The window!
Yes, the window.
If the door was a no-go, maybe the window would work!
Callie immediately stood up and walked towards the window.
She tried to push it open to check the height, but the window wouldn't budge.
She twisted the handle and shook it forcefully.
The window didn't move an inch.
Her brows furrowed in frustration...
Just then, Mrs. Ford's voice came from outside the door, "Young Mistress, did you upset the Master? He seemed very angry when he left and ordered the room to be sealed. Without his permission, you can't get out. I think you should apologize to him and ask for his forgiveness..."
"His temper is so foul. Will apologizing really get me out?" Callie doubted seriously.
She angrily slapped the window. Shane Robinson, you jerk! She cursed him in her mind.
Mrs. Ford asked, "Do you have any other ideas?" Callie hadn't thought of any feasible plan yet. She lay down on the bed to conserve her energy.
Her brain kept working, trying to come up with a solution, but in the end, she couldn't think of a good way out.
The room was sealed tight. She wasn't a magician who could transform and fly out. Shane had said she would pay the price.
And indeed...
He always meant what he said.
She had simply fallen asleep while lying on the bed.
When she woke up, she found herself locked inside, unable to get out.
"Mrs. Ford, I'm fine. I just... need to calm down."
There was noise downstairs. Mrs. Ford hurried down. It was Shane returning.
Mrs. Ford smiled, "Young Mistress just said she was hungry..."
"Let her starve," Shane said coldly, glancing upstairs before turning to Mrs. Ford. "I'm going on a business trip. While I'm away, do not give her any food behind my back."
Mrs. Ford wanted to say something.
But Shane's icy gaze silenced her.
Mrs. Ford lowered her head, not daring to plead. Shane left and was gone for three days.
...
Callie Norris had been locked up for three days. Now, she didn't even have the strength to speak.
She lay weakly on the bed, her lips cracked and pale, her body drained of energy, and she was dizzy...
She was experiencing low blood sugar... and it might lead to other symptoms. Who could save her?
Callie was in despair, her heart filled with hatred for Shane.
That man truly wanted her dead!
In her moment of despair, she suddenly thought of Gabriel Byrne...
She got out of bed, her body swaying heavily. With all her strength, she knocked on the door.
Mrs. Ford was also anxious.
It had been three days, and Callie hadn't had a drop of water...
Thud, thud...
Hearing the noise, Mrs. Ford hurried upstairs. She stood at the door, her face full of worry. "I'll try calling Mr. Robinson to plead your case..."
"Call Gabriel Byrne. His number is 135-8860-****. Tell him... about my situation," Callie said, sitting by the door. She didn't want to move, feeling as weak as if she had a serious illness.
Pleading with Shane was probably a fool's errand, but maybe Gabriel could save her. He was her only hope now.
"I'll call right away."
Mrs. Ford was afraid that something terrible might happen.
She rushed downstairs and dialed the number Callie had given her...
The phone was quickly answered, and a voice came through, "Hello..."
"Callie asked me to call you. She's been locked up and hasn't had anything to eat for three days..."
Gabriel's heart skipped a beat. This was serious! "She's pregnant! How could they treat her like this?" He immediately asked, "Where is she being held?"
"The villa..."
Before Mrs. Ford could finish her sentence, Gabriel had already hung up the phone.
It seemed he already knew the address.
Mrs. Ford put down the phone and paced back and forth, hoping Gabriel would arrive quickly. Half an hour later, there was a knock on the door.
Mrs. Ford opened it.
Gabriel asked urgently, "Where is she?"
"Upstairs, second floor."
Gabriel strode in and headed straight for the second floor.
"Where's the key?" he asked.
Mrs. Ford shook her head. "I don't have it..." Gabriel was anxious. What should he do now?
"Should we call Mr. Robinson?" Mrs. Ford asked cautiously.
She had called Mr. Byrne without permission and feared Shane's wrath.
Gabriel replied, "She's been locked up for three days. He really wants to starve Callie to death. Do you think he'd agree if we asked him?"
