Chapter 84: Wendy's Biological Mother
Nicole's POV
Keith let out a piercing scream, both hands clutching his chest as he staggered backward several steps.
Blood seeped through his fingers, staining his robe a horrifying dark red.
He opened his mouth, trying to call for help, but Hodgson gave him no chance.
With a swift kick, Hodgson knocked Keith to the ground, pinned him down with one knee, and struck twice more, one slash to each leg.
"Ahhh!"
The agonizing scream echoed through the corridor.
I covered my mouth tightly, forcing myself to stay silent.
Finally, Hodgson drove the knife deep into Keith's stomach. Only after Keith had completely passed out did he stand up.
He looked down at Keith lying in a pool of blood, his eyes terrifyingly cold.
"Let's go."
He turned toward the storage room where I was hiding, his voice calm as if nothing had just happened.
I pushed the door open with trembling hands and stumbled out.
The smell of blood made me nauseous.
Hodgson reached out and took my hand, leading me quickly away from Hall Manor.
We didn't encounter anyone along the way.
It wasn't until I was sitting in the car that I realized my legs were still weak.
"You drive."
Hodgson handed me the car keys and slumped weakly against the passenger seat.
I took a deep breath, accepted the keys, and started the car.
Only after Hall Manor was far behind us did my racing heart begin to settle.
I finally couldn't hold back: "Your disappearance during this time... was it because of Keith?"
Hodgson turned his head to look at me.
"Nicole, you're getting smarter."
He closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat.
"That bastard set a trap, lured me to an isolated island, and tried to kill me."
My heart clenched painfully.
No wonder he was injured so severely.
"When I was on that island, I swore that if I got out alive, I would never let him go."
Hodgson's voice carried a chilling murderous intent. "Tonight's stabbing was just the appetizer."
Keith had tried to kill Hodgson. Hodgson's revenge tonight was merely an eye for an eye.
In their family, kindness and mercy were luxuries.
We arrived at Hodgson's residence.
As soon as we entered, Eric and a doctor carrying a medical kit were already waiting.
The doctor glanced at Hodgson's injuries and frowned deeply.
"The wounds have already started to deteriorate. They need immediate treatment."
Hodgson's clothes were cut away, revealing crisscrossing old and new scars beneath.
The gunshot wound on his left arm in particular made my heart ache again.
I stood nearby, watching the doctor use tweezers to extract bullet fragments and stitch up those gruesome wounds with needle and thread.
Throughout the entire process, Hodgson didn't make a single sound of pain.
For two full hours, the doctor treated the wounds, gave Hodgson painkillers, and left the room with Eric.
Hodgson lay on the sofa, his face frighteningly pale, fine beads of sweat still on his forehead.
"Come here." He raised his hand and patted the space beside him.
I walked over and carefully sat down next to him.
"I'm sorry... you were so badly hurt, you should have gotten treatment first instead of coming to find me." I kept my head down, my voice somewhat choked.
He turned his head, and with his free hand, he ruffled my hair.
"Don't be silly. I already knew about Vera's situation. As long as you stay by my side, no one will dare touch you."
After returning to the country, he must have gone straight to Gerald Villa. When he couldn't find me there, he thought of Derek.
"Don't worry. The Gerald family won't dare say a word to anyone. I have already warned Doris that if she dares to move against you again, I'll make her entire family pay with their lives."
Hodgson's words made my remaining worries disappear.
This man always gave me the most absolute sense of security in the most brutal way.
Over the next few days, I stayed at Hodgson's apartment taking care of him.
During this time, I contacted Cathy.
Cathy told me that Doris had been scared out of her wits by Hodgson. She'd been locking herself in the villa for days, not even daring to go out.
I seized this opportunity and made demands of Doris through Cathy.
I told her to transfer Vera to another hospital and, from now on, never monitor Vera again.
Doris agreed quickly.
She was terrified, afraid that Hodgson would come looking for her again.
A heavy stone that had been weighing on my heart finally dropped.
Vera was safe. My revenge plan could continue.
A few more days passed, and Hodgson's injuries had basically stabilized. Eric drove over to pick us up.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Taking you to watch a good show." Hodgson smiled at me mysteriously.
The car stopped on an old, rundown street.
This was on the outskirts of the city. The buildings were dilapidated, the streets narrow, and garbage and sewage were everywhere.
"Look over there." Hodgson rolled down the window and pointed ahead.
I followed the direction of his finger and saw a familiar figure.
Wendy.
She was wearing an ordinary jacket, her hair disheveled, looking utterly wretched as she argued with a middle-aged woman.
The woman was about forty-something, with rough, dark skin, wearing cheap clothes.
Everything about her reeked of poverty.
"I'm telling you, you have to give me money!" the woman shrieked, trying to grab the bag in Wendy's hand.
"I don't have any money!" Wendy forcefully shook off her hand, her face full of disgust.
"I'm warning you, stop harassing me, or I'll kill you!"
"Kill me?"
The woman acted as if she'd heard the biggest joke in the world.
Not only was she not afraid, she stepped forward even more brazenly and grabbed Wendy's hair.
"You ungrateful little bitch! If it weren't for me, could you have become a young lady of the Gerald family? Everything you eat and wear now, which of it wasn't exchanged thanks to me?"
Wendy screamed in pain, her hands desperately trying to pry the woman's hands away.
"I'm telling you, Wendy, if you don't give me money, I'll go tell the Geralds the truth about what happened back then!"
"When that happens, you'll come back to the slums with me!"
"Let go! You crazy woman!"
The two of them scuffled right there in broad daylight, drawing quite a crowd of onlookers.
Hodgson raised his hand and closed the car window, shutting out the noise from outside.
I watched this scene in shock. "Eric, that woman... who is she?"
"That woman's name is Mary. She's Wendy's biological mother."