Chapter 173 - 173 Ch. 173 Anxia-Michele
173 Ch. 173 Anxia-Michele
It had been two days since the shooting incident, and Anxia had almost fully recovered―her fever had gone down, and the bruises had faded. All that was left was the gunshot wound, which still needed time to be covered fully.
Richard helped Anxia support her body to get up when she woke up.
Just as she was about to walk to the bathroom, Richard helped her carry her and opened the bathroom door―which was quite annoying since Anxia still could walk and use her other hand.
“I can walk, you know.”
“Your leg is still injured.” was Richard’s answer emphatically.
Well, Anxia’s feet still had bruises, but she didn’t feel any pain anymore.
Likewise, when she was about to eat, Richard fed her. Or when she was about to open a drink bottle, Richard opened it.
Well, Anxia felt especially delighted to have her husband’s attention. But if the man didn’t let her do anything, when would she be able to recover? It would weaken her state instead.
However, Anxia couldn’t protest―she didn’t have the right to protest since she had made the man worry because she acted alone. Nonetheless, sleeping in a room without being allowed to go out was incredibly boring.
.....
Was this Richard’s way of punishing her?
A knocking sound sounded three times which brought Anxia back to reality. Even if she weren’t allowed to leave her room, her family members would visit and accompany her. If it were Lori and Harmonie, they would never knock on the door―they would undoubtedly go in as if this was their bedroom.
The fact someone knocked on her door room ... it only meant that someone other than those two and Richard had come to accompany Anxia today. She let her visitor in and was startled when she saw Michele’s face behind the slightly opened door.
For the past two days, Michele and Raymond have not come here―Stanley still came here once with Meisya when she was still sleeping, but the younger couple had not yet.
Everyone assumed Anxia was still sleeping, but she had woken up as soon as she heard the door open, thanks to her experienced intuition. Without knowing Anxia was wide awake, Stanley told Richard about the incident that happened to her.
Their conversation was deep, and Meisya spoke in distress while stroking the top of her head. Anxia didn’t want to interrupt their conversation and was enjoying her mother-in-law’s patting that she pretended she was still asleep.
From their conversation, Anxia knew and felt sure that Stanley had now accepted her as a family member. The father-in-law even offered his help by strengthening the security around the house made Anxia’s heart feel warm.
Anxia felt stupid for acting alone to get this wound. The current her was different from the former one. The Anxia in the past used to be surrounded by two-faced people ready to stab her in the back. But now, she was surrounded by people who sincerely cherished and protected her.
With Michele’s showing up in her room instead of her in-laws, Anxia couldn’t make a guess and was wary of the lady. She remembered Richard had told her that he, Raymond, and Stanley would go out to take care of things to prevent what happened on the Thames from happening again.
Meanwhile, Meisya and Harmonie accompanied Lori and Eugene to swim in the pool at their house. Meisya tried to comfort Lori―who worried about Anxia, by shifting the little girl’s attention. Fortunately, Lori believed Harmonie’s lies when the aunt said Anxia felt tired and needed rest. Otherwise, the little girl would cry if Lori knew Anxia had quite severe injuries.
Anxia realized no one would aid her in case Michele tried to harm her. Well, she was not worried that Michelle would devise a vicious plan for her. Anxia didn’t feel the hateful aura from Michele like she had the night Michele threatened her.
Hence, Anxia let the other woman in and sat on her side of the bed facing her.
“How are you now?” A gentle tone sounded―came from Michele’s lips.
“Much better. Thank you.”
Michelle shook her head sadly. “Why did you do it?”
“What?” It was easy for Anxia to understand the meaning of the question. But she wanted to confirm it by feigning ignorance.
“Why did you protect me?”
“I didn’t think much, I guess. I didn’t even know a sniper was targeting you.”
“Then?”
“I don’t know. By the time I came to, I had already pushed you away, and the bullet was in my shoulder.”
“...”
“Did you come here to question my purpose in protecting you?”
“Who knows.”
“Then forget about it. I had no intention of receiving that bullet. Besides, maybe I deserved it.”
“...” Michele couldn’t respond―she could only listen to every word coming out of Anxia’s mouth.
“You must feel disappointed that I’m still alive. Sorry for letting you down.”
Michele’s forehead furrowed―she didn’t like hearing this sentence. She thought that Anxia was deliberately saying sarcasm to hurt her. But she didn’t detect any sarcasm in Anxia’s voice, and Michele could even hear a tone suffused with sorrow and regret.
‘Sorry for letting you down.’
Michele wondered what ‘disappointed’ in Anxia’s sentence meant. Why did her instincts tell her that Anxia was sorry for the past? Why did she feel Anxia was apologizing for disappointing her by not wanting to be her little sister?
“Qiao Anxia, ??I have something to ask you.”
“Go ahead.” It took a lot of courage to give access to someone who might want to insult Anxia or destroy her relationship with Richard. But Richard had convinced her that he would not leave her―the man loved Anxia no matter what her past was like.
Let Raymond, Stanley, and others hate Anxia or feel disgusted by her because of her past actions. As long as Richard didn’t leave Anxia behind― abandon her, Anxia believed it was more than enough.
That’s why Anxia wasn’t afraid of all the questions that would corner her.
But who would have thought Michele’s question was entirely unexpected to make Anxia’s mind turn chaotic?