Mrs. Ford was torn between her worry for Callie and her fear of Shane. She wrung her hands in distress. "What should we do?"
"No choice, we'll have to break down the door," Gabriel said, patting the door. "Callie Norris, you're not behind the door, are you? I'm about to kick it down, don't get hurt."
Hearing his voice, Callie shifted her body and moved away from the door.
Gabriel took a few steps back, gathering his strength. Just as he was about to kick the door, a deep male voice suddenly rang out, "What do you think you're doing?"
Mrs. Ford and Gabriel turned towards the voice.
There stood Shane Robinson, who had returned without anyone noticing.
Mrs. Ford quickly explained, "Young Mistress, she couldn't hold on, so I... I just "
"Shane, what did Callie do wrong that you have to torment her like this? Do you really want her dead?" Gabriel interrupted Mrs. Ford.
Could it be that Shane knew about Callie being pregnant?
Otherwise, why was he so angry?
"Is she dead?" Shane's face was dark and stormy. What really displeased him was Gabriel's actions. Who was Callie Norris to him?
Time and again... pleading for her? And now, rushing to the villa to save her? He felt extremely irritated!
It was as if something that belonged to him was being coveted and cared for by someone else.
"Mrs. Ford, go to the study and bring the key."
He wanted to see if that woman was really on the brink of death.
Shane's face was dark with anger. Gabriel didn't dare say another word.
For Shane Robinson to be this furious, it was almost certain he had found out about Callie's pregnancy...
Gabriel sighed.
Mrs. Ford hurried downstairs, her footsteps echoing, and then rushed back up.
"Sir, the key."
Mrs. Ford handed it over.
Shane took the key, walked to the door, inserted it, and turned the lock. The door swung open.
And then...
He saw Callie lying on the floor.
Her hair was a tangled mess, and she looked disheveled.
Her face was pale, and her lips were cracked.
Callie struggled to get up from the floor. Through her messy hair, she glared fiercely at Shane.
As expected, this man had a heart as cold as a snake's!
Those occasional moments of kindness must have been her imagination!
This man had been violent from the very beginning.
Shane's gaze was cold and heavy, carrying a hint of menace. "Still have the strength to glare at me? Seems like you're not dying just yet."
Gabriel and Mrs. Ford exchanged a glance. No one dared to make a sound.
Callie stubbornly continued to glare at him, her voice hoarse and raspy, like a broken bellows, "If you have the guts... then really kill me."
"I can certainly grant you that wish." Shane Robinson met her gaze without any expression. "Even if I die, I'll drag you to hell with me!"
Callie didn't know where she found the strength, or perhaps it was the desperation that fueled her.
She lunged at Shane, grabbing his collar.
Shane remained completely unruffled, instead, he looked at her with a calm and collected demeanor.
After three days of torment, she was thin and weak, looking like she could faint at any moment.
Yet, in her frail state, there was a kind of delicate, sickly beauty, and her eyes were sharp. This was a woman who refused to give in.
Shane Robinson wasn't angered by her roughness; in fact, he admired it. He leaned closer to her face, his voice low and seductive, "Do you have the strength now to take me down with you?"
Callie suddenly realized that she was unarmed and completely harmless! Is that why he was so calm and mocking her? Humiliation and anger filled Callie's mind.
Suddenly! Callie stood on her tiptoes and bit his neck!
Shane Robinson winced in pain, his brows furrowing deeply.
But he didn't push her away. This woman was now pressed entirely against him.
Her soft, boneless body seemed to easily stir his desires, making Shane feel like a pervert.
Having such thoughts about a sick woman. He struggled to suppress his agitation. Maintaining an outward appearance of calm and composure. Yet his body was relishing the sensations she brought him.
Soon, Callie's grip on his hand began to loosen… Shane also noticed that her initial bite, which had hurt a lot, was now losing its force.
Callie's hand slowly slid from his collar, and as she began to slump down, Shane quickly caught her by the waist, holding her close. "Callie..."
His voice carried a hint of panic.
Callie didn't respond.
She had fainted.
