Chapter 1207
Karen was so used to hitting Riley that she thought little about her actions. After all, when Harriet was there, she always encouraged the caregivers to abuse Riley.
Over time, those caregivers no longer see Riley as a human being. Sometimes, when they received reprimands elsewhere and were furious, they would take out their anger on her.
But when Zephyr saw Karen’s fists land on Riley one after another, he frowned with a stony expression.
Even if the only feeling he had now for that woman was hatred, he didn’t want to see someone abusing her like that!
“Enough!” Zephyr raised his left hand and, with tremendous force, suddenly shoved Karen away.
Karen staggered as she was shoved aside. She exclaimed in shock, “Mr. Scott!”
However, Zephyr ignored her. He stared straight at the person who was still biting his right hand.
His hand was bleeding because of the bite, and the bright red blood trickled down her mouth and stained the white bedsheet. Zephyr finally saw her eyes, almost completely covered by her disheveled, straw-like hair.
Those were Riley’s eyes. However, unlike in the old days, her eyes now expressed hopeless exhaustion as if its owner had gone through too much. On top of that, they also expressed profound hatred.
Zephyr was shocked.
‘She hates me! That’s overwhelming hatred!
But she has no grounds to hate me! Back then, she was the one who wronged me. The person who deserves to hold grudges is me! I’m the one who hates her, and she’s not even qualified to hate me!’ he bellowed in his heart.
“You’re indeed insane, Riley! Hasn’t your mental illness improved after many years of treatment here?” Zephyr barked.
Her pupils suddenly constricted. Suddenly, a muted void shrouded the hatred in her eyes, as if everything fell into a deathly silence for her. Slowly, she closed her eyes and loosened her teeth.
Zephyr could finally withdraw his hand. Bright red teeth marks were clear on his hand, and the spot where his skin was pierced through was still oozing blood.
Meanwhile, Riley lowered her head and remained motionless, just like what he saw when he first came in.
Upon noticing Zephyr’s hand was still bleeding, Karen, who stood beside him, hastily exclaimed, “Mr. Scott! You have to bandage your hand quickly.”
Then she cursed at Riley, yelling, “Very good. You’re biting people again. Who allowed you to bite others?” As she said that, she raised her hand and was about to hit Riley again.
“Who allowed you to hit her?” Zephyr scoffed, “You’re just a caregiver. Your job is to take care of her, not hitting her!”
“Mr. Scott, you may not know this, but the doctors said we must hit the patient if the patient displays aggressive behavior. Only after they get hit and feel pain would they learn their lesson and dare not do it next time!” Karen claimed unabashedly.
“So, you people hit her very often?” Zephyr’s face was grim.
At that time, Karen finally noticed the hostility in Zephyr’s tone. She continued to make excuses awkwardly, “We… Uh, well, we only hit her when she displays aggressive behavior. We’re doing this for her benefit! And… Uh, it’s the doctor’s order.” She hurriedly tried to deflect the responsibility.
“Nobody may hit her from now on. You mustn’t forget that she’s st eldest daughter of the Summer family!” Zephyr warned coldly. Wit another glance at Riley to take in her current appearance, he left the in embarrassment.
It was as if he couldn’t stay and watch her any longer. The person he used to love was now a complete lunatic!
When Zephyr returned to his car, he leaned heavily against the back of the car seat, his expression was full of weariness.
“Riley… Riley… This name brings me pain every time I remember it!” he groaned inwardly.
“Why did you betray me? Why… did you fall in love with Nicholas? Riley… You’re now insane, but you’ve gone insane because of Nicholas. Everything that happened… You brought it upon yourself!” Zephyr snarled.
“Yes, it’s your fault. Therefore, no matter how miserable you’re now, I don’t have to feel any guilt for you!”
Zephyr told himself at that time.
“What? He went to visit Riley?” Harriet’s expression changed drastically when she received the call.
Zephyr had never visited Riley for so many years. However, he suddenly went to the psychiatric hospital today without prior warning.
“Why did Zephyr go there?” Harriet asked inwardly.
Suddenly, something flashed across Harriet’s mind. A few days ago, she had met Riley’s so-called friends at the hospital. She inadvertently thought, ‘Don’t tell me… Is it related to the people I met that day?
And when Zephyr sees Riley, how would he treat her…’
A trace of fear suddenly rose in Harriet’s heart.
Years ago, it could be said that she had seen Zephyr’s deep love for Riley from the start to the end. At that time, Zephyr completely ignored Harriet even if she loved him ardently.
If it weren’t for what had happened between Riley and Nicholas later… I’m afraid Riley would’ve owned everything of the Summer family and become Mrs. Scott.
As for me, I’m afraid I would remain the second daughter of the Summer family, a nobody no one cares about!’ Harriet thought.
She mustn’t give Riley any chance to turn the tables on her. For the rest of her life, Riley must stay in the psychiatric hospital like a psycho!
When Zephyr returned, Harriet rushed to greet him. “Zephyr, you’re home.”
Zephyr stared at the smiling face in front of him, but what flashed through his mind was Riley’s face and her hateful eyes underneath her straw-like hair. “How did Riley lose her right hand’s ring finger?” he demanded harshly.
Harriet’s smile froze, and she stammered awkwardly, “You… Why are you suddenly asking about this?”
“How did she lose her finger?” he pressed on.
“It was merely an accident. She had a conflict with another patient in the hospital, and that patient somehow hid a knife and cut off her ring finger. Because of the chaos, they couldn’t find the finger in time and missed the best time window for the digit replantation surgery,” Harriet replied.
“When did it happen? Why didn’t you tell me?” Zephyr continued to press. He couldn’t believe he had to learn it from an outsider.
“It was not long after she was admitted to the hospital. As for why I didn’t tell you…” Harriet bit her lips lightly and explained, “At the very
beginning, you’re the one who told me I shouldn’t inform you anything about my sister in the future.”
Zephyr’s breath hitched. Indeed, he had ordered so, but he would never imagine Riley to lose a finger in a thousand years.
“Zephyr, it has been so many years since those events. Don’t think about it anymore.” Harriet persuaded, “Riley’s a patient now. She shall be treated in the hospital in peace. I made some desserts today. Why don’t you try and see if they’re delicious?”
She reached her hand and held-Zephyr’s hand, trying to lead him to the dining hall.
But Zephyr didn’t move. Instead, he lowered his gaze at Harriet’s perfectly manicured hand. “In peace? You encourage caregivers to punch and kick Riley in the hospital. How can she receive treatment in peace?”
