Chapter 2 Uncle Henry Came to Her Rescue

Henry bolted out, cradling Alice in his arms.

Seeing them, Ethan rushed over, eyes wide. He spotted a burn hole in Henry's shirt, showing a nasty red mark underneath. "Mr. Howard, you okay?"

"It's nothing." Henry gently set Alice down, letting her catch some fresh air.

He lightly tapped her face, voice urgent, "Alice? You good? Alice?"

Alice's eyes fluttered open, her hand gripping Henry's shirt tight, voice barely a whisper, "Uncle Henry?"

Henry let out a sigh of relief, glancing back at the factory now a blazing inferno. If he'd been a second later, Alice would've been toast.

Ethan frowned, "Mr. Howard, Miss Savoy's face is all messed up from the fire and smoke."

Henry wiped around Alice's eyes, looking at his blackened fingertips, voice calm, "Just makeup."

Ethan offered, "Mr. Howard, let me carry Miss Savoy to the car."

Henry looked at Alice's hand clutching his shirt, feeling a bit stuck, "You can let go now."

Alice fainted right then, but her hand stayed glued to his shirt.

Henry had no choice but to carry her to the car, struggling to lay her down properly.

He ended up holding the unconscious Alice, way too intimate.

With no other option, he placed her head on his lap, her body stretched across the back seat.

As the car started, Alice turned her face inward, pressing against Henry's abs.

Her warm breath seeped through his thin shirt, making Henry stiffen. He clenched his hands and quickly turned her face outward.

Unseen by Henry, a slight smile crept onto Alice's face.

In the VIP room of the hospital.

After the doc confirmed Alice was fine, Henry walked in.

He sat down elegantly beside the bed, legs crossed, hands resting on his lap. Looking at Alice's tear-streaked face, he said softly, "I'm sorry."

Alice gazed at Henry's handsome features, voice thick with emotion, "No need to apologize, Uncle Henry. I should thank you for saving me. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead."

"Oliver's actions were hurtful. But given the circumstances, there's no need to continue your engagement."

"I understand."

"Do you remember what the kidnappers looked like?"

Alice shook her head. "Not really."

"Because this concerns the Howard and Savoy families' reputations, so..."

"I get it. Reporting to the cops would mess things up for both families. Just catch the kidnappers, Uncle Henry."

Seeing Alice so obedient, Henry felt a bit more appreciative. He nodded, "I'll handle it."

He suddenly stood up. "This place has everything you need. Rest up and let Ethan know if you need anything."

Alice grabbed Henry's hand, seeking security. "Are you leaving?"

Glancing at the soot-stained hand, he subtly pulled away, "I have other matters to attend to."

Seeing Henry guard against her like she was a perv, Alice pursed her lips and grabbed his sleeve again, "Uncle Henry, your back is hurt."

He glanced at her restless hand, face blank. "It's nothing."

Knowing she couldn't push Henry's limits, Alice withdrew her hand, seeing the dirty fingerprints on his white cuff.

Henry nodded slightly and just as he turned to leave, Alice's stomach growled.

Henry paused and turned back, "I'll have Ethan bring you some food later."

Alice nodded obediently.

Seeing Henry leave, Alice raised an eyebrow. Everything was going according to plan.

Looking at her blackened hand, she touched her face, seeing her fingertips covered in soot.

She frowned in disgust, jumped out of bed, and walked into the bathroom.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Alice couldn't help but feel a bit speechless. Her soot-covered face was streaked with tear marks, and her dark circles were especially pronounced.

Messing around with Henry looking like this, it was a miracle he didn't pass out.

Alice scrubbed off the thick, exaggerated makeup and tossed the colorful wig into the trash can beside the vanity, then hopped into the shower.

After a quick rinse, Alice stood in front of the mirror and wiped away the steam.

The face staring back at her was pure yet seductive. Her delicate tanned skin, rosy lips, and beautiful hair added to her allure.

This was the real Alice. For the past three months, she had gone to great lengths to make herself look ugly to disgust Oliver.

At that moment, she heard the door to the hospital room open.

"Alice?" Alice's eyes sparkled. It was Henry's voice.

With a plan in mind, she suddenly swept her hand across the vanity, knocking the shampoo and body wash to the floor with a loud crash.

"Alice? Alice? What's wrong?"

No response.

Hesitating for a moment, Henry pushed the door open. With one glance, Alice's graceful curves came into view.

He quickly turned his face away, grabbed a bathrobe from the drying rack, covered Alice with it, and carried her out.

He called a female nurse to help Alice get dressed.

Standing outside the room, he rubbed his temples.

Henry had returned to ask what she wanted to eat, as he had forgotten to ask her preferences before leaving, but he hadn't expected to see such a scene.

The female nurse came out, "Sir, I've changed your girlfriend's clothes."

Girlfriend?

Taking a deep breath, Henry wanted to correct her but felt it was pointless. So he simply said, "Thank you."

Through the window, he looked at Alice on the bed. Her eyes closed, her long lashes cast shadows on her face, with a delicate nose, and her rosy lips were very exquisite.

Alice looked like a completely different person without makeup. He wondered what she would look like when she opened her eyes.

But Alice's taste was really questionable. Otherwise, why would she admire such exaggerated makeup?

Henry chuckled softly and left.

Opening one eye slightly, Alice peeked through the small window and saw that Henry was gone, a dimple appearing on her lips.

In the next room.

Clara leaned on Oliver's shoulder, her eyes red. "I wonder how Alice is doing. If something happened to her, I would feel so guilty."

Oliver's face was stern. "Uncle Henry just called. He said Alice almost died in the fire. She's now in the VIP room 1206 next door."

Clara instinctively clenched her hands. "It's good that Alice is safe. I didn't expect your uncle to care so much about Alice and personally go to save her. Oliver, do you think your uncle will blame you for choosing me?"

Oliver snorted, "If it weren't for the kidnapper blackmailing Uncle Henry with a video, and Uncle Henry worrying that something happening would affect the company and me, he wouldn't have gone to save that bumpkin Alice! The only woman appearing at the engagement party next month will be you. Alice will never set foot in the Howard Manor!"

Clara wasn't worried about Henry blaming Oliver. She was worried about why Henry was so good to Alice, even risking his life to save her.

It was a pity Alice didn't die this time. If that bitch had died, all the family assets would be hers.

But thinking about Alice's miserable state after being abandoned, Clara felt extremely satisfied and couldn't wait to see it again.

So she held Oliver's hand. "Oliver, I want to see Alice."

"Why? Hasn't she bullied you enough?" Oliver naturally didn't want to see that disgusting woman. Just one look at her would make him feel suffocated. "With her ugly face, if she got burned, it would be like getting plastic surgery."

Clara shook his arm. "Oliver, please take me."

Unable to resist Clara's pleading, Oliver supported her as they went next door.

The door to the room 1206 was pushed open.