Chapter 55: I Am Taking You Away
Raylee heard the sickening sound of her bones breaking. She forced herself to stand, the agony intense, knowing escape was impossible. Yet, she dragged herself toward the door, a flicker of hope guiding her. Consciousness ebbed with the blood loss; only the man's insistent shouts reached her. Exhaustion finally overwhelmed her, and she collapsed into a strong embrace.
Lifting her gaze, she saw a strangely familiar, unfamiliar face. "It's...he looks like Percival! I must be losing my mind," she thought, mistaking him for someone else.
"Ms. Goodridge? Are you all right? Wake up!"
As Raylee faded, Percival slipped a pill into her mouth. Almost instantly, she regained consciousness.
"No way, you're really Percival? How did you end up here?" she asked, her voice laced with shock and fear.
"Now isn't the time for questions. I'm here to take you away!" He swept her into his arms.
Before they could escape, the psychiatric hospital staff blocked their path. Facing the surging crowd, Percival warned coldly, "I dare anyone to lay a finger on me. Try me." His burning gaze seemed to threaten incineration.
Kaylee gazed at his profile, her eyes shimmering in the cool night air. A sudden light illuminated him, casting him in a heroic glow. She felt instinctively he could save her, clinging to his shirt as if to a lifeline.
"Get your director to see me," Percival demanded angrily. "Do it now, or I'll level this place! You don't want to mess with me."
Some staff, oblivious, rushed to summon the director. A balding man in his sixties hurried down the stairs.
"I heard someone plans to level our hospital. I'd like to see who's got the nerve!"
His arrogant words died on his lips as he saw Percival. His demeanor did an abrupt about-face.
"Are you Dr. Shapiro?"
"I see you're not blind. Now, I'm taking this person with me. Are you going to stop me or see me off?" Percival's expression was thunderous.
"Of course, I'm seeing you off, Dr. Shapiro. Please follow me." The director offered an obsequious smile.
"Director, have you lost your mind?" Neville asked, perplexed. "That's the patient Mr. Goodridge admitted—"
"Shut up!" he commanded, quickly adopting an ingratiating manner as he personally escorted Percival from the hospital.
Neville urgently exclaimed, "Director, now that the patient has escaped, what are we going to tell Mr. Goodridge? He specifically instructed us to keep her here for a month so she develops a history and symptoms of mental illness!"
The director sighed, a worried look on his face. "Forget it. I'll explain to Mr. Goodridge tomorrow. That man, Percival Shapiro, is a renowned medical specialist. Numerous tycoons in Jexburgh rely on him. If we offend him, we can kiss our social standing goodbye!"
After Percival carried Raylee to the car, he realized her calf was broken. Kaylee's pain was so intense her face was deathly pale, her forehead slick with sweat. Yet, she clenched her teeth, enduring stoically. Her loose tooth bled again, the fresh blood terrifying Percival.
"I'll take you to the hospital now! What's your family's phone number? I need to contact them!"
"No," Raylee uttered weakly, "Please, don't!"
"Why not? That damn Casimir won't even answer his phone! What's going on? Why is everyone unreachable?" Percival cursed in frustration.
"It was the Goodridge family who wanted to send me to the psychiatric hospital, and I'm not sure if Casimir is involved. Dr. Shapiro, if you sympathize with me, please don't tell them…"
Kaylee fainted. She awoke in a double bed, relieved to find no one from the Goodridge or Sutherland families present. But where was she?
Looking around the exquisitely decorated room, she was utterly bewildered. Percival opened the door; seeing her awake, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"You've been sleeping for two days. I've been your caregiver after work each day. It's been exhausting." He stretched, then examined her face.
"You're recovering smoothly," he said. "I'll adjust your medication; you should be able to walk soon. You'll need crutches for the first week, however."
Struggling to sit up, Raylee said, "Thank you, Dr. Shapiro. Uh, about my clothes…"