Chapter 9 Ask Your Husband For Help

The fiery sting on Thea's face, a lingering reminder of Maggie's slap, painted her cheeks a vibrant shade of crimson. Whether her embarrassment stemmed from shyness or anxiety, it was hard to discern.

"Will I really recover by tomorrow?" Thea attempted to steer the conversation in a different direction and turned to Ruben.

She hadn't expected Colton to take her to see the doctor. It had also come to her attention that Colton had a close relationship with the doctor.

"Absolutely," Ruben affirmed, peering at Thea once more. Something about her seemed familiar. "Who did this to you? They were ruthless."

However, Thea chose to withhold the answer. "Is your last name Russell?" Ruben inquired.

"Yes." Thea confirmed. The realization that she was the girl chosen by Colton dawned on Ruben.

"Regardless of who hurt you, you can always turn to your husband for help."

"He's not my husband." Thea clarified, her spouse being an elderly man far from handsome.

"Isn't he?" Ruben looked perplexedly at Colton, who had fallen silent.

What game was Colton playing?

"My family hurt me," Thea admitted, her lips curving into a smile. "I was disobedient."

Ruben, surprised by her revelation, glanced at Colton, who was in the midst of applying ointment to Thea's injury.

Why had she been punished in such a brutal manner for being disobedient? Thea seemed obedient at first glance, and the second daughter of the Russell family appeared to be in favor.

Once the ointment was applied, Colton escorted Thea out of the hospital.

"Thank you." Thea expressed her gratitude, her swelling subsiding, her bright eyes meeting Colton's.

Colton started the car and inquired in a hushed tone. "Shall I take you home?"

He was referring to Emerald Mansion.

Thea misunderstood his reference, assuming he meant the Russell residence.

She had no sense of security when she was in Emerald Mansion.

"Alright," she responded, providing Colton with the Russell residence's address.

Thea asked Colton to stop the car approximately five hundred meters away from the Russell residence. She unfastened her seatbelt and disembarked. "Thank you, sir."

Colton had accompanied her to seek medical treatment despite her sorry state, a gesture she truly appreciated.

As Thea ventured towards the Russell residence, Colton remained in the car, watching her until she was out of sight. Once she had vanished from his line of vision, he reached for his phone and made a call.

"Bring some bodyguards to the Russell residence. My wife has been assaulted," he commanded. Having issued the order, Colton set his phone down on the passenger seat with a resolute expression.

No one who dared harm his wife would escape unpunished.

Upon Thea's return home, the living room was abuzz with animated chatter and laughter.

Thea entered, spotting Nina, Vanessa, Maggie, and Alexa Alvarez engrossed in a card game. They acknowledged her return but made no effort to acknowledge her presence.

"Grandma," Thea called out to Nina, who was playing cards.

Nina chuckled and said, "Haha, Maggie, you're quite good at playing cards!"

Thea had anticipated being left alone, but Nina's next words were anything but comforting. "If you're not feeling well, you can go upstairs."

Nina, who had noticed the handprint on Thea's face, showed no sign of leniency.

Without her consent, Vanessa and Maggie would not have dared to visit Thea at the hospital to inflict such an injury.

Thea had no intention of lingering in the living room, so she swiftly retreated upstairs.

Downstairs, the conversation continued among the four women.

"Her face needs to be treated promptly," Nina remarked casually.

"Grandma, just ignore her!"

"She's acting so high and mighty just because she married Mr. Reynolds. Who does she think she is?"

Before Vanessa could finish her sentence, a deafening car horn reverberated outside. The noise was so piercing that it jolted Nina into a grim expression.

"Nina, what's going on?" Vanessa inquired, bewildered. The cacophony of approaching vehicles could not be ignored.

"They're just passing by," Nina responded, feigning indifference.

"You're right. Nobody in Flison would dare to cause trouble for our family."

The Russell and Reynolds families were inextricably linked, and they were in the process of forming ties with the Gibson family.

"Let's continue," Vanessa suggested with a smile. However, a thunderous crash interrupted their conversation, followed by the screeching of brakes.

Cars arrived in rapid succession, encircling the Russell residence.