The two men moved toward Anna without a word. Already feeling unwell due to a cold and a fever, Anna was in great discomfort.
Sensing danger, she broke into a run, but in her dazed state, she collided head-on with a boy.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Anna's already flushed face turned pale with fear. "It's ... it's you."
Confused and scared, she didn't know what to do. Taylor grabbed her hand, pulling her behind him.
Though he wasn't much older than Anna, he exuded an aura of authority that far surpassed his years. His voice was cold and firm as he said, "Move aside!"
The two men seemed terrified of Taylor and bowed slightly. "Mr. Carlyn, Ms. Carlyn instructed us to ... "
"She's still useful. Leave her to me and get out."
"Yes, Mr. Carlyn."
Wisteria, visibly upset, confronted, "Taylor, what are you doing? Why are you protecting this brat? Look, she scratched my face last night. I only planned to cut off her hands and feet. It wouldn't affect anything else."
"That's enough. I said she's still useful. Now, get out!"
Taylor's expression was sour, and Wisteria, intimidated by his anger, reluctantly complied. Though they were of similar age, Wisteria knew Taylor could be ruthless when provoked.
"Hmph! You better remember this." She stormed out of the room.
Anna eyed Taylor warily. "What are you planning to do to me? Cut off my legs or ... "
Before she could finish her sentence, her body gave out, and she passed out, eyes rolling back.
Taylor reached out to catch her. Nearby, Yael held a baby bottle, looking puzzled as he watched Anna fall unconscious. "She's sleeping," he said simply.
Taylor carried Anna to his bed, laying her down gently. He touched her forehead and frowned. She was burning up.
He walked to another room and came back with fever medicine and cold medication.
Anna was too out of it to take the medicine willingly. "Come on, open up. You'll feel better after taking this."
Anna didn't respond.
Taylor sighed, his eyes falling on Yael's bottle. He grabbed it from the boy. "Let me borrow this."
Yael treasured the bottle, so he immediately toddled after Taylor, protesting, "Taylor, my bottle!"
Taylor cleaned the bottle thoroughly and filled it with the medicine.
Anna, used to drinking formula milk from a bottle at home, accepted the bottle without hesitation, drinking the medicine.
Yael sulked nearby. "My bottle ... "
Taylor patted his head. "I'll buy you a new one later. She's sick. We need to take good care of her, okay?"
Yael nodded obediently, not fully understanding but agreeing anyway.
Taylor used a thermometer to check Anna's temperature. When his hand touched her, she instinctively grabbed it. In her semi-conscious state, she murmured with a soft voice, "Jake, I'm so cold. Hold me."
He sighed. She was just a little girl, dragged into a mess far beyond her understanding.
Taylor took off his shoes and lay down beside her. Without thinking, Anna snuggled into his side, holding onto his waist and whispering, "Jake, I'm so scared."
Of course, she was scared. She had just witnessed horrendous things.
But this was just the beginning. If she couldn't handle this, how would she manage in the future?
Taylor didn't know what lay ahead, but he didn't want to involve this innocent girl. He couldn't change the outcome, but he could do his best to help her.
He patted her back gently. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Anna nestled closer. "Jake, you're so kind."
Taylor's body tensed slightly. Though Anna and Wisteria were close in age, Taylor had never felt a real connection with Wisteria. Perhaps it was their different upbringings—Wisteria had always been bitter and ruthless.
Despite being used to Yael clinging to him, naturally, there was a difference between boys and girls..
The little girl in his arms was soft, like a bundle of sweet marshmallows, or a delicate flower.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Loved You Once But He's My Forever (Chloe)
The misunderstanding begans......
I knew it he knew...
Lmao...
Or he could have freeze his sperm you know IVF exist for a reason...