Chapter 65
The moment Matthew burst through the door, the scene before him made his blood run cold.
Jack's hand was wrapped around her throat, pinning her against the wall.
Her face was a mottled purple and white, her eyes half-closed, her limbs hanging limply like a bird with broken wings.
His mind went blank with a buzzing sound. He couldn't hear anything anymore.
He rushed forward and shoved Jack away.
Jack staggered back several steps and hit the wall. Matthew didn't even look at him, his eyes fixed desperately on Evelyn.
Without the restraint, her body slid down limply. He caught her and pulled her into his arms.
"Eve? Eve!"
No response.
Her eyes were closed, her head lolling weakly.
He carefully brought his fingers to her nose, then froze.
No breath.
Matthew's entire body went rigid.
From the moment he'd received her call, he hadn't wasted a single minute. Surveillance footage, vehicle tracking, GPS location. Those two cars had circled around before disappearing into a surveillance blind spot.
He'd practically turned the entire city upside down before finding traces of those cars, following them all the way to this suburban villa. Once he had the location, he'd commandeered the fastest helicopter available and dropped right outside.
But now she lay in his arms with no breath, no heartbeat.
The chaotic sounds around him faded away. Everything else seemed to disappear. He could only see her—eyes closed, lifeless.
"Eve..." His voice shook.
He bent down, pinched her nose, and began giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Once, twice, three times.
Then he pressed on her chest.
"Wake up... please wake up..."
Beside him, Thomas was also sweating with panic.
Looking at Evelyn's pale face, he screamed internally: Miss Evelyn, hang on! You have to hang on!
Then he suddenly remembered something—there was an AED in the emergency kit on the plane!
He spun around and ran out, then rushed back moments later with a small case in his hands.
"Mr. Perkins! AED!"
Matthew fumbled to open the case, tore open the electrode pad packaging, and placed them on Evelyn's chest according to the diagram.
The machine began analyzing her heart rhythm.
"Shock advised."
He pressed the button.
Evelyn's body jerked.
No response.
He pressed it again.
Still nothing.
Matthew's hands began to shake.
He'd never known what fear felt like.
He'd weathered countless storms in business, faced down countless opponents without blinking.
But now, looking at Evelyn lying breathless in his arms, he was trembling with terror.
He lifted his head and looked at Jack cowering in the corner.
That gaze was cold as wind scraped from the depths of hell.
"If anything happens to her," he said, enunciating each word, "I. Will. Make. You. Pay. With. Your. Life."
Jack shuddered and instinctively backed up two steps, unable to utter a single word.
Evelyn felt like she was standing in an enormous train station.
Everything was white and sacred. The floor was white, the ceiling was white, even the train approaching in the distance was white.
It was quiet all around. All her troubles and fears seemed to have vanished, leaving only an indescribable peace.
Not far away, a white train slowly pulled up and stopped in front of her.
The doors opened.
Some blurry figures boarded. She couldn't see their faces clearly, just hazy shadows.
She stood there watching those figures board, feeling something indescribable.
Maybe she should get on too?
She took a step forward.
Just then, she felt something tugging at her pant leg.
She looked down.
Two tiny orbs of light with wings were clutching at her pants, refusing to let go.
They looked up at her and spoke in sweet voices.
"Didn't you say you'd take good care of us?"
"Don't get on the train."
"Wake up quickly. We're still waiting for you to show us this world."
Evelyn froze.
She looked down at the two little lights, at their tiny wings, at how hard they were trying to hold onto her.
She suddenly remembered—she still had a child. She couldn't die. She had to live for her baby!
In the white space, she finally stopped moving.
At almost the same moment, she regained consciousness in reality.
Matthew knelt on the ground, continuously performing CPR on Evelyn, looking completely drained.
He didn't know how much time had passed when Evelyn suddenly gasped sharply.
Matthew froze, instinctively looking at Evelyn's eyes.
Those eyes looked at him, slowly focusing, slowly filling with light.
"Matthew..."
Her voice was hoarse, almost inaudible.
But Matthew heard it. He heard it.
He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.
The terror of nearly losing her hit him belatedly, and his whole body began to shake.
"I'm sorry..." His voice trembled, and something rolled down from the corners of his eyes.
"I came too late... I'm sorry..."
Tears dropped onto her shoulder, scalding hot.
Evelyn froze for a second.
She'd never seen him cry.
This man who always kept his face cold, who always controlled everything, was now holding her and crying like a child.
Her own tears welled up.
She raised her hand and hugged him back.
"You really came to save me," she choked out. "You really came."
"Yes." He nodded, holding her tighter. "I came. We'll never be apart again. I'll never let you get hurt again."
Feeling the real warmth of his embrace, Evelyn's nerves, which had been taut all night, finally relaxed.
Fear washed over her like a tide. She sobbed uncontrollably, unable to say a word.
Exhaustion and terror flooded in all at once. She shook with sobs, unable to speak.
Matthew held her, patting her back repeatedly. His heart was breaking.
Over there, Jack suddenly shouted.
"Matthew! You're just going to let this go? She injured my groin! I won't let her get away with this!"
Matthew slowly lifted his head and looked at him.
His gaze was cold as an ice blade, like a hawk eyeing prey about to be slaughtered.
"She only injured your groin?" He laughed coldly. "That's letting you off too easy."
He looked at the bodyguards nearby. "Which hand did he use to choke her?"
The bodyguard paused, then pointed at Jack's right hand.
Matthew nodded, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.
"Chop it off. Then lock him in the basement."
Jack's face went deathly pale.
"Matthew! You can't do this! I'm part of the Quinn family—the Quinn family won't let you get away with—"
Before he could finish, the bodyguards stepped forward, gagged him, and dragged him out.
Matthew withdrew his gaze and looked down at the person in his arms.
She was still crying, still trembling.
He held her even tighter.
"Let's go home," he said.
He carefully lifted her as if holding something infinitely fragile and precious.
Walking out the door, the night wind hit them head-on, a bit chilly.
He pulled her closer into his embrace and took a shawl from his assistant to shield her from the wind.
Thomas ran ahead and opened the helicopter door.
Matthew carried her aboard.
The helicopter took off, flying into the depths of the night.
Considering Evelyn's trauma, Matthew brought her to the nearest villa he owned. It was quiet and safe, perfect for her to rest properly.
She leaned against him, her eyes still red but no longer crying.
She raised her hand and gently touched his face.
"Matthew."
"Mm?"
"Thank you. Thank you for coming to save me."
"I thought... I thought I was going to die."
He looked down at her.
Moonlight streamed through the car window onto her face.
Her eyes were red from crying but bright and clear, like two freshly washed stars.
He lowered his head and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Very gentle, yet full of tenderness and solemnity.
"Don't thank me," he said. "From now on, I'll always protect you."
She didn't say anything.
She just nestled deeper into his embrace.