Shane scooped her up in his arms and began striding out of the room, calling for the driver to prepare the car as he walked.
Gabriel said, "Take my car. I'll get it ready right now."
He ran out to start the car parked in the front yard.
Mrs. Ford also came out to help open the car door.
Shane carried Callie into the car.
As soon as the door closed, Gabriel immediately started the car and sped off towards the hospital.
The atmosphere inside the car was extremely tense.
Gabriel was the first to break the silence, "She probably fainted due to low blood sugar from not eating for a long time. It shouldn't be anything serious..."
As he spoke, he glanced at the rearview mirror.
The bite mark on Shane's neck was glaringly obvious, giving off an unmistakably intimate vibe. Gabriel cleared his throat and looked away.
Shane, though panicking inside, kept a cold exterior and urged, "Drive faster!"
Gabriel pressed down harder on the gas pedal.
The car sped through the city streets, reaching speeds of fifty to sixty miles per hour.
In no time, they arrived at the hospital.
Shane got out, still carrying Callie in his arms.
Gabriel ran ahead to arrange for a doctor to examine Callie.
Being a doctor at this hospital himself, it made things much easier.
After the examination, it was confirmed that Callie had fainted due to a lack of nutrition over an extended period. They gave her some glucose and nutritional fluids.
Callie lay on the hospital bed, receiving an IV drip.
She was still unconscious.
Gabriel stood beside her, unable to hold back his question, "You found out?"
In Gabriel's mind, Shane must have discovered Callie's pregnancy to treat her so harshly.
Otherwise, why would he be so furious?
Shane slowly lifted his eyelids, staring at Gabriel, "You knew she was planning to escape?"
Gabriel was taken aback, "Escape? I had no idea."
Callie never mentioned anything about running away to him.
"You locked her up because she tried to run?" Gabriel frowned deeply.
"What else?"
Gabriel forced a smile.
He glanced at Callie lying on the bed.
In his mind, he wondered, is running away really the solution?
Wouldn't it be better to come clean with Shane?
No, that wouldn't work.
Gabriel quickly realized that if Callie confessed, Shane would only hate her more and likely torment her even further.
Gabriel felt a deep worry for Callie Norris's future.
Buzz...
Suddenly, Gabriel's phone rang. It was a call from his family, asking him to go home.
He ended the call and asked, "Do you need me to arrange a caregiver?"
"No need," Shane Robinson replied, showing no intention of leaving.
Gabriel hesitated for a moment before saying, "Then I'll be going now?"
Shane responded with a soft "Mm."
Gabriel left the room, closing the door gently behind him.
He sighed deeply. From today's events, it was clear that Shane felt differently about Callie. It also became apparent why Shane refused to divorce Callie, but Callie was carrying another man's child!
Shane was definitely not the kind of man who would become a stepfather.
All Gabriel could do was pray that Callie would find her own way to cope.
Inside the room, the clock ticked endlessly.
The sky grew darker.
The dim light in the room cast a faint glow. Callie's IV drip had finally finished. She was now in a deep sleep.
Shane sat on the sofa by the window, his suit jacket open, leaning back comfortably.
The shadows cast by the refracted light obscured his face, making it impossible to read his expression.
Around midnight, Callie slowly woke up.
The room's light was soft and non-glaring, allowing her to quickly adjust. Though her body was still weak, she looked much better after replenishing her energy.
She pulled back the covers and got out of bed.
Walking to the table, she poured herself a full glass of water and drank it all in one go.
"Hiccup~"
Callie had drunk too much water.
Her stomach felt a bit bloated, but her mouth still craved for more water, probably because she had been extremely thirsty.
She picked up the pitcher and poured another glass.
This time, she only drank half of it.
Finally, she couldn't drink any more.
Turning back towards the bed, she noticed someone on the sofa. She moved her feet and walked over.
Seeing it was Shane, her eyes was filled with a cold light.
Her hands, hanging by her sides, clenched into tight fists.
She struggled to control herself, resisting the urge to lunge at him and strangle him!
"Are you angry?"
Shane slowly lifted his eyelids.
