Maxwell made a beeline for Rosemary.
The bunch that Hogan had knocked to the ground were still curled up there, not because they were too hurt to get up, but because they were too scared to move. The guy who tried to leave and got kicked a couple of meters away had left a serious mental scar on them!
Most folks, when they came across an obstacle, their first instinct was to go around, but Maxwell didn't have that compulsion. He didn't even bother to look down before he booted the obstacle in his path.
The man let out another agonizing cry.
Maxwell's expression was stone-cold, and the aura surrounding him made him look like he'd just stepped out of hell.
Seeing this, the others quickly scattered, making room for him to pass - a path so wide he could have strutted through even if with legs eight feet long and still not touch anyone.
Maxwell paused, looking down at the two elongated shadows on the ground, one belonged to Rosemary and the other to Hogan. Although they came from different sources, they now lay side by side, merging with the darkness behind them, indistinguishable from one another.
He fought down the restlessness stirring in his heart and shifted his gaze back to the woman's pale face, reaching out his hand, "Get up."
As Maxwell reached out his hand, Hogan cut in before Rosemary could respond, "Mr. Templeton, here to play the hero? Bad timing, I'm afraid. I'm here for the same reason, but judging by your timing you might as well be here to collect a corpse."
He cocked his chin, his words laced with a snide insinuation that someone had arrived embarrassingly late.
Maxwell gave him a chilly glance, pausing for half a second before saying, "Thanks."
That “thanks” was like a declaration of ownership, a dagger that successfully pierced Hogan's chest. The smug smile on Hogan's face vanished, replaced by a displeased and cold rage, "I didn't save you; you're not the one who should be saying thanks."
"You saved my wife, and it's only right that I thank you. Not only that, I'll cover the hospital bills." Maxwell said with a faint smile, his tone casual as he added, "And if you have any other demands, feel free to name them."
Hogan was about to explode with frustration at this guy's attitude!
In the midst of the tense atmosphere, the shrill sound of police sirens grew louder, and two police cars pulled up, with officers getting out.
One of the blonde thugs scrambled to his feet, howling and shouting, "Officer, help! They're gonna kill us!"
The cops glanced at the people lying on the ground - all blondies - then looked at Maxwell, who stood firm, "Who called the cops?"
Hogan stood up, "That would be me. My friend here was just leaving her company when this gang cornered her. They even had weapons. If it weren't for my timely arrival, she'd be dead by now."
"You're talking out of your ass! We just thought the lady was pretty and wanted to chat her up!"
With the police there, the gang's courage was bolstered. They'd been through the system enough times to know that for what had just happened, even if the cops checked the cameras, they'd likely be detained for only a few days, "We're all good people, just a bit rough around the edges. We get nervous just killing a chicken, let alone a person. Besides, it was that woman who threw the first punch. Don't believe us? Check the surveillance!"
This time, they weren't the ones who started the fight, so they spoke with brazen confidence, their backs straighter than usual.
The cop made a decision after looking at the group, "We're taking everyone in for statements. Leo, you're in charge of contacting Heritage Revive Studio for the surveillance footage."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Whispers of Destiny: His Belated Love
Updates please. Thank you...