A boundless warmth and gratitude flooded Eve Vaughn’s heart.

She knew it was irrational. Mason Lawson had just angered the most powerful person in the Lawson Family.

But she felt incredibly happy. Even if this happiness was fleeting, even if he couldn’t escape his family’s pressure and would eventually have to compromise, she felt this memory would be enough to last her a lifetime.

At least once, a man had been willing to risk everything for her, showing her that she was worthy of being treated well.

But Old Mr. Lawson was a different story.

He looked at Mason Lawson in disappointment and said, "As my son, you’re a complete failure! Don’t come back until you’ve gotten rid of this girl! Otherwise, you can stay away forever!"

Mason Lawson walked step by step toward Eve Vaughn, his gaze falling on the bodyguards restraining her.

Though he was injured, his eyes were still sharp. A single glance was enough to frighten the bodyguards into letting go.

Eve Vaughn’s tears streamed down her face as she said guiltily, "It’s me. It’s my fault, I’m so sorry."

"Silly girl."

Mason Lawson spoke dotingly, took her hand, and walked out of the Lawson Family estate.

The Third Madam called out from behind, hoping he would be more rational and come back right away.

But in the end, all she could do was watch as he and Eve Vaughn walked further and further away.

... 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

「The Sovereign Pearl.」

After leaving the Lawson Family estate, Eve Vaughn had wanted to take him to the hospital, but Mason Lawson told the driver to take him home instead.

After all, he represented the Lawson Family in most public settings. If he showed up at a hospital in this state, it would inevitably lead to outside speculation and gossip.

On the way, however, he had Eve Vaughn call Hamilton Hale.

Right now, Mason Lawson only trusted his own people.

When Hamilton Hale heard Eve Vaughn’s description of the situation over the phone, he knew things were bad and immediately drove to The Sovereign Pearl.

Because the hospital where Hamilton Hale worked was relatively close to Mason Lawson’s home, they arrived at almost the same time.

"My God, how did he get hurt this badly?"

Hamilton Hale stared at Mason Lawson’s mangled back. It was even worse than he had imagined.

Eve Vaughn, her eyes swollen from crying, kept repeating, "It’s all my fault, it’s all my fault!"

’So that’s why Mason Lawson had been so hesitant to make their relationship public. He had been considering so many things.’

’But I was so selfish. I never thought about him, about what would happen if our relationship was exposed.’

’And back then, I was constantly throwing tantrums and even threatening to break up with him over this.’

The more Eve Vaughn thought about it, the guiltier she felt. She slapped herself across the face and said, "It’s all my fault!"

Seeing this, Hamilton Hale quickly stopped her. "Don’t do that! This wasn’t your fault. Someone leaked the news about you and Mason to the old man. Stop crying now. I came alone. I brought my medical kit and bandages, but I don’t have an assistant. You have to help me, understand?"

Eve Vaughn sniffled and tried her best to calm down.

She had almost forgotten that she was a doctor herself.

Mason Lawson’s whip wounds were so severe that he was running a high fever and had no strength to comfort her.

The man who had always been so swift and decisive was, for the first time, this vulnerable in front of Eve Vaughn.

He closed his eyes weakly, letting Hamilton Hale and Eve Vaughn treat the wounds on his back.

Although Hamilton Hale was also upset, his hands were steady as he treated the wounds.

Eve Vaughn, however, was a different story.

Hamilton Hale looked helplessly at her trembling hands. "Eve Vaughn, can you please stop shaking?"

"I... I’m nervous..."

The more Eve Vaughn tried not to shake, the more violently her hands trembled.

Hamilton Hale said helplessly, "Never mind, I’ll do it. You can just hand me things from the side."

’I was hoping to let Mason Lawson feel his girl’s love,’ he thought.

’But I guess we can forget about that now.’

He had just seen that every time Eve Vaughn trembled while disinfecting Mason Lawson’s wounds, Mason Lawson flinched along with her.

He must have been in immense pain, but because it was Eve Vaughn, he didn’t say a word.

In the end, it took Hamilton Hale over an hour to finish treating Mason Lawson’s injuries. He even had to stitch up some of the deeper wounds.

Watching from the side, Eve Vaughn’s eyes once again blurred with tears.

Hamilton Hale sighed. "I know you’re upset. Seeing Mason like this makes me miserable, too. But I can’t stay here and take care of him forever. From now on, it’s up to you. So you can’t keep being this depressed. You have to pull yourself together. If you want to repay him, then take good care of him and help him get better as soon as possible."

Eve Vaughn quickly wiped her tears and solemnly promised, "Yes, I understand."

As Hamilton Hale was leaving, he added, "He’s running a fever because of infection from the wounds, but I’ve already debrided and disinfected them. Keep an eye on his temperature. If he’s still running a fever tomorrow, give me a call."

"Thank you, Doctor Hale. I will."

Eve Vaughn walked Hamilton Hale to the door, watched him drive away, and then hurried back to the room.

Mason Lawson had fallen asleep.

Eve Vaughn knelt by the bed, silently gazing at the man’s pale face. A torrent of guilt and sorrow churned within her, impossible to assuage.

Eventually, still kneeling by the bed with her head resting near his, she unknowingly drifted off to sleep as well.

The next day, when Mason Lawson woke up, he found the young woman sitting on the floor, sleeping soundly with her back against the side of the bed.

His back still ached terribly. He glanced at the painkillers on the bedside table, intending to take one himself.

Just then, Eve Vaughn startled awake.

"You’re awake?"

She looked at him, pleasantly surprised, wanting to both cry and laugh at the same time.

Mason Lawson’s voice was still a little hoarse. He said lightly, "Why didn’t you sleep on the bed? Sleeping on the floor... it’s like I’m abusing you or something!"

Eve Vaughn said, embarrassed, "I wanted to stay up and watch over you last night, but somehow I fell asleep."

After speaking, she seemed to remember something. "Do you want some water? Oh, right, I need to take your temperature. Doctor Hale said if you still have a fever, I have to call him."

Eve Vaughn was in such a fluster that she didn’t know how to take care of him.

Mason Lawson said helplessly, "Don’t rush around. Just get me a painkiller first. We can talk about the rest later."

Eve Vaughn immediately poured some water, helped him sit up, and handed him the painkiller, watching as he took it.

The young woman bit her lower lip and asked in a choked voice, "Sir, it hurts a lot, doesn’t it?"

"It’s bearable."

Mason Lawson stroked her hair. "But I’ll have to trouble you to take care of me for a while."

Eve Vaughn nodded earnestly. "I’ll ask for a leave of absence from school right away. I’ll stay by your side and never leave, sir."

Later, Eve Vaughn took his temperature again.

Seeing the number on the thermometer, Eve Vaughn said with relief, "Thank heavens, the fever’s gone."

Mason Lawson patted the spot beside him on the bed. "Come here and get some sleep. Look at your eyes, they’re so red."

Only then did Eve Vaughn climb into bed. But she didn’t sleep. She just sat beside him, looking at him as if she could never get enough.

’This man used his own life to protect me yesterday.’

Mason Lawson reached out and stroked her hair, asking, "You were terrified yesterday, weren’t you?"

Eve Vaughn shook her head, her eyes shimmering as she gazed deeply at him. "Sir, you’re so good to me. Is it worth it?"

Not wanting the mood to get too heavy, Mason Lawson smiled and asked, "If, right now, I asked you to give yourself to me, completely and utterly, would you be willing?"

Eve Vaughn’s eyes widened in astonishment. "Right now?"

’Is... is he talking about right now? About doing... that?’