Chapter 1456:

“Miss Spencer, I trust you do not intend to obstruct this road indefinitely?”

Karen glanced around at the wide street, easily spacious enough for multiple vehicles. How could her small frame possibly block his path?

Still, she said nothing, struggling to her feet with visible effort. Each step sent pain shooting through her injured limbs as she limped toward the sidewalk.

Malcolm’s expression remained impassive, though his eyes flickered behind wire-rimmed glasses.

“Follow her,” he instructed his driver quietly.

The sedan crept forward at walking pace, staying just behind Karen’s faltering steps.

Karen stopped abruptly, her voice barely audible above the rain.

“Why do you follow me?”

“Enter the vehicle. I will transport you wherever you require,” Malcolm replied through the partially open window. For Wesley’s sake alone, he had decided to offer assistance.

Wherever she required? The words struck Karen like physical blows, and tears spilled down her cheeks with renewed force. She ducked her head lower, grateful that the storm concealed her breakdown.

Yet Karen failed to realize that grief had claimed her entire body—her shoulders shook violently, betraying her anguish to anyone who cared to observe.

Malcolm’s frown deepened as he witnessed her weeping. Had she wailed dramatically, he might have driven away without a second thought. But her silent tears reminded him painfully of Kiera’s own struggles.

“Enter the car. I shall escort you home,” he said with finality.

The word “home” seemed to shatter something inside Karen. Her eyes blazed red with fresh pain as she replied, “I have no home anymore.”

Lightning split the sky above them, casting Karen’s fragile silhouette in stark relief against the storm.

Malcolm pushed open the car door, his tone brooking no argument.

𝖁𝗂𝖊𝖜 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝖾 𝗎𝗉𝖽𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝗇 gal𝖓𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀﹒ⅽ𝗈𝗆

“Get inside before I take matters into my own hands.”

Karen lifted her gaze to meet his unwavering stare, uncertainty flickering across her features. Something in his commanding presence compelled her to obey, and she climbed into the warm interior.

“Drive to Plum Mansion,” Malcolm instructed his driver.

Immediately, small fingers clutched desperately at Malcolm’s sleeve. He turned to find Karen staring at him with wild fear. Her eyes and nose were red and swollen from crying, her complexion ghostly pale as she whispered, “Please, anywhere but Plum Mansion.”

She could not bear to face that place again.

Malcolm glanced down at her trembling grip on his expensive fabric, his expression unchanging.

“Take us to the Johnson residence instead,” he commanded the driver.

This time, Karen offered no protest. She released his sleeve and retreated into herself, sitting motionless as though she had transformed into someone else entirely.

The car pulled into the garage, and the driver departed for the evening. Malcolm cast a sideways glance at her motionless form.

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