Chapter 67

Matilda's POV

My mind went completely blank.

By the time I finally snapped out of my shock, I realized he'd already dragged me quite a distance.

The moment he let go of my wrist, my first instinct was to back away.

But as soon as I tried to step back, a sharp pain shot through my ankle, making me gasp.

I let out a small cry, and following his concerned gaze, I looked down at my ankle.

The already sprained area was now even more swollen and darker in color.

"Does it hurt badly?" He noticed immediately, his head snapping up to look at me.

The worry and regret in his eyes were something I'd never seen before, making my heart clench.

Before I could answer, he'd already raised his voice, shouting toward the villa, "Where is everyone? Get the wheelchair over here!"

He was always gentle with the servants, so this sudden harshness not only scared the others but startled me too.

Soon, Uma and Irene came running over in a panic, pushing the wheelchair, fumbling as they tried to help me sit down.

Maybe it was the tense atmosphere Wellington was giving off that made them flustered, but Irene didn't control her grip on my arm properly, and when my injured right foot touched the ground, I twisted it again.

The sharp pain made me cry out, tears instantly streaming down my face.

"We're so sorry! Ms. Hamilton! We didn't mean to!" Uma and Irene quickly let go, apologizing repeatedly.

Before they'd even finished speaking, I felt an arm tighten around my waist.

In a dizzying moment, Wellington had bent down, slipped his arm under my knees, and scooped me up horizontally again.

"Mr. Learmond! I'm fine! The wheelchair is enough! Really!" I said in a panic, leaning against his solid chest, my words tumbling out incoherently.

"Don't talk." He coldly dropped those words, and carrying me in his arms, he strode toward the main villa building with long, quick steps.

I was completely lost, feeling both helpless and embarrassed. I instinctively looked at Hank, who was following behind, silently asking with my eyes: [What's gotten into Mr. Learmond today? Has he lost his mind?]

Hank met my gaze but didn't speak either. His shocked expression clearly answered: [No idea, but from the looks of it, he probably has.]

And so, under everyone's watchful eyes, Wellington carried me all the way into my bedroom and placed me on the bed.

But after setting me down, he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he stood by the bed with furrowed brows, his ice-blue eyes unconsciously scanning around the room.

Watching his tense profile, I suddenly realized something and said almost without thinking, "The medicine for sprains is in the bottom drawer of the desk."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I froze, my cheeks instantly turning bright red.

Matilda! What are you saying?!

Are you telling him where the medicine is because you're expecting him to apply it for you?!

I wanted to bite off my own tongue and bury my head in the blankets.

However, after hearing my words, Wellington actually turned around and walked toward the desk by the window.

He pulled open the bottom drawer, searched briefly, and quickly found the medicine John had left behind.

Then, holding the items, he turned and walked back toward me.

My heartbeat nearly stopped completely the moment he turned around.

I stared blankly as he came closer and closer, as his tall figure loomed over me, as he walked to the bedside, bent his knees slightly, reached out his hand, and actually moved to lift my foot!

"That's not necessary! Mr. Learmond! I can do it myself!"

I finally came to my senses and quickly pulled my foot back.

My intense reaction seemed to finally snap him out of that strange, agitated state.

After a few seconds of silence, he gently placed the ointment on the nightstand beside my bed, then straightened up and left without a word.

I stared blankly at the closed door, still hugging my injured foot and curled up in the corner of the bed, my mind completely blank.

What was all that about?

This morning, he'd left so decisively, as if he wanted to pretend nothing had happened.

But now, he'd suddenly rushed over like a madman, hugging and holding me in the villa, anxiously checking if I was hurt, then carrying me back to my room without allowing any argument, and almost personally applying medicine for me.

What caused this complete turnaround?

I reached out and picked up the ointment from the nightstand.

I needed to treat my badly swollen ankle quickly, or I'd probably have trouble even getting out of bed.

"Ms. Hamilton, let me help you." Uma had somehow quietly pushed open the door and walked over with an apologetic expression.

"I'm so sorry about earlier. Irene and I were too careless and hurt you."

"It's okay, Uma, it wasn't your fault." I quickly shook my head.

Uma began carefully applying the ointment for me. The room was very quiet, but there was an indescribable awkwardness in the air.

Uma was unusually silent today, her movements unusually cautious, as if she was afraid of something.

The atmosphere was too oppressive.

I finally couldn't stand it and broke the silence first.

"Uma, what exactly happened just now? Why did Mr. Learmond have the bodyguards searching everywhere in the yard? What were they looking for?"

Her hand applying the ointment paused slightly, "We're not entirely sure of the details, but from what we overheard Hank and the bodyguards mention, it seems someone might have planted a bomb somewhere near our property."

A bomb?!

Uma quickly reassured me, "Don't panic, Ms. Hamilton. I asked carefully, and the bodyguards searched thoroughly. It turned out to be a false alarm—there was no bomb."

But I still gasped.

I'd just recently been through the kidnapping by Caspian and had witnessed the confrontation between Wellington and Caspian firsthand. I was almost instantly certain.

It was Caspian!

Only he would do something like this!

So Wellington was so worked up earlier because he thought the bomb was near me?

But this was clearly something that could have been solved with a phone call.

He could have just had Hank call and tell everyone in the villa to evacuate immediately, or even ordered his men to come in directly and take us away to ensure our safety.

Why did he come himself?

Could he have been... worried about me?

I gasped, instinctively covering my mouth with my hand, my cheeks heating up uncontrollably again.

"Ms. Hamilton? What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" Uma noticed my reaction and quickly stopped, looking at me anxiously.

"I'm fine!" I hurriedly lowered my hand, forcing myself to calm down.

"I was just a bit scared. It's okay, Uma, please continue."

I desperately tried to suppress the questions wildly churning in my heart, but the uncontrollable heartbeat in my chest could no longer be calmed. It pounded violently against my ribs, leaving me restless and my cheeks burning.