Chapter 301: You Deserve to Know The Truth

As soon as the nurses wipe away the blood, more trickles out from the wounds. Avery tugs her ankle away from the nurse and goes to look at Andrew, but there's too much blood. She rushes to the window and sticks her head outside, letting the cool sea breeze calm her churning stomach. 

"Mr. Clifford, we need to remove the glass now, but I have to warn you, it's going to hurt a lot," the doctor says. "Because of your heart condition, we can't use any anesthesia."

"That's fine," Andrew says. "I don't need it anyway."

Avery's heart thuds nervously in her chest. The room is deathly quiet. All she can hear is the clink of the glass as it lands in the metal tray and Andrew's pained breathing. She closes her eyes and fights the urge to vomit out the window.

Andrew saved my life, she thinks. He knows I despise him, but he did it anyway. But I can't afford to let myself be soft with him. No matter what, he's still playing a game and treating me as the prize. Besides, in six months, he'll give his heart to Charles, and he'll die. There's no point in letting myself feel for him—it'll just make everything harder.

"Hello, Mr. Howel," the servant at the door says.

Avery pulls her head back in and turns around in time to see the servant close the door after Evan. Evan walks into the room as if it's his own. Robert and two bodyguards follow behind him, dragging the fourth man along the ground. Avery feels her back stiffen, and she presses her lips into a thin line.

Evan slowly looks her up and down, and his eyes linger on the bandaid on her ankle. She's surprised he can see it from so far away. He looks between her and Andrew and smiles coldly.

"I didn't expect you to come to visit me," Andrew says with a laugh. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Evan waves his hand, and Robert and the bodyguards step forward and haul their prisoner to his feet. The man looks badly beaten. One eye is swollen shut, and the whole left side of his face is bruised and bloodied. He seems unable to stand on his own, and Evan's bodyguards hold him on both sides.

"Do you recognize this man?" Evan asks. "He's one of the Clifford bodyguards. He stopped me from rescuing Avery when she was under the falling chandelier. My men have taken care of him, and I hope you don't mind."

Andrew props himself up with his elbows and turns to scowl at the guard. Even though he's lying on the sofa, he radiates cold power. The guard trembles and tries to step forward, but he falls down to the floor.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Clifford," the guard says, slightly slurring the words. "I was acting on Miss Jessica's orders."

Avery stares at the guard in disbelief. She assumed Jackson was behind the attack, but it makes sense that it was Jessica. Avery suddenly remembers Jessica's warning to stay away from Andrew. I guess I should have taken her seriously, she thinks. After all, she bribed a police officer to beat me at the police station. She clearly doesn't mind a little violence.

Andrew's face darkens with rage, and he says, "Take this man away and bring me, my sister."

Evan nods, and his men drag the bodyguard from the room. Andrew turns his head toward Avery. Even the slight movement makes him wince with pain. The nurse tries to help him lie back down, but he pushes her away.

He turns to Avery and says, "Honey, please come help me."

Avery crosses the room quickly and helps him sit up from the sofa. Blood still drips down his back, staining the delicate silk of the cushions. As soon as he's sitting, she lets go of his arm and steps away out of his reach.

"Honey, I'm a bit thirsty, do you think you can bring me some water?" he asks.

Avery fills a crystal glass with some bottled water and offers it to him. He stares at her as if he's waiting for something, and she sighs.

"Do you need me to help you drink it?" She asks.

"That would be best," Andrew says. "Even the smallest movement hurts me."

Avery sits on the sofa next to him, careful to avoid sitting in his blood. She places one hand on the soft hair at the back of his head and raises the glass to his lips with another. She tilts the glass, and he takes a small sip.

"Your lips are dry and cracked," she says, playing the role of concerned fiance. "Please drink more."

Andrew's eyes gleam, and he smiles as he sips water. She knows he's trying to make Evan jealous, and she hates herself for playing along, but she knows she doesn't have a choice. After all, Andrew just saved her life. Evan's mouth twists into an ironic smile, but his eyes are dark and sad.

"Well, Andrew, I have to say your bravery is commendable," Evan says. "You risked your life to save Avery, and now you're suffering for it. "

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Andrew pushes Avery's hand away and says, "Well, it's my job to protect her. If I have to die or suffer, it's worth it. She's the light of my life."

"Oh?" Evan asks. "Tell me, is it really worth dying for a woman like her?"

Avery grips the crystal glass tighter in her hands, but she wants to hurl it across the room at Evan. How dare he come here to insult me? She thinks. I don't expect him to like Andrew, but this is beyond petty. Andrew is in here suffering from a terrible injury, and Evan has come just to mock him.

"Some people might not be smart enough to see it, but she's absolutely worth dying for," Andrew says, looking calmly up at Evan.

"Oh, really?" Evan asks, reaching into his pocket. "Well, I have something here that might interest you. Give it a listen before you risk your life for her again."

He pulls out the recording pen and twirls it between his long fingers. With two strides, he crosses the room and drops the pen onto the coffee table. It lands next to the tray of bloody glass shards, and Avery wonders which will hurt Andrew more—his wounds or the recording. Avery drops the crystal glass, and it falls onto the plush carpet with a dull thud.

"I don't know what that is, but I can tell you I'm not interested in it," Andrew says, narrowing his eyes.

Evan shakes his head and says, "I never thought you were a foolish man Andrew, but maybe you prefer ignorance to the truth. I'm warning you, and you should give it a listen. If you're not on your guard, she'll humiliate you behind your back."

"My relationship with Avery is none of your business," Andrew says, his voice low and warning.

"I have to say I didn't expect you to be so, open-minded," Evan says. "Choosing a divorced woman who's pregnant with another man's baby—it's a bit strange."

"Clearly, you know nothing about love," Andrew says, taking her hand in his. "She may have a past, but I love her desperately, anyway."

Evan stares at the two of them in stunned silence, and Andrew lays back down on his stomach. He waves for the nurse to come over and continue taking the glass out of his back. He grips Avery's hand, squeezing hers whenever the pain becomes unbearable. His grip hurts, but she refuses to complain.

"Is the pain terrible?" she asks quietly.

"No," he whispers through gritted teeth. "Having you here makes it all better."

Avery turns to look at Evan. Their eyes meet, and he raises his eyebrows questioningly. She bites her lip and narrows her eyes.

"If you came here to deliver the pen, you've accomplished your purpose," she says. "As you can see, Andrew is seriously injured, and we're not interested in entertaining you or playing your little games. If you don't mind, we'd like some privacy now."

Evan slightly winces as she uses the word "we," but he doesn't make any move to leave. Instead, he sits down on a high-backed chair and crosses his left leg over his right.

"I was going to leave, but I think I'd rather stay," he says. "I want to make sure that Andrew will be alright."

Avery rolls her eyes. She knows he just wants to play the pen and let Andrew know she cheated on him. Her stomach twists anxiously, but she stands and grabs the pen.

"Fine, I'll play it," she says.

"No, throw it away," Andrew says. "I don't want to hear it."

"What?" Avery asks. "Why?"

"I don't want to do anything that makes you unhappy," Andrew says, squeezing her hand gently. "If you don't want to play it, just throw it away."

Avery's face burns with shame. Andrew's unexpected gentleness makes her feel even worse about cheating on him. She clutches the pen and prepares to push the button.

"It's going to make you really angry," she says. "That's why Evan wants you to hear it. Honestly, I think you should listen to—you deserve to know the truth."

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