Chapter 72
Octavius's POV
I stood at the doorway of the hospital room, watching the nauseating scene unfold inside.
Mitchell was clutching Seraphine's wrist, feigning weakness and pain, muttering something about a headache.
Seraphine, her face a mask of disgust, was trying to pull away.
This clumsy act of self-pity and provocation was an insult to my intelligence.
I veiled the coldness in my eyes and walked in, my expression impassive, my gaze falling directly on Seraphine's slightly pale face."Are you hurt?"
Seraphine's eyes flashed with a hint of panic when she saw me. She shook her head vigorously and took the opportunity to wrench her hand free from Mitchell's grasp.
She hurried to my side, as if fleeing from something filthy.
I had to admit, her subconscious action pleased me.
"Octavius," she called out to me in a low voice, a touch of grievance in her tone.
Seeing her about to leave, Mitchell immediately started whimpering on the bed. "Seraphine, don't go. My head hurts so much. Where's the doctor?"
"Headache?"A smirk played on my lips. "Perfect."
I clapped my hands, and the several doctors waiting outside the door immediately filed in, surrounding Mitchell's bed.
"These people," I said in a flat tone, "are the top neurosurgeons and trauma specialists from home and abroad. I've specially invited them to take care of you."
"Any discomfort you feel," my gaze swept over Mitchell's instantly frozen face, "they will use the most professional means to examine you. As for Seraphine,"
I put my arm around Seraphine's shoulder, pulling her closer to me."She is not a professional. She can't help by staying here. She needs to rest. After all, she just went through a car accident and was frightened."
"You love her so much, you wouldn't want her to continue to tire herself out taking care of you here, would you? Especially since there are so many doctors here."
Mitchell's face turned shades of green and white.
He hadn't expected me to call his bluff and bring in a team of real experts to take care of him.
But if he wanted to continue feigning discomfort, it wouldn't be so easy in front of these true professionals.
"Octavius! What are you doing?"Mitchell was flustered. Seeing that he couldn't keep Seraphine, he started playing dirty again. "I'm going to tell Mr. Whitaker! Is this how you treat a savior?"
Savior?
My eyes suddenly turned cold as I looked down at him. "Mitchell, know when to stop. Don't push your luck. You know the truth about the car accident."
"If you dare to pester her again, or play these underhanded tricks, I don't mind making your act a reality and letting you lie in that hospital bed for a few more years."
Mitchell shuddered, fear finally showing in his eyes.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but after meeting my gaze, he didn't dare to utter another word.
I ignored him and left the room with my arm around Seraphine.
In the quiet hallway, Seraphine immediately explained eagerly, "Octavius, just now he..."
"I know."I interrupted, squeezing her slightly cool hand. "He did it on purpose."
Seraphine let out a sigh of relief, then her brows furrowed, and she lowered her voice to share her suspicion."I suspect this car accident was a self-directed act of self-pity. It's too coincidental, and those reporters who suddenly appeared."
I nodded. "I'll have someone investigate the car accident, including the identities of those reporters."
Just then, Flynn walked over with a few media reporters who had been arranged beforehand.
Seraphine looked at me in confusion when she saw the reporters. "Why are there reporters?"
"Mitchell is using public opinion to emotionally blackmail you," I looked at her, "You should learn to use public opinion to protect yourself and take the initiative."
I gestured for Seraphine to get ready, then nodded to the reporters.
The cameras immediately focused on Seraphine.
She was smart and understood my meaning at once. She stepped forward, took a deep breath, and, encouraged by my gaze, put on a tired expression for the camera."Thank you all for your concern about our car accident. I am truly grateful that Mitchell pushed me away during this accident."
Seraphine's tone was sincere, but then it shifted, tinged with stubbornness. "To ensure he receives the best treatment, I have used all my personal savings to hire the top medical expert teams from home and abroad. I will do my best to help him recover."
She paused, her gaze firm as she looked at the camera. "During his hospitalization, I will be responsible for taking care of him until he is discharged. This is my responsibility to my savior."
I watched Seraphine's impromptu performance, a slight smile on my lips.
Saying it this way would indeed turn public opinion around to the greatest extent.
She was smart and knew my thoughts and intentions.
I had never thought that I and Seraphine could have such a tacit understanding.
Then, Seraphine's voice turned cold."But please also understand that gratitude and feelings are two different things. A betrayal in the past is still a betrayal. I, Seraphine, will never forgive a betrayal of feelings out of gratitude."
"And I will certainly not compromise my principles and future for it. Thank you all."
Her words were responsible and silenced the public, clearly drawing a line between her and Mitchell.
I looked at the calm and composed Seraphine in front of the camera, a slight smile on my lips.
After the reporters finished recording and publishing the video, they left under Flynn's guidance.
The hallway returned to silence, leaving only me and Seraphine.
Seraphine sighed. "I hope the netizens won't keep clamoring for me and Mitchell to get back together."
"They won't. If they continue to gossip like that, I'll have the PR department suppress it. And as for the car accident, I'll get to the bottom of it as soon as possible."
I looked down at Seraphine's slightly relieved side profile.
Whether this incident was an accident or man-made, the truth had to come out. I would not allow any potential danger to be near her.
Seraphine looked up, her bright eyes meeting mine, her gaze dependent.
Suddenly, she stood on her tiptoes and gave me a quick peck on the cheek, a fleeting touch.
"Thank you, Octavius."
Seraphine's voice was soft, with a hint of shyness.
The soft, warm touch lingered on my face.
My gaze flickered forward. The door to the hospital room not far away had been opened a crack at some point.
Mitchell was indeed guilty, looking sneaky.
My arm tightened slightly around Seraphine's waist, holding her closer.
Seraphine let out a gasp as I pulled her into my arms.
Under her slightly dazed gaze, I lowered my head and kissed her lips.
Seraphine's body stiffened for a moment, then she leaned into my embrace, responding shyly.
I only let her go when I felt her breathing become a little unsteady.
Seraphine's face was flushed, her eyes shimmering with the dazed, watery light of someone who had just been kissed, alluring and captivating.
I gently brushed her slightly swollen lips, my gaze passing over her shoulder to meet the eyes behind the crack in the door for a second.
Mitchell's face was twisted with jealousy and frustration.
I slowly withdrew my gaze and looked down at the breathless Seraphine in my arms, a smirk playing on my lips.
"This is the kind of thank you I want."