chapter 42 Save me

chapter 42 Save me
Erin's POV:

After finishing work at the stables in the afternoon, I called the castle so Harrison wouldn't worry.

I told the butler I'd be visiting the Perez family and they shouldn't wait for me for dinner.

After hanging up, I still grabbed a mask and put it on before heading to the Perez family villa.

I had Harrison to think about. I couldn't get infected.

When I arrived at the Perez family villa, I found my brother wasn't home. Only Hilda and Gloria were there.

I sat down and a maid poured me tea. I took a sip and asked them directly.

"Where's my brother? He said Dad was seriously ill."

My gaze swept across the empty living room sofas, not seeing my brother anywhere.

"Your brother? The company had some urgent business to handle. He couldn't get away."

Gloria spoke first, her tone carrying undisguised mockery.

"But you, Dad's sick and Mom called you so many times, yet you hung up on all of them!"

I didn't bother arguing with her and headed straight for the stairs.

"I'm going to see Dad."

The bedroom door on the second floor was slightly ajar. I pushed it open to see Dad lying in bed, his face flushed red with fever.

An IV tube was attached to his arm, transparent liquid dripping down drop by drop. His eyes were tightly closed, breathing rapid and heavy. He was clearly unconscious.

My heart tightened. I quickly walked to the bedside and touched his forehead. It was burning hot!

"Why didn't you take him to the hospital?"

I turned to face Hilda and Gloria who had followed me in, speaking loudly.

"My colleague said there's a serious virus going around that causes lung infections. Dad's condition is dangerous like this!"

Hilda elegantly crossed her arms, a cold smile curving her lips.

"The family doctor already examined him. Said it's just a common cold and fever. IV fluids will cure it. No need for the hospital."

Gloria leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, sneering.

"You never cared about Dad before. What are you pretending for now?"

Their coldness hit me like a bucket of ice water.

I looked at Dad unconscious in bed, then at these two vicious women in front of me, suddenly feeling dizzy.

My temples throbbed, vision began blurring, and my legs felt weak like I was stepping on cotton.

I gripped the headboard trying to steady myself, but heard Gloria's malicious laughter.

"Looks like the drugs are kicking in. Erin, you really are pathetically stupid."

"You..."

I wanted to question them, but my words came out as incoherent mumbles.

My body collapsed uncontrollably. Before losing consciousness, I only saw the cruelty in Gloria's eyes.

When I woke up again, my wrists were painfully bound by rough rope, hands suspended high above.

My eyes were covered with black cloth. I couldn't see anything.

I could only smell the air filled with a nauseating mix of rust and mold.

I struggled to stand steady, but my feet dangled in empty air. I could only support my body on tiptoes, and every movement sent tearing pain through my wrists.

"Help... is anyone there?"

I called for help trembling, my voice hoarse with fear.

A low, sleazy laugh answered me. A man's breath reeking of alcohol and cigarettes came close to my ear.

"Stop shouting. No one's coming to save you."

"Who are you? Let me go!"

I twisted my body desperately, only making the ropes tighter.

The man patted my face, his tone boastful.

"I paid good money to buy you from your dear sister Gloria."

As soon as he finished speaking, a cold whip struck my back. The sharp pain made me scream involuntarily.

The whip fell again and again, each strike tearing at my skin. I could feel my clothes being ripped apart, cold air mixing with pain as it penetrated my wounds.

"Ah... stop hitting me, please!"

I cried and begged for mercy. Harrison's smiling face flashed through my mind, followed by Kingsley's face.

"Kingsley... save me..."

I used all my strength to call his name.

Tears mixed with sweat flowed into my mouth, salty and bitter.

The whip kept falling, consciousness gradually fading.

I had only one thought left: Kingsley, please appear quickly...

Kingsley's POV:

As the car drove through the castle gates, I instinctively looked toward the living room. The curtains were drawn tight, not a trace of light showing.

Walking into the living room, the butler immediately approached.

"Boss, Miss Erin called this afternoon saying she was visiting the Perez family and we shouldn't wait for her for dinner."

I frowned, tossing my coat onto the sofa, my tone carrying barely perceptible irritation.

"She's still not back?"

"Not yet, and no one's answering her phone."

The butler was respectful but couldn't hide a trace of concern.

I snorted coldly and walked to the dining room.

Harrison was already seated at the table. Seeing me enter, he immediately smiled.

"Daddy! Isn't Mommy back yet? I wanted to wait and eat with her."

"She went back to that broken home. Don't wait for her."

I picked up my knife and fork, my tone cold and hard.

That stupid woman. She knew no one in the Perez family truly cared about her, yet she still went running to them.

Her father, who let Hilda bully her back then, only had eyes for Gloria, that illegitimate daughter. Now he suddenly remembered he had this daughter?

What was the point of going back? Absolutely foolish.

Dinner ended in silence. Harrison tried to bring up Erin several times, but I stopped him with my gaze.

I sat on the living room sofa, opening my iPad to handle business.

The financial reports on screen were densely packed, but after staring for ages, I hadn't absorbed a single word.

My peripheral vision kept unconsciously glancing at the wall clock.

The hour hand moved from seven to eight, then to nine. The living room door remained unopened.

"Sir, should we try calling Miss Erin again?"

The butler brought coffee, asking carefully.

I hesitated, then took out my phone and dialed Erin's number.

A mechanical female voice came through the receiver.

"The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."

I hung up, feeling even more irritated.

What was that woman doing?

Was that home really worth her attachment?

Or was she still sulking about what happened at the shooting range?

I put down the iPad and stood up, pacing around the living room.

Go pick her up?

The thought emerged and I immediately suppressed it.

When did I ever need to coddle a woman?

But thinking she might be in danger made me extremely worried.

Just as I was about to grab my car keys and leave, I saw through the floor-to-ceiling windows a woman's figure appearing in the distance of the estate.