He hadn't slept at all. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel Callie's fury.
Before Callie could respond, Shane chuckled softly. "You say you want to drag me to hell, but I think you just want to take advantage of me."
As he spoke, he adjusted his collar, his fingers brushing lightly over the deep bite mark Callie had left on his neck.
"Ha." Callie sneered. "I wouldn't take advantage of a dog, let alone you."
Right now, all she felt for Shane was hatred!
If her child was affected because of him...
She would never let him off the hook!
Shane's face darkened bit by bit. Cold and menacing.
He suddenly stood up.
His shadow loomed over Callie like a giant, ferocious beast. Instinctively, she took two steps back, her hands protectively covering her abdomen.
She glared at him, trying to maintain her composure. "What do you want?" Shane clenched his jaw. This woman never failed to infuriate him.
In the end, he held back.
"So, the man you're fond of is a dog. Your taste must be quite... peculiar." His voice was arrogant and unrestrained, a twisted smile playing on his lips. He leaned in close to Callie's ear. "What can you do? You hate me, but you can't beat me. You're at my mercy."
Callie Norris was trembling with rage.
Thinking about the child in her belly, she tried her best to stay calm, not letting her emotions get the better of her.
"You despicable, shameless jerk!"
Shane let out a low chuckle from deep in his throat, moving his lips even closer to her ear. "Thanks for the compliment."
His warm breath fell on her neck as he spoke, making her skin tingle with a strange, unsettling sensation.
The touch was oddly stirring.
Callie quickly snapped back to her senses.
She tried to step away, wanting to put some distance between them, but as she moved, she twisted her ankle!
"Ah..."
As Callie was about to fall, Shane caught her, his strong arms encircling her waist.
He pulled her in tightly.
Callie's slender body collided with his chest.
He held her so tightly that her body seemed to stick to his.
His fingers, through the fabric of her clothes, caressed her waist.
Callie's face turned slightly red, and she cursed, "Shameless!"
In her mind, she wondered how someone as brazen and despicable as Shane Robinson could exist in this world.
Shane stared at her angry expression and decided to take her "shameless" accusation to heart. His hand became even more daring, slipping directly under her shirt.
His fingertips touched her smooth skin.
His breath hitched for two seconds.
The sensation brought him immense pleasure, yet he remained highly restrained.
Callie's eyes widened in shock at his actions, and she pushed hard against him, "Let go of me!"
Shane, both audacious and playful, said, "You are supposed to fulfill your duties as a wife to me. If you don't know how a wife should serve her husband, no worries, I can teach you."
Callie was lost for words, "..."
How could this man manage to both want her dead and take advantage of her at the same time?
She was utterly speechless when it came to him.
There were simply no words to describe him.
The difference in their strength was so vast that she couldn't push him away or break free.
In front of Shane Robinson, she felt completely powerless, like a puppet in his hands!
She loathed Shane Robinson's actions.
But since she couldn't fight back, all she could do was glare at him with all the defiance she could muster.
Shane ignored Callie Norris's glare, picked her up, and carried her to the hospital bed. He laid her down but didn't leave; instead, he hovered over her, warning, "If you try to run again, I will punish you even more severely than this time. I mean it."
"I know you're ruthless," Callie replied coldly.
Shane didn't care about her coldness.
Would a woman who wanted to escape from him show him any warmth? That would be ridiculous!
"Good, remember that." With that, he pulled the blanket over her and said, "Sleep. You need to rest."
Callie thought he was a complete psycho. One moment, he was fierce. The next, he showed a hint of concern. Was he trying to trick her with this act? No way.
She would never forget how cruel he had been to her, no matter how kind he pretended to be now.
She closed her eyes and turned away, showing her protest through her actions.
Shane lowered his gaze, hiding the fleeting sadness that surfaced when Callie turned her back on him.
He stood by the bed, unmoving for a long time. Callie pretended to sleep.
One lay down.
One stood.
One pretended to sleep, the other refused to leave.
Though they were so close, they felt miles apart.
Shane slowly turned around. Instead of leaving, he sat back down on the couch.
