Chapter 166
What on earth happened here?
And where did that brat Yolande run off to?
Why isn’t she anywhere to be found?
Everything was in utter chaos now.
When Carole saw the people scatter and flee, she finally let out a sigh of relief, then hurried over to Isabel’s side.
“Isabel, what happened?” Carole’s voice trembled with pain.
After all, she and Isabel had been partners for so long that they were practically family.
Isabel’s clothes were ripped to shreds, baring her undergarments. Bruises and welts mottled her exposed skin, blue and purple, making her look absolutely ravaged.
Thank God Carole had arrived in time; otherwise, if those men had gotten their way, Isabel would have been ruined-if not dead, then close to it.
Carole was speechless when she saw the extent of Isabel’s injuries.
She could hardly believe what Isabel must have endured in just one short hour.
Isabel was shaking uncontrollably, tears mingling with blood as they streamed down her face. She made a hoarse, broken wailing sound, unable to form a single complete sentence.
She was completely shattered, on the verge of passing out.
Luckily, Carole had brought a doctor with her, who quickly examined Isabel.
It was a relief—all the wounds were superficial. Nothing life-threatening.
Carole’s eyes brimmed with tears of sympathy. Hastily, she shrugged off her jacket and wrapped it around Isabel, her voice trembling. “Don’t be scared. I’m taking you away from here right now…”
Isabel clung to her, sobbing uncontrollably. “Carole… thank you for coming when you did. I thought… I thought I’d never see you again…”
Her words were broken, muffled by the pain in her swollen face and split lips.
It was clear that Isabel had suffered terribly.
“It’s over now, you’re safe. And I promise you, we’ll make them pay for this,” Carole said fiercely.
She’d thought her plan was flawless, but it had backfired spectacularly, putting Isabel in harm’s way and nearly causing a disaster. The injustice of it all made Carole seethe with anger.
Isabel’s own hatred burned even hotter. If those men had really violated her, she would have dragged that wretched Effie down with her-no matter the cost.
Soon, Carole led Isabel away.
Because the incident was so humiliating, Isabel didn’t call the police or go to a hospital; she simply went home to recover in private.
For days afterward, she didn’t dare step outside.
Meanwhile, after returning home, Effie quickly took a shower.
It had been a long, exhausting day.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, she instantly noticed Lyman watching her, his gaze intense and smoldering.
Effie recognized that look all too well.
She paused at the threshold, beads of water tracing down her hair, pooling at her collarbone.
She wore a pale pink nightdress that clung to her curves, leaving little to the imagination.
Lyman’s eyes roamed over her, a heat that seemed to burn from her ankles all the way up, making every inch of exposed skin tingle.
“Have you seen enough?” Effie asked shyly, toweling her damp hair.
Lyman rose from the couch, his tall frame casting a shadow in the warm light. He strode over, gently lifting a lock of her wet hair with his fingers, his voice low and husky. “I could never see enough. Let me dry your hair.”
Effie looked up, meeting his gaze, her cheeks aflame.
But beneath the embarrassment, her heart was filled with warmth.
She handed him the hairdryer.
Lyman’s long fingers threaded gently through her hair, sending a shiver down her spine.
Effie slowly closed her eyes, surrendering to the comfort of this tender moment.