Chapter 65 "I Have No Feelings for You Whatsoever"
Hodgson's Perspective
I stared fixedly at the photo on my phone screen, my fingers gripping so hard my knuckles turned white.
Nicole was definitely hiding something from me.
What exactly was her relationship with this man?
Did the two of them conspire together to set up Wendy?
Jealousy spread through my veins like poison.
The thought that Nicole might have something going on with this man made me want to kill someone.
"Eric, find out everything about this man immediately!"
I threw the phone at him.
"Also, release this bed photo. It's time for that bitch Wendy to pay the price."
"Understood, sir." Eric caught the phone.
Just then, the operating room doors opened, and Nicole was wheeled out.
Nicole's face was pale as paper, eyes closed, looking like a fragile porcelain doll.
I immediately rushed forward: "Doctor! How is she? Are her injuries severe?"
The doctor was startled by my intensity.
"Don't be nervous, the surgery was very successful. The bullet has been removed. Fortunately, it missed and didn't hit any bone or major blood vessels. She should recover after about half a month of rest."
I breathed a sigh of relief.
The doctor continued: "After the anesthesia wears off, she may experience some pain. The nurse will give her pain medication then."
Nicole was wheeled into a VIP hospital room, and the medical staff all withdrew.
I sat by the bed, looking at that beautiful but bloodless face, my emotions complicated to the extreme.
I felt heartache, anger, and an indescribable fear all at once.
I reached out and gently stroked her cheek.
Her skin was so cold it made my heart ache.
All I could think about was how she looked before she collapsed, covered in blood, yet still insisting on pressing that watch into my hand.
That damned woman!
She had deceived me, hidden so much from me, yet I couldn't summon even a trace of hatred.
In the past, any woman who dared to deceive me would have been sent to meet God by now.
But faced with Nicole, all I felt besides heartache was a mad impulse to lock her by my side forever.
What the hell was happening to me?
I leaned down and whispered a warning in her ear.
"Nicole, you'd better pray you haven't been messing around with other men behind my back. Otherwise, I'll break your legs and imprison you by my side forever."
An urgent knocking sounded at the door.
I asked impatiently, "Who is it?"
Eric pushed the door open, his face tense.
"Ba... Barry just arrived at the hospital. He insists on coming in... Sir, what should we do? We can't let Barry know Nicole is here."
Barry had actually tracked me down here?
I let out a cold laugh and stood up.
"It's fine. It's time to make him give up completely on this marriage alliance idea."
Eric realized what I was about to do and stammered nervously.
"Hodgson, don't do anything rash! Nicole is Shier's fiancée!"
I glared at him: "I don't need you to remind me."
Barry was standing in the hallway, looking furious, arguing with a nurse about something.
Seeing me emerge, he strode over quickly.
"Hodgson! Why did you seal off the entire floor? I came to..."
"This is a hospital," I interrupted him, "keep your voice down. Nicole needs rest."
Barry's words caught in his throat.
He stared at me wide-eyed, his face instantly turning ashen.
"You... what are you saying?!"
I repeated it, this time slower and clearer
"I said Nicole is resting."
Smart as Barry was, he couldn't miss the implication in my words.
He stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly raised his hand.
"Slap!"
A resounding slap struck my face.
My face jerked to the side, blood seeping from the corner of my mouth.
Barry trembled with rage: "She's your nephew's fiancée! You bastard! How could you... how dare you..."
I slowly turned my head back, using the back of my hand to wipe the blood from my mouth.
"So what? They're not married yet."
My face showed complete indifference.
"Hodgson!"
Barry practically roared: "Of all the women you could play with, why must you play with Shier's woman! Tell me, are you doing this deliberately to get revenge on Keith!"
Hearing Keith's name, my expression turned completely cold.
"Yes, I did it deliberately."
"Keith is nothing but your illegitimate son with another woman. He and Shier should have been thrown out of the Hall family long ago! I haven't killed him yet, which shows great mercy on my part!"
Barry's face turned white, then red.
His hand trembled, as if he wanted to hit me again, but ultimately lowered it.
"You've truly gone mad! Come back with me right now!"
Barry tried to grab my hand.
I dodged his movement and let out a cold laugh: "Eric, escort him out."
Eric reluctantly stepped forward and made a "please" gesture.
"Mr. Barry, please come with me."
Barry was blocked by Eric and nearly lost his balance from anger.
He cursed a few times but was ultimately away by Eric.
I turned and went back into the hospital room, closing the door. The world was finally quiet.
Nicole was still unconscious, breathing steadily, her eyelashes occasionally fluttering gently.
I sat back down by the bed and held her hand in my palm.
Her hand was very small, completely enveloped by my palm.
I murmured softly: "Nicole, just how long are you going to torment me?"
The next morning, Nicole finally woke up.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she gasped in pain, cold sweat instantly beading on her forehead.
"Nurse!" I quickly pressed the call button.
The nurse rushed over and gave her pain medication. After the medicine took effect, her expression eased slightly.
I had originally wanted to interrogate her about many things, to ask who that man was, to ask why she lied to me.
But seeing her like this, I felt indescribably distressed, and all those words stuck in my throat.
Forget it, I'd wait until she felt better.
But Nicole spoke first.
"Hodgson, I've already returned that watch to you. As for the five hundred thousand, I'll definitely find a way to pay you back."
Her voice was very weak, but her tone was inexplicably resolute.
She paused, then said words that nearly drove me insane.
"From now on, there's nothing between us anymore."
I suddenly stood up: "What the fuck are you saying?!"
Nicole raised her head.
Gone from her eyes was the timidity and submission she used to show, replaced by only cold indifference.
"I said, there's nothing between us anymore."
My fists clenched with a cracking sound as I struggled to suppress the urge to grab her by the throat.
"Nicole, do you have no heart at all? We've slept together so many times. Do you really have no feelings for me whatsoever?!"
I saw her eyes flicker.
She hesitated, though only for a brief moment, but I still caught it.
But soon, she looked away and spoke slowly.
"Yes, I have no feelings for you."