you tell me? Watching me kept in the dark, playing the stranger in front of me, is it fun?"

"It’s not like that."

Holly turned to look at him, her eyes red and filled with tears, "If not for today’s accident, were you never planning to tell me that you knew each other? Or do you also think that my feelings, my anxiety don’t matter at all?"

Thinking about Shannon’s anxious rush towards Blake earlier at the scene, the possibility that they knew each other long ago, yet pretended to be strangers before her, filled Holly’s heart with soreness and pain.

She felt that blocked air in her chest gradually expanding, hindering her breath, uncomfortable and wronged: "I really... really hate being lied to..."

Tears couldn’t be held back, falling onto the back of Blake Sinclair’s hand, his heart both swelling and aching.

He reached out to wipe her tears but inadvertently strained his back wound, letting out a muffled groan, his face paling.

The bandage on his back quickly soaked through with fresh red, yet he seemed unfazed, just wanting to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes.

He apologized repeatedly, "Holly, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. Shannon and I met in Brelond, her family helped me once, but we have no connection at all, not even friends. This meeting on the show was purely accidental."

Holly remained silent.

Looking at his pale face and the sweat on his forehead, Holly’s tone softened slightly, but still carried thorns, "If there’s nothing, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Why didn’t you dare to say it to me?"

"It was my fault, I didn’t handle it well. Holly, about my past, whatever you want to know, I will tell you, just please don’t turn away from me, don’t ignore me, don’t say... you’ll leave, don’t leave...."

He looked at her, his eyes nearly pleading.

Blake Sinclair tried to pull her hand again, but frowned in pain from his back, the streak of blood on the bandage seemed deeper.

Holly’s eyes fell on the alarming red, instinctively wanting to call a doctor, but he grabbed her wrist.

"Let go first; I’ll call a doctor to rebandage you."

Blake Sinclair stubbornly refused to release his hold.

"You..." Holly was both annoyed and anxious, seeing his face grow paler and the blood stain deepening, ultimately couldn’t bear it, "Just get back on the bed; I won’t leave!"

Blake Sinclair looked at her with vulnerable eyes, clearly not believing her.

Holly sighed, conceding in exasperation, "Fine, I’ll go with you, alright?"

She had no choice but to let him cling to her hand, supporting him to slowly walk back to the bed, pressing the call button.

The doctor came in quickly, rebandaging and medicating him, scolding, "Didn’t I just tell you not to make any strenuous movements? How long has it been? Family members, pay more attention."

"Yes doctor, we’ll be more careful."

Holly responded, watching as the tweezers opened up the wound again to apply medicine, seeing Blake Sinclair’s brows furrow in pain, the stifling resentment in her heart was replaced by heartache.

She too felt a bit remorseful, realizing she shouldn’t have argued with him when he was hurt.

After the doctor finished, he gave a few more instructions before leaving.

The room was silent again.

"Holly..." he leaned against the bedhead, reaching out to her, his voice hoarse.

Holly looked at the hand suspended mid-air, hesitated for a moment, but in the end, stepped forward and placed her hand on it.