Chapter 201 She's Just Hurt, Nothing More
As evening fell, Mark finally found them with his men.
The setting sun cast a dark red glow. Alexander had his back to everyone, cradling Caroline in his arms.
Mark let out a long breath.
Two hours ago, he had just collected Liam's remains.
Liam had died horribly—when found, only a charred, twisted half of his body remained, still clutching an empty gun.
Mark had nearly vomited after just one glance.
At that moment, he was almost certain Caroline and the child had been blown to pieces too.
Fortunately, they were still here.
"Sir," Mark signaled the men behind him to tread lightly, then carefully approached.
"Sir... we're here, everything's okay now..."
He took a few more steps closer, then suddenly saw that half of Caroline's exposed face was covered in blood.
Mark's heart sank.
Without thinking, he continued forward.
Then he saw clearly—half of Caroline's skull was nearly destroyed.
The child in her arms had a waxy complexion, clearly dead for some time.
Mark's breath caught. It was like a blow to the chest. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.
"No... impossible... Mrs. Hamilton and Miss Hamilton..."
"Sir..."
After a long while, Mark finally found his voice.
He slowly reached out his hand, wanting to touch Alexander's shoulder.
"Get away!"
Alexander suddenly looked up and roared.
He swung his hand, swatting away Mark's outstretched hand.
Caught off guard, Mark fell backward, landing awkwardly in the mud.
"Get away! Don't touch her! Don't disturb us!"
"We're resting! We're waiting for the doctor! Get out! All of you get out!"
As he shouted, he clutched Caroline and the child's bodies even tighter, as if guarding against someone taking them away.
"Sir! Please calm down! They..."
Mark was so frightened he knelt, not daring to approach again, only able to plead through his tears.
"Sir, please let them rest in peace..."
"Shut up!" Alexander whipped his head around.
"She's not dead, she's just sleeping! The baby's hungry, she's crying! Can't you hear?! You're disturbing their rest! Get out! All of you get out!"
Mark was at a loss.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached, and the medical team arrived, out of breath.
Seeing the horrific scene, the doctor's pupils contracted sharply, and he gasped.
"Doctor! Doctor, come quickly!"
Mark lunged forward like he'd grabbed a lifeline.
"Mrs. Hamilton and Miss Hamilton are already... but Mr. Hamilton won't listen at all, his condition is very wrong! You have to do something!"
The doctor took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and walked toward Alexander with a grave expression.
"Mr. Hamilton..."
"Doctor!" Seeing the doctor, Alexander's scattered, crazed gaze finally focused.
He almost ingratiatingly straightened Caroline's lolling head.
"Quick! Save her! She's hurt, she's lost so much blood... and the baby, the baby might be hungry, she keeps crying, please check on them!"
Looking at the mother and daughter who had long since lost their lives, the doctor's Adam's apple bobbed violently.
He forced down his fear and shook his head.
"Sir, please accept my condolences. Mrs. Hamilton and the child have passed away."
The light in Alexander's eyes went out instantly.
"What are you talking about?!"
He put down his wife and daughter and lunged at the doctor, his hands gripping the doctor's throat.
"How dare you curse her death? I'll kill you! Kill you!"
The doctor's face turned red, his breathing blocked, his neck nearly breaking.
"Sir! Let go! Let go now!"
Mark was terrified and rushed forward with two others, trying to pry Alexander's hands away.
But Alexander's strength was incredible—three or four men couldn't pull him off.
The doctor's feet kicked wildly, his eyes rolling back.
In desperation, Mark, drenched in sweat, pointed to Caroline nearby: "Sir! Sir, look! Mrs. Hamilton fell! The baby's crying, very loudly! You need to do something!"
Alexander's hands suddenly froze, a flicker in his eyes.
He released his grip, threw the dying doctor aside, and stumbled back to Caroline's side.
"Caroline, don't be afraid, I'm here... baby, don't cry, don't cry... I'm right here..."
He frantically picked up Caroline and the child, staggered to his feet, and walked toward the shore, mumbling.
"Let's go back, we're going home. We'll get treatment at home, this doctor's a quack, we'll find the best doctor... you'll be fine, Caroline, you'll be fine, baby will be fine too. Everything will be fine..."
Alexander locked himself, Caroline, and the child in the bombed island villa.
The windows of the master bedroom where they'd stayed were shattered, sea wind carrying the lingering smell of gunpowder blew inside, but couldn't dispel the increasingly heavy stench of decay.
Alexander ignored the outside world, insisting on bathing Caroline, combing her hair, and applying makeup every day.
"Look, my dear, you're still so beautiful," he would always say.
After caring for Caroline, he would make formula and hold his daughter, marked by livor mortis, humming lullabies while feeding her.
"Eat more, sweetheart, you need to eat to grow up faster. When you grow up, you and your mother can wear pretty dresses together."
He remembered to change diapers on schedule and cover her with the softest blankets.
At night, he slept holding Caroline and the child.
Mark was worried and would peek in from outside.
Alexander repeated the same routine day after day.
Once, he found an undamaged suitcase in the ruins containing a red silk dress, perfectly preserved.
He cherished it like a rare treasure, carefully changing Caroline into it.
"You look best in red, Caroline. I'll never make you wear Edith's clothes again. You are you, you'll always be you."
He propped Caroline up against the headboard, sat beside her, picked up an old novel, and read softly.
"...If you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique. To you, I shall be unique..."
Halfway through, he stopped, caressed her cold cheek, and talked to her.