Chapter 249

The woman was bundled in a long white down jacket, her face hidden beneath a cascade of hair. Hervey gently brushed the hair aside, revealing a face marred by bruises. Her skin was mottled with blue and purple, etched with fine scratches on her cheekbones, a split lip oozing blood, and her left eye terribly swollen. Even so, Howard recognized her—Rosie. His heart pounded, his brows furrowed. What has she been through? he wondered. Why does she look so miserable? These injuries were clearly not from a car accident, but from a beating. Who could have done this to her?

Hervey explained, "Ms. Miller didn't hit the car. She fainted in front of it, probably from exhaustion."

"Hmm…" Rosie winced and groaned as she opened her eyes. Disoriented, she looked around in panic. Am I in a car? Right, I almost hit a vehicle. Then she saw Howard and Hervey. The car she had struck belonged to Mr. Flynn.

"Sorry," Rosie touched her forehead, nodding apologetically. "Mr. Flynn, I've caused you trouble. I'll leave now." She started to get out, but Howard grabbed her arm.

He examined her closely. "You need to go to the hospital. I'll take you."

Rosie shook her head. "It's just a few minor injuries. No need to go to the hospital. Thank you for your kindness." She pulled away, insisting on leaving.

As she stepped out, before Howard could stop her, Rosie retreated back into the car and crouched, hiding under the seat.

Howard frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Shh!" Rosie urgently gestured for silence. "Please, let me hide for a moment!"

Hide? From whom? Howard looked out the window. A silver-gray Volvo was parked nearby. Daniel emerged, looked around, and called, "Rosie! Rosie!"

Howard understood instantly.

"That's not…" Hervey started, but Howard cut him off with a sharp look and a slight head shake. Hervey fell silent.

Howard looked at the girl, her body trembling uncontrollably. She's so afraid of Daniel… so it must have been him who beat her.

"Hervey," Howard commanded, his voice deep. "To the hospital."

"Yes, sir." Hervey closed the back door and got in. "Zaid, let's go to the hospital."

The car pulled away, but Rosie remained hidden, unaware of her temporary safety. Howard, looking at her injured eye, said, "You're safe now. Sit up properly."

Rosie snapped out of her daze, swallowed hard, and shakily sat up, shrinking into the corner. "Thank you, thank you so much," she said, peeking outside. "There's no need to take me to the hospital. Just drop me off at the next intersection…"

"Drop you off?" Howard's irritation cut her off. "And let that man catch up to you and beat you again?"

Rosie stared at him, startled. He guessed it?

"Rosie," Howard said, "Since I've stepped in to help, I can't leave things half-done. To the hospital. Your injuries need a doctor."

Chapter 249 (Continued)

"But…" Rosie hesitated. To have Mr. Flynn accompany me to the doctor? How can I dare?

"Don't trust me?" Howard seemed to read her thoughts. "How about this? Once we get to the hospital, I'll have Sienna stay with you. You trust Sienna, don't you?" He made the decision, allowing no refusal.

Rosie sighed and leaned against the car door. To refuse Mr. Flynn's kindness would seem ungrateful.

At the hospital, Sienna was waiting. "Sienna," Rosie managed a pained smile. Sienna was shocked by Rosie's appearance, but Rosie's injuries were the priority.

"Rosie, come on, let the doctor take a look," Sienna said.

"Okay."

Most of Rosie's injuries were soft tissue contusions, her eye the worst. "Your eye… be careful, it almost hit the eyeball…" the doctor said bluntly. "You were almost blind in that eye."

The doctor, accustomed to the emergency room's realities, asked, "Was it a man who did this?" Rosie's face paled. He'd hit the mark.

The doctor said indignantly, "Dump this kind of man! There are so many men in the world. And you don't need a man to live!" He wrote a prescription. "You need an IV, stay for observation."

"Okay, thank you, doctor." Sienna helped Rosie up. Howard and Hervey remained, Hervey taking the prescription.

"I'll take care of it," Hervey said.

"Okay." Sienna didn't expect Howard to stay either. "Thanks, Howard, I can handle the rest. Let Josiah know so he doesn't get angry."

"Okay." Howard's gaze fell on Rosie, his voice softening. "Rest well."

Rosie was surprised by the attention. "I will, thank you."

"You're welcome." His lips pressed together. Her thanks made him feel he'd done so little.

Rosie was settled in observation, her IV started. Sienna stayed by her bedside. Rosie apologized, embarrassed. "Sienna, you're troubled."

"What are you talking about?" Sienna scolded lightly. "You haven't helped me enough."

Sienna hesitated, then spoke. "Rosie, don't think I'm butting in. Did Daniel hit you like this?"

Rosie was stunned, silent, then nodded. Sienna exhaled indignantly upon hearing this.

"Are you still going to keep entangling yourself with this kind of man? He's shameless and scummy, and now he's even hitting you. Besides, he has a wife. Rosie, listen to me—break up with him," Sienna said.

Rosie's eyes were red, her voice choked. "Daniel… he… he is my husband. I am his wife!"

What? Sienna was shocked. This was unexpected, but it explained everything. Rosie wouldn't break up someone else's family.

Rosie sobbed quietly. "He wasn't like this before. He became like this because of me."