?Chapter 152:

    Katelyn’s brow was furrowed deeply, her breathing quick, as if trapped in a nightmare. She looked distressed, continuously shaking her head.

    Vincent, with a grave expression, bent down to observe Katelyn closely, his mind swirling with confusion. Who was Katelyn afraid of? Her fear was evident in her dream. Could it be Neil?

    Katelyn was still hooked up to an IV drip, but her constant thrashing threatened to reverse the flow of blood into the tube. Vincent grasped her gently and reassured her with a deep, soothing voice, saying, “Don’t be scared. I’m here with you, and I’m not going anywhere.”

    His voice seemed to bring Katelyn somefort. Gradually, she calmed down, though she continued to frown and mumble.

    “I’ll behave. Please don’t cast me out… Your daughter too… I don’t understand what’s happening.”

    Vincent’s expression darkened as he pieced together Katelyn’s connection to the Bailey family. She had quickly cut ties with the Baileys after the incident, but she had been part of their lives for over two decades. From her first words to adulthood, she had spent nearly every day with the Bailey couple. These memories were deeply etched in her mind. For Katelyn, losing these memories was as excruciating as having her heart carved out. Amplified by the drug, her hidden grief had surfaced, leading to her current distressed state.

    Vincent looked at Katelyn with a touch of sympathy. What she was undergoing was a betrayal of both familial and romantic bonds. Such a blow could devastate anyone. He lifted his hand and gently used his slender fingertips to smooth out the frown between her brows. This was clearly a tender gesture usually shared between lovers, yet it feltpletely natural to him. His right hand continued to cover Katelyn’s, and he spoke softly to reassure her.

    “Don’t be scared. I’m here with you, and I’m not going anywhere.”

    It seemed Katelyn might have heard him. Her tense body gradually loosened, and she eventually drifted off to sleep. Her brows softened, and the sunlight streaming through the gauzy curtain cast a soft, glowing outline over her figure.

    L?t?st ?h??ρt?rs ιn g??l??ov?ls.??0??

    Vincent lingered quietly in the hospital room for a while before finally turning to leave.

    When Katelyn woke up, it was already noon the next day. She opened her eyes, gazing at the ceiling as the sharp scent of hospital antiseptics filled her senses, leaving her momentarily disoriented.

    Memories of what had happened just before she passed out returned. She lifted her hand to her throbbing head, recalling that she had been at the auction. Beyond that, her memory was foggy.

    She sat up and reached for the ss on the bedside table, but just then, the nurse entered the room.

    The nurse’s eyes widened slightly in surprise upon seeing Katelyn awake. “You’re finally awake,” she said.

    Katelyn nodded, her voice husky from just waking up. “Could you get me some water, please?”

    The nurse quickly approached and nodded. “Of course. Stay still.” She filled the empty ss with water and handed it to Katelyn.

    The cool water soothed Katelyn’s dry throat and brought her some relief.

    Looking puzzled, she asked the nurse, “What happened to me?”

    “You were affected by a strong aphrodisiac. You were expected to wake upst night, but you’ve only juste around.”

    Katelyn’s hand tightened around the ss.

    Lise had been cruel enough to drug her with an aphrodisiac. With so many people at the auction, any leaked video or photo could have destroyed her reputation.

    Before she could fully gather her thoughts, someone burst into the room, visibly upset.

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