Chapter 16 Chapter 16 95 55 vouchers At Saints International Hospital , most of Shelby's IV drip had gone down , but her fever still hadn't broken . She was trapped in a nightmare , drenched in cold sweat . Her hands clutched the bedsheets so tightly they were all wrinkled , and she kept calling out , " Don't take pictures of me . Please don't . Brandon , save me ." Watching her like this made Brandon's heart ache . Zack frowned and asked , " What's going on here ? " Brandon sat slumped in the chair by her bed , his throat dry , barely able to get a word out . Zack had practically watched Shelby grow up , so of course , he cared about her . He pressed again , " I'm asking you what happened . Why does she keep saying not to take pictures ? " Brandon's chest tightened as that memory came back to him . When he was fifteen , on a snowy day , he had found Shelby abandoned on the side of the road . She was wearing thin clothes , clutching a broken doll , her eyes full of fear and helplessness . Brandon couldn't leave her there , so he brought her home and fed her . He kept looking out for her until she was twelve and he was nineteen . That year , he got into a car accident and ended up walking with crutches . A few spoiled rich kids mocked him , calling him a cripple and copying the way he walked . Shelby had stood up for him , but they shoved her down instead . Back then , Crossen Technology was known in Itera City , but nowhere near as powerful as those other families . Those kids acted like they could do whatever they wanted . When they caught Shelby alone , they pinned her against a wall , tore her clothes , and took dirty photos of her . The incident left a deep scar on her heart . From that day on , Brandon swore he'd never let Shelby suffer again and would always protect her . After hearing all this , Zack's face darkened . " Who did it ? " Brandon said quietly , " I already handled them . " After marrying Matilda , she had taken charge of the research center while Brandon handled business . As a team , husband and wife , they pushed Crossen Technology into the top 500 within three years . Behind the scenes , Brandon had secretly dealt with those men one by one , never letting Matilda know . Some of their companies went bankrupt . Some slipped up and ended up in prison. 9:17 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 16 Zack narrowed his eyes . " You sure you got them all ? What about Matilda ? " ( 95 ) 55 vouchers Brandon looked at Shelby's pale face , his fists clenching tighter . " This isn't something that can just be let go ." " Brandon , don't go soft because she's a woman . Leave this to me . In three days , I'll make sure Matilda shows up at your door to apologize , " Zack said firmly . Meanwhile , Matilda had left the house - hunting to a real estate agent . She was trying to find work . Her former partners at Crossen Technology wanted to help her but didn't want to hurt her pride , so they came up with excuses . The oldest engineer said , " A friend of mine keeps bugging me to introduce him to a top chip architect . Ms. Warren , do me a favor and go meet him , or he won't stop nagging me ." The youngest said , " My teacher's been pushing me to change jobs , but my contract's not up yet , so I can't leave . How about you take my place ? " The round - faced woman said , " This headhunting firm keeps calling me every day . It's driving me nuts ." Matilda knew these were hard - earned opportunities . They were trying to help her without making it obvious . She couldn't let them down . But whenever she showed up for interviews , people suddenly changed their tune . " Sorry , we're already full . " " Our CEO is on a business trip . We'll reschedule later . " " Ms. Warren , don't make things harder for me . " It didn't take long for Matilda to suspect someone was pulling strings behind the scenes . Her phone buzzed in her bag . It was Samuel , Tessa's driver , asking to meet . He brought her some freshly washed clothes and a hot Domburgh meal that Tessa had prepared . Matilda called to thank Tessa , but both times the call was cut off after one ring . That had never happened before . She asked Samuel , " What was Tessa doing when you left ? " He stammered , " Um , maybe talking with Mrs. Ruth Maxwell ." Ruth had been close friends with Kathy for almost thirty years , and she wasn't easy to deal with . " How long has she been staying at Tessa's place ? " Matilda asked . " Three days , " Samuel said . 9:17 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 16 " Just chatting ? Has she been making things hard for Tessa ? " Matilda's eyes stayed locked on him . Feeling guilty , Samuel avoided her gaze . 95 55 vouchers " Tessa's grandfather told you to look after her , and you still don't dare tell me the truth , huh ? " Matilda's voice hardened . Samuel caved right away . " She told me not to say anything . But Mrs. Ruth Maxwell has been bossing her around every day . At four in the morning , Mrs. Ruth Maxwell makes her get up to pray , then cook three meals . " In the morning , she has to shop ; in the afternoon , make coffee for the ladies ; and in the evening , pray again in the family chapel . She barely gets a chance to rest ." Matilda's face looked calm , but inside she was seething . " Doesn't Zack care ? " Zack had never treated Tessa particularly well , but before , whenever Ruth picked on her , he usually stepped in . Samuel sighed , " He's only come home once in the past three days . He ignores Tessa and says someone's sick , so he has to stay at Saints International Hospital to keep them company . " Matilda instantly understood . Ruth was making life hard for Tessa under Zack and Brandon's orders , but the real target was her . She told Samuel to drive her to Saints International Hospital . From the rearview mirror , Samuel kept glancing at her sitting in the backseat with her arms crossed , eyes fixed out the window . Her face looked calm , but her cold , controlled aura felt like the calm before a storm . " Ms. Warren , I know you care about Tessa , but please , you've got to stay calm , " Samuel said carefully . Matilda's lips curved in a faint smile . " What makes you think I'm not calm ? " " You just don't seem calm ," he muttered . Honestly , she looked like she was ready to kill someone . When they reached the underground parking lot of Saints International Hospital , Matilda hurried to the elevator and headed straight for the emergency building . Three days ago , Allen had told her that Shelby was in Room 3 , the V - Ward , in the Emergency Department . She strode down the hall with quick , sharp steps , and just as she turned a corner , she ran right into Allen , who was rushing to an emergency consult . 9:17 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 17