Chapter 67 Brother Is Born to Protect Sister
Just moments ago, Tobias was making a scene at the Williams family house, fiercely protecting Amelia and ready to tear Quentin Kismet apart. Now, he was holding his sister, eyes red with emotion.
Hugging Amelia tightly, his eyes were filled with pain and anger. "That jerk Quentin, I'll find a chance to beat him up again once we're back at school."
"Amelia, it's my fault. I didn't protect you like I should have."
Tobias gently lifted Amelia's hand, which still had shards of the broken vase stuck in it. "Does it hurt? Let me blow on it. How about we go to the hospital now?"
Chris frowned slightly, rubbing the back of his neck, his gaze falling on Amelia's wounded hand. Going to the hospital would involve a lot of paperwork and waiting. It would be faster if he took care of it himself.
"No need for the hospital," Chris said coldly, breaking the silence. "I have all the necessary tools and medicine at home. I'll disinfect and bandage it there."
Tobias was taken aback. "The sun must be rising from the west today. Chris, you haven't been home in ages, and now you want to come back with us?"
"It's been a while since I was home. I'll be staying there for the next few days," Chris replied, his expression neutral, though a hint of discomfort flickered in his eyes. He would never admit that he wanted to return to the Martinez Mansion because of Amelia.
Once they arrived at the Martinez Mansion, Chris glanced at Amelia and said, "Come to my room. I'll take care of your wound."
"Okay." Amelia nodded obediently and followed Chris upstairs.
Chris hadn't stayed at the Martinez Mansion for a long time, but his room was always kept clean by the staff. The room's décor reflected Chris's personality. Tobias's room, with its rebellious and free-spirited style, contrasted sharply with Chris's minimalist, almost clinical space.
The air was filled with the scent of cedar. The walls were pure white, and the room was devoid of unnecessary furniture or decorations, exuding a cold, austere vibe. The large bed had light gray sheets and blankets. To the left was a desk with a tall wooden bookshelf filled with medical books. On the right stood a tall human skeleton model, which looked quite eerie at first glance.
"Sit on my bed. I'll have the sheets changed later anyway," Chris said, looking up. "I'll get the first aid kit."
What Amelia didn't know was that Chris had never allowed anyone else to touch his bed. When they were kids, Tobias once used Chris's bed as a trampoline, and Chris had the whole bed replaced by the time he got home from school. Chris had always been cold and distant. His bed was his private domain, and he never let anyone near it.
But now.
Amelia sat on the edge of the bed, and soon Chris returned with a large first aid kit, pulling a chair to sit in front of her.
"Give me your hand," Chris said.
Amelia extended her hand to Chris.
By now, the blood on Amelia's palm had dried, staining her entire hand red. The sight of her wounded palm made Chris's usually stoic expression falter for a moment. Her palm wasn't just pierced by one shard but by four or five small pieces. They had been embedded in her hand for so long; it must have been excruciatingly painful.
Yet Amelia hadn't uttered a single complaint, whether at the Martinez Mansion or during the car ride. Tobias seemed to be in more pain than she was, yelling and cursing Quentin and the Williams family the entire way. But Amelia only comforted him, saying she wasn't in pain and that he shouldn't worry.
How could it not hurt? If it were Rachel, she would probably be in tears all day, seeking comfort from Kevin and Tobias.
"I'll clean the dried blood first," Chris said.
"Okay," Amelia replied softly.
Chris found some antiseptic wipes in the first aid kit and began to gently clean around Amelia's wound with his fingers. These were hands accustomed to holding a scalpel. His fingers were long and well-defined, with neatly trimmed nails, almost too perfect. As he wiped, the veins on the back of his hand subtly stood out, giving a sense of cold restraint.
It took five or six wipes to clean all the dried blood. Chris took a pair of tweezers from the kit and took a deep breath. "I'll remove the small shards now. Tell me if it hurts."
As he pulled out the largest shard, Amelia couldn't help but gasp. Fresh blood quickly welled up from the wound.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"Yeah," Amelia replied softly.
Chris's usually cold demeanor softened in front of Amelia. He set down his tools and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, cutely wrapped milk candy. Noticing Amelia's surprised look, Chris's eyes showed a hint of unease. Without saying a word, he unwrapped the candy and held it to Amelia's lips. Instinctively, Amelia opened her mouth, and Chris fed her the candy. The sweet, milky flavor spread through Amelia's mouth.
Chris leaned in closer, his handsome face magnified before her, and said softly, "Eating candy will make it hurt less. I'll be gentle."
"Thanks, Chris."
Amelia chewed on the candy, finding it quite sweet. Hearing Amelia's voice, Chris's heart softened. Before him was Amelia, someone who shared half his blood. She was the one who risked her life to save a stranger, Rex, on the street, who could score perfect marks on comprehensive exams in forty minutes, the final and most important disciple of the chief healer, and someone who endured pain without a word.
Chris had missed out on seventeen years of knowing this exceptional Amelia. Since he was a child, Chris had always felt lonely. It wasn't so much that he was naturally aloof and unwilling to connect with others; it was more that he felt out of place in the world. The familial bonds among the nobility couldn't meet his needs or provide the warmth he craved as a child, so he distanced himself, no longer expecting anything. Beneath Chris's cold exterior was a hollow, vulnerable heart. He never knew what could fill that void and loneliness.
But today, seeing Kevin and Tobias protect Amelia against the Williams family, and Tobias holding Amelia non-stop in the car while Kevin kept asking her questions, worrying about her and Michael, and her online reputation, Chris felt something stir deep inside him. Feeding Amelia the candy, Chris continued to treat her wound. Once all the shards were removed and the wound disinfected, Chris took out some gauze to bandage her hand.
Seeing him so focused, Amelia casually mentioned, "At lunch, Orval said that yesterday when you first saw me, you were so disgusted you didn't even want to touch me or hold me."
Amelia added, "I thought you hated me."
Chris paused in wrapping the gauze. Once her right hand was fully bandaged, Amelia stood up from the bed. Just as she straightened up to thank him, Chris, who was more than a head taller than her, unexpectedly pulled her into a hug.
"Chris?"
Surrounded by his cool, pleasant scent, Amelia called out, but Chris's low voice came from above her head. "I don't hate you."
He placed a hand on her smooth hair, his voice still cool. "I'll get you a prettier necklace."
"You're my sister. I was born to protect you."
"So you don't have to be so considerate. If it hurts, say it. If you're wronged, speak up. Understand?"