Chapter 16 When Maverick woke up again, he was already in the hospital. He had suffered a severe concussion and had been in a coma for a week. When he opened his eyes, he saw his mother, Carol Joyner. Carol looked deeply worried, and when she saw him awake, her expression darkened. "Maverick, I always thought you were a good man, different from your bastard father. But in the end... you have truly disappointed me." Carol reproached him, "I know everything about you and Rae. You are the one who wronged her. Don't go looking for her again. She will never forgive you for the rest of her life." Maverick's hand, hidden under the blanket, trembled. Pain spread through his heart. He shook his head forcefully. "No, I have to find her. I will make her forgive me and come back to me." He couldn't let go of all those years of love. He admitted it was his fault. No matter what the cost, he was determined to get Raelynn back. "Mom, I'll handle this myself." With that, Maverick closed his eyes, refusing to speak to Carol any further. Carol stayed with him for a while, but seeing that she couldn't persuade him, she got up and left. Maverick's father, Edwin Joyner, had cheated years ago and died in a plane crash while eloping with his mistress. Carol hated him deeply and had always taught Maverick to be devoted in love. She once believed Maverick's love for Raelynn was unique and would last a lifetime. She no longer wanted to interfere with him, only hoping that Raelynn would not be hurt by him a second time. After Carol left, Maverick completed the discharge procedures. He took Ophelia's investigation file and went to see her. She had been locked up for a week and looked haggard and lifeless. The moment she saw Maverick, she rushed to him. "Mav, you finally came to see me. Let me out, please. I'm so hun- gry, and the baby is hungry too." She grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly, hoping he would spare her for the sake of the child. "Will you forgive me? I never hurt Raelynn before. I was just blinded recently and wanted to compete with her. I know I was wrong. I promise I'll behave from now on." "Let's find Raelynn together. I'll apologize to her. I promise I'll be good." 0.0 % 10:35 Chapter 10 Ophelia cried as she spoke. In the past, whenever she acted like this, Maverick would soften and comfort her. But now, his face was cold, his eyes icy as he looked at her, as if he were staring at a corpse. "Ophelia, stop pretending. If it weren't for the fact that you once saved Rae, you'd already be dead." Maverick grabbed her chin and pushed her away forcefully. "What are you going to do? May, I really know I was wrong. Please don't hurt me. I'm still carrying your child." She stared at him in terror, feeling like she was about to suffocate. "Don't worry, soon you won't have a child anymore." Maverick let her go. She collapsed weakly to the ground, clutching her neck and gasping for air. "You, you, don't do this to me." Ophelia barely had time to react before she saw bodyguards enter with baseball bats. She shrank back in terror. Ophelia struggled as she was grabbed. Maverick personally took a baseball bat and smashed it hard into her stomach. Ophelia screamed in pain as blood gushed from between her legs. Her face twisted in agony. "Maverick, you're insane! That's your child too! You're a monster!" Maverick ignored her, hitting her again with the bat. Her voice trembled with pain. "Please, stop hitting me. Let me go." By the third blow, Ophelia was convulsing in pain, unable to beg for mercy any longer. Watching her bleed profusely and writhe in agony, Maverick's eyes turned red. Was this how much it hurt when Rae- lynn was beaten? "Keep going. Hit her ninety-nine times, then send her to prison. Don't let her die!" Maverick threw away the bat and turned to leave. Clutching his chest, a sharp pain shot through his organs. He doubled over in agony, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth as he collapsed to the ground. "Honey, where are you? I miss you so much. Without you, I can't go on living." 54.6 % 10:35 ¦