Chapter 2071 I Cannot Return
Hurting all over, Francesca didn’t dare move a muscle, allowing Danrique to do as he pleased to her. The man stripped her down to her undergarments before wiping her down with a hot towel. As he did so, he asked, “Did anyone else touch you while I’m away?”
“Huh?” Francesca was momentarily taken aback. When realization dawned upon her, she promptly saw red. “You’re such a b*stard, Danrique!” While she spoke, she tried shoving him away. “Buzz off! Don’t touch me!”
Danrique grabbed her hand, so she wanted to shake him off. Amidst their scuffle, one of them accidentally touched her wound. At once, such excruciating agony flooded her that she broke out in a cold sweat. Even her face drained of all color.
Livid, Danrique lambasted, “I told you to stay still, but you just wouldn’t listen! Let me have a look at it!”
“It’s none of your business!” Francesca stood her ground obstinately. At that precise moment, a knock abruptly sounded from outside, and someone reported, “Prince William is here, Mr. Lindberg.”
As soon as Francesca heard that, she stopped struggling. She swung her head over and pinned her gaze on the door.
As Danrique clocked her reaction, chagrin swamped him. Grasping her chin, he warned, “You’re mine!”
Then, he instructed the man outside, “Have him wait for a while.”
“Understood.”
Following that, silence reverted outside.
Francesca tried propping herself up to a sitting position, but Danrique pinned her down on the sofa. “Stay still.”
“What are you doing? I want to get dressed,” Francesca hissed.
Danrique said nothing and merely wiped her down silently with the hot towel. After doing so, he clothed her in a cotton maxi dress that was clean and loose and carried her over to the bed before calling out to the help outside, “Kerrie!”
“Coming!” Kerrie pushed open the door and entered with a few medical staff. They straightened the room. This time, William was allowed entry.
Robin wheeled William in.
William’s gaze fell on Francesca right away, the look in his eyes brimming with concern and worry. Seeing that she was fine, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He lifted his head and greeted Danrique, “It’s fortunate that you arrived in time this time, Mr. Lindberg. Otherwise, the consequences would’ve been disastrous.”
That remark made it sound as though Francesca was his family, and he was there to thank Danrique.
Frowning, Danrique riposted icily, “Who’d save my woman if not me?”
William was startled for a moment, chuckling awkwardly without responding to that. Instead, he turned to Francesca. “Monica said everything has been sorted out at the orphanage, and the children are all fine. It’s the silver lining in this whole fiasco.”
Again, those words of his made it clear that he considered himself part of all this, placing himself on the same front as her.
“Yeah, it was a narrow escape. I’ve also got to thank you this time for having Monica and the bodyguards rush over in advance. They were a great help at the critical moment.” Francesca regarded him with a smile on her face.
William gazed at her tenderly. “Don’t be a stranger with me. How’s your injury? Is it serious?”
“It’s no big deal.” Francesca stole a peek at Danrique, only to notice that his brows were knitted together, his expression frightfully grim. She immediately changed the subject. “Oh yes, I can’t treat you in the next two days, William. You must take your meds timely, and I’ll go over when I’ve recovered.”
Cutting her off, Danrique interjected mildly, “There’s no such opportunity anymore. We’re going back to Xendale tonight.”
“We?” Francesca was stupefied.
“I’ve already sent some men to guard the orphanage, so everything will be fine. Also, I arranged for Helen to take care of your ex here. Therefore, you can rest easy.”
Danrique felt that his arrangements were perfect, impeccable even.
However, Francesca was still furious. “I’m utterly grateful that you saved me and the orphanage, but I can’t return to Xendale with you.”
“Why?” Danrique frowned with displeasure.
“I’ve still got a ton of things to do. With such a dire incident having befallen the orphanage, it isn’t enough to merely send some men to keep guard. Besides, there’s Anthony. I want to treat him personally. Furthermore, I’ve also got to treat William’s leg in person.” Francesca wasn’t in the mood to expound at length.
