Chapter 4
Austin’s strikingly handsome face came into full view as the car window rolled down.
Suzanne stepped closer, surprise flickering in her eyes. “You didn’t leave?”
Without a word, he got out of the car, opened the trunk, and carefully placed her suitcase inside.
For a moment, she froze. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had done something for her without being asked. Her eyes stung as she lowered her gaze and murmured softly, “Thank you.”
Austin’s sharp eyes fell on her swollen cheek, and his expression darkened instantly. “Who hit you?”
Suzanne’s lashes fluttered as she hesitated. She didn’t want to talk about it. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
But Austin’s demeanor grew colder, his presence exuding a sharp, intimidating pressure. Without another word, he turned and started walking toward the Yates residence.
Startled, Suzanne grabbed his arm. “Austin, no…”
“I’ll kill anyone who hurts you.” His voice was icy, his words chilling enough to send a shiver down her spine.
Suzanne clung to his arm, exhaustion and quiet desperation in her expression. “I’m so tired. Let’s… Let’s just go, okay?”
One side of her face was swollen, while the other was deathly pale.
Austin’s gaze softened briefly. After a moment, he relented, saying nothing as he turned back toward the car.
The ride was silent.
An hour later, they arrived at Starview Villa.
As they stepped inside, Suzanne was met with the sight of several people standing in the grand living room. The moment they entered, the staff stepped forward and greeted them respectfully, “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Hall.”
Suzanne froze, her eyes widening as she instinctively glanced at Austin. He had already made all the arrangements.
Austin met her gaze briefly. “You can inform them if you need anything. They won’t speak a word outside these walls.”
Her lashes fluttered as a wave of emotion washed over her. Quietly, she said, “Thank you.”
Austin dismissed the staff with a single nod before taking Suzanne’s hand and leading her upstairs.
Once they reached the bedroom, Austin went to a cabinet, pulled out a first aid kit, and walked over to her.
Suzanne blinked, caught off guard. “You…”
“Let’s deal with the swelling first.”
For a moment, she was stunned. She never would have imagined someone as aloof and untouchable as Austin personally tending to her injuries.
As he applied the cooling balm to her cheek, his cool fingers brushed against her skin, the soothing touch making her shiver slightly.
“What happened back there?” Austin asked, his voice calm but firm.
Panicked, Suzanne tried to take the medicine from his hands. “I can do it myself!”
“Don’t move.”
His tone left no room for argument, and Suzanne instinctively froze, letting him continue.
The two of them were so close she could feel his breath. Her heart pounded uncontrollably, her pulse racing at their proximity.
Austin noticed her flushed cheeks, and his gaze sharpened slightly. “Henry did this?”
Suzanne pressed her lips together and forced a faint smile, saying nothing. The look in her eyes was enough for Austin to know he was right.
“Why did he hit you?” His voice grew even colder.
After a brief hesitation, Suzanne replied softly, “The reason doesn’t matter. They’ve already kicked me out.”
“Kicked you out?”
Austin scoffed in disdain. He lifted her chin and locked his cool gaze onto hers. “From now on, no one will ever be able to kick you out of anywhere.”
Suzanne was stunned. She stared at him, lips parted slightly as if to respond, but no words came.
Before she could process what had just happened, Austin stepped back, calmly closed the first aid kit, and said in a cool tone, “As my woman, never let anyone bully you again. If they do, it’s my reputation on the line.”
Suzanne’s heart skipped a beat.
His cold gaze locked onto hers. “Remember this—I’m your husband. And not just in name.”
Her chest tightened. What did he mean by that?
“Suzanne, I’ll give you time. But don’t take too long.”
Without waiting for her response, Austin turned and walked out, not sparing her another glance.
Suzanne sat on the couch, stunned. Watching the door close behind him brought her back to reality.
Just as she was processing everything, there was a knock at the door. When she opened it, a warm-faced woman in her fifties greeted her with a kind smile.
“Hello, Mrs. Hall. I’m Rita, the housekeeper.”
Suzanne had heard of her before. Rita Sandoval had been a trusted member of the Hall family’s household staff for decades. The fact that she was here meant Austin had arranged everything—down to even the smallest details of her care.
Suzanne stepped aside and greeted her. “Hello, Rita.”
Rita chuckled warmly, stepping inside and glancing around the room with a pleased expression. “Mr. Hall certainly has good taste.”
Suzanne’s face flushed slightly, and she coughed awkwardly.
Rita laughed again. “No need to be shy. Mr. Hall specifically instructed me to take care of everything for you. If you need anything, just let me know directly.”
Suzanne nodded, still feeling overwhelmed. “Thank you.”
Rita continued in a reassuring tone, “Mr. Hall isn’t one for words, and he tends to keep his distance. I’ve worked for the Hall family for a long time, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen him personally take care of a woman. He even told me to stay close and make sure you’re comfortable.”
Suzanne’s cheeks turned pink as memories of Austin’s touch flashed through her mind.
Rita noticed her reaction and quickly added, “Oh, don’t overthink it. Mr. Hall is busy with business and will be away for a week. It’s not that he doesn’t want to be here.”
“I understand,” Suzanne replied quickly, worried Rita might misunderstand.
In truth, with everything that had happened recently, she felt relieved to have some space to process her thoughts and emotions.
To her surprise, she found herself feeling at peace in Austin’s home.
Every detail of her stay was carefully managed—from her clothes to the warm meals to the gentle company of Rita, who provided comforting conversation without overstepping.
By the end of the week, Suzanne felt more like herself. She had found clarity and was ready to focus on moving forward.
That morning, she tidied up, had a quick breakfast, and headed out.
But just as she was driving through the quiet streets, a sudden bang echoed through the air.
Her eyes widened as her car collided with the one in front of her.
She couldn’t believe her luck.
Muttering under her breath, she quickly stepped out to assess the damage.
The driver of the other car, a burly man, got out and shot her an irritated glare.
“Another woman driver? Are you kidding me? Stay off the road if you don’t know how to drive!”
Suzanne’s expression hardened. “Bad driving isn’t exclusive to women. And you slammed on your brakes.”
“There was a pothole! What was I supposed to do, drive into it? Ever heard of keeping a safe distance?” The man’s voice was rough and impatient.
Suzanne clenched her fists, but before she could respond, the rear window of the man’s car rolled down.
A low, familiar voice came from within.
“We’re in a hurry. Handle it quickly.”
Suzanne froze.
She couldn’t see the man’s face, but she knew that voice.
It was Jenson.
