Chapter 122

Scarlett’s POV

I lay trembling on the hospital bed, my entire body shaking uncontrollably.

At this moment, my mind was consumed by survival instinct, leaving no room to contemplate the origin of Alexander's leg injury. The small knife Tom had secretly slipped to me when I was leaving—its purpose was self-evident.

This was my opportunity to prove my loyalty. Richard had already granted me one chance to live; now my fate rested in my own hands.

But I never imagined Alexander would actually come to save me.

Now, the blade in his hand had already cut through the skin of my ankle.

Any deeper, and I would likely end up with the same limp he had.

"Mr. Gray, you're hurting me," I said, my body trembling uncontrollably, afraid that in the next second the knife would plunge directly into my body.

"Afraid of pain when you're about to lose your life?" Alexander let out a mocking laugh, followed by the sound of something dropping to the floor.

My suspended heart finally relaxed. But before I could breathe a sigh of relief, a sharp pain shot through my ankle.

"Ah!" I could no longer hold back and let out a scream.

This only seemed to anger him more.

"I heard when Richard beat you, you didn't make a sound. What's this? You become delicate with me?"

Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face as my hands clutched desperately at the sheets beneath me.

In my struggle, the needle slipped from my vein, blood immediately soaking the white sheets with a vivid crimson stain.

Alexander leaned in close to my face, "I save your life, and you try to kill me in return. Scarlett, that truly hurt me."

Despite the mocking smile playing on his lips, when he said the word "hurt," I believed him.

My heart ached simultaneously, twisting into a painful knot.

"I was wrong, Mr. Gray! I was truly wrong! I shouldn't have treated you like that, shouldn't have harbored thoughts of killing you!"

"Too late!" He gripped the back of my neck, forcing me to look up at him.

"Didn't Richard tell you that if I didn't die, your fate would be even worse?"

Forced to meet his bloodthirsty gaze, I suddenly curled my lips into a smile.

It must have been an ugly smile, as my eyes were filled with tears.

"You can't bear to." My body went limp against his chest. "Alexander, you can't bear to let me die."

His mocking eyes narrowed, his thin lips pressed into a tight line.

"If you really wanted me dead, you only needed to let Richard beat me to death..." I gasped for breath, trying to raise my hands to grasp his shirt.

But I had no strength left.

Alexander laughed, but before he could speak, I continued weakly, "I can't bear it either..."

"Can't bear what?" Alexander tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at him.

"I can't bear for you to die... If you died, who would protect me like this? Who would come save me when I'm dying?"

I spoke through tears, my entire body shaking like a sieve.

"Is that all?" His raised eyebrow still carried endless anger.

My body suddenly stiffened in his arms.

I stared at him with tear-filled eyes, and after a long silence, I squeezed out half a sentence, "No... there's more, I actually feel..."

"What?" Alexander continued to press, as if he wouldn't let me go today until he heard a satisfactory answer from my lips.

By now, my thoughts were in complete disarray.

I was still immersed in the fact that Alexander had come to save me, but I understood clearly that his rescue wasn't simply because of that little impropriety between us. More likely, it was due to the conflict between him and Richard.

Just as I was contemplating whether to lie to Alexander, Luke's voice came from outside the door.

"Mr. Gray, Miss Harber is looking for you."

"Tell her to get lost!" Alexander's voice was filled with rage.

After a moment of silence, Luke's voice sounded again, tinged with difficulty.

"Mr. Gray, perhaps you should come out for a moment. The main issue is... Mr. Harber has also arrived." The tone of his last sentence was almost choked with emotion.

Alexander was extremely impatient, kicking over the stool in front of him.

But when he stood up, his face still wore a playful smile.

He reached out to pinch what little flesh remained on my face. "Do you want me to go see them?"

As if I had any say in the matter.

I slightly avoided his hawk-like gaze. "Mr. Gray... you should go quickly. Don't keep Miss Harber waiting."

"But you haven't finished what you were saying earlier. Or... perhaps give me something more?" Alexander's finger moved to my bloodless lips.

My breathing became rapid; in this tense confrontation, I almost forgot the pain in my leg.

Taking a deep breath, just as I was about to speak, I found my voice hoarse: "Mr. Gray, I..."