Chapter 522:
Brad drew the blanket up around her and checked the steady drip of the IV. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on you.”
“Thanks.” Her voice was faint, and within moments, she had drifted away.
Word of her injury reached the Owen family sooner than expected. Kendrick — fiercely devoted to his granddaughter — had tried to reach her by phone, only for Brad to answer instead. The moment he learned what had happened, panic sent him into motion. Leaving Serenity Manor in the middle of the night, the old man went straight to the hospital.
“Where is my granddaughter? Where is she?” Kendrick’s voice rang through the corridor as Marcus and several bodyguards followed close behind. Planting himself in front of the doorway, Brad blocked the entrance.
“She’s alright, and she’s resting now. Don’t wake her.”
The command halted Kendrick instantly. He leaned toward the small window, straining to see her inside. One look at Rylie — her arm bound in layers of bandages, her foot wrapped thickly in gauze, and her skin still marked with treated scrapes — made his chest ache.
The man who was usually all warmth now shifted, his features hardening into something far more dangerous. His voice dropped, low and edged with a gathering storm.
“All right. Let her rest. But you — step outside with me. We need a word.”
Brad stayed where he was, turning just enough to point toward the lounge at the far end of the hall.
Kendrick gave a cold snort before taking the lead. Marcus’ eyes lingered on him for a moment, unreadable and heavy, before shifting to the door of Rylie’s room, which stood tightly closed. Without a word, he followed his grandfather.
The lounge felt like it had swallowed the air, leaving only tension behind.
“On the way here, I already heard everything from the resort’s manager,” Kendrick said. He didn’t bother to sit, instead bringing his cane down hard on the floor. The thud rang sharp in the stillness. “You let her head into the mountains alone to face two bears? Two bears! She’s a young woman, fragile as glass! Brad, is this how you protect her?!”
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Brad met the old man’s fury without flinching. His voice stayed steady, though it carried weight. “I made the mistake. There were holes in security that put her in harm’s way. I’ll take the blame. Every person who failed her will answer for it.”
“Blame? Blame?!” Kendrick’s voice cut through the corridor, his eyes flashing with anger and pain. “Will blame heal her wounds? Brad, I warned you — you and Rylie were never a good match! Ever since she got tangled up with you, there’s been nothing but trouble!”
Kendrick’s chest rose and fell with each angry breath. His finger shook as he jabbed it toward Brad. “What kind of world do you live in? One filled with the cracks of gunfire and countless enemies in the shadows? If you want that kind of life, that’s on you. But why pull my granddaughter into it? She’s my treasure! Not some shield to absorb your misfortunes!”
Marcus stepped in, trying to cool the storm. “Grandpa, calm down. Brad was just?”
“You keep out of this!” Kendrick snapped sharply. He turned back to Brad, his stare burning with rejection that went deeper than anger. “Brad, search yourself. How many times has she saved you since the day you met? She’s pulled you back from death, dealt with Ronan for you, even offered herself up as a hostage. Do you think I don’t know? Do you think age has made me blind to what happens beyond these walls? Every time she stands for you, it’s a gamble with her life! When she was with the Kirk family, she endured hardships because she had no choice. But now, she could live in peace. She could have a life of comfort and safety, far from the reach of danger. And yet, because of you—”
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