From Ruin She Rose novel Chapter 267

Chapter 267

Every time Austin saw Emily, he always wore the brightest, sunniest smile. This time was no exception. “Emily… Austin called out.

Austin hurried forward, his smile fading as he took in Emily’s disheveled appearance-pale face, swollen cheeks, messy hair, and torn clothes. ‘She’s been through hell,’ he thought, stopping abruptly.

Even after hearing everything over the phone, Austin didn’t expect Emily to look so battered. The Bennetts really outdid themselves. “They’ll pay for this, he thought, a cold glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. Cloudridge’s elite needed a shake-up.

Because they were standing so close, Emily caught the emotion in his eyes and froze for a second. Austin was always bright, sunny, cheerful, and sincere. His eyes, always so clear and innocent like a newborn’s, had never shown that kind of emotion before.

Lost in thought, she was snapped out of it by the cool touch of Austin’s fingers on her swollen cheek. “Does it hurt?” he asked.

Emily came back to herself and turned her head away a little, feeling uncomfortable. “I’m fine,” Emily replied.

She didn’t say if it hurt, only that she was fine. I’ve endured worse, Emily thought, used to Bennetts’ cruelty. Austin understood her meaning, his eyes darkening with concern.

He remembered that first day they met, when she was helping him with his wounds, she’d said, “When you’ve been hurt enough times, you just get used to it.”

He’d looked into Emily’s background and knew she’d grown up pampered by the Bennett Family. The worst she’d suffered was probably in the years since Lydia returned, but that still didn’t seem enough to make her say something like that.

Their eyes locked, both seeing unspoken emotions swirling in each other’s gaze. After a long moment, Emily silently pulled her hand back. Austin’s lips twitched slightly, saying nothing, and continued gently applying medicine to her face.

His gentle touch and the absence of the tense atmosphere at the Bennett residence made Emily slowly close her eyes.

Feeling her steady breathing, Austin draped his jacket over her, his hands moving even more gently, never pausing. She slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep before she knew it.

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