Callie slowly opened her eyes. She didn't understand what Shane meant by this.
But she knew one thing for sure—this man had no mercy.
She closed her eyes again, needing to rest and gather her strength.
...
In the morning, Callie woke up.
She sat up in bed, noticing that the couch was empty. Shane had left at some point.
On the nightstand, there was a food box.
She reached out and opened the box, finding the food inside still warm.
Who sent this?
Just then, there was a knock on the door of the hospital room. She called out, "Come in," and the door was pushed open. Gabriel walked in.
"Feeling any better?" he asked with concern.
Callie replied, "I was fine to begin with."
"You were so hungry you almost fainted, and you call that fine?"
Gabriel teased her slightly, looking at her. "Trying to run away and even kept it from me."
Callie had hidden her plans from Gabriel because he was close friends with Shane. She was afraid Gabriel would share her whereabouts to Shane.
But she couldn't say that.
She smiled, "I didn't want to trouble you. If you knew I was running away and didn't tell Shane, wouldn't he blame you?"
Gabriel saw right through her. "Aren't you just afraid I can't keep a secret from Shane?"
Callie denied it boldly, "Of course not."
"Fine, I don't want to know anyway. Honestly, if I knew you were planning to run away and couldn't tell Shane, I'd be in a tough spot as a friend. So even if you plan to run again in the future, don't tell me," Gabriel said, clearly not wanting to be involved.
To him, it was just trouble.
Callie looked at him. "Did you bring this food box?"
Gabriel Byrne shook his head. "I just got here."
"Then who brought it?" Callie asked, puzzled.
"Maybe it was Shane," Gabriel suggested.
Callie Norris scoffed. "Would he be that kind?"
"He's not... that bad," Gabriel replied, trying to change the subject. "This time, because you ran away, he almost starved you. If he finds out you're pregnant, what do you think he'll do to you?"
Callie raised her eyes to meet Gabriel's. "I know. He'd probably stab me to death. That's why I have to get away from him."
Just from Shane's attitude this time, it was clear that if he found out she was carrying another man's child, he wouldn't let her go!
Gabriel shared her concern. "You need to come up with a good plan." Callie Norris nodded. "I know." She definitely needed a solid plan.
"You also need to get some glucose," Gabriel added.
Callie let out a soft hum.
Gabriel said, "I have to go to work now. You should eat something."
Callie felt a wave of resistance towards the mysterious food in front of her.
Noticing her hesitation, Gabriel added, "I'll find out who sent this."
Callie nodded. "Thanks, Gabriel."
"No need to be so formal with me."
Gabriel left the hospital room.
A short while later, he returned.
"I asked around. The food was ordered by Shane. You can eat it; he wouldn't poison you."
If Shane heard that, he might end their friendship on the spot.
What kind of friend says something like that?
What did he mean by "wouldn't poison?"
Was Shane Robinson really that malicious?
Callie sneered, "You think he wouldn't?"
Gabriel replied, "Don't think so badly of him."
Callie thought to herself, He really isn't a good person.
Does he need someone else to think badly of him?
Gabriel opened a food box for her, revealing easily digestible porridge and noodles.
It was exactly what she needed at the moment.
After being hungry for so long, greasy and hard-to-digest food wouldn't be suitable.
"He's still quite considerate," she thought.
Callie, however, remained ungrateful.
But she was indeed hungry.
She picked up the bowl of porridge.
"Do you need me to find someone to take care of you?" Gabriel asked.
Callie shook her head and said, "No, you go ahead. I can call a nurse anytime, and once I'm done with the glucose drip, I can leave the hospital."
Gabriel Byrne nodded, "Alright, I'll be off then."
Callie responded with a simple "Hmm."
After finishing her breakfast, a nurse came by to administer the IV drip.
It wasn't until noon that the drip was finished.
The overnight hospital room had been arranged by Gabriel, so she didn't need to handle any paperwork. Carrying some nutritional supplements, she was ready to leave the hospital.
Suddenly, someone blocked her path. "Can we talk?"
Thankuu so much