Chapter 325: The Ruse
Tina gave him a cold glance but said nothing. Logan, however, spoke up, “Tina, if you were so worried, you should have given Nathaniel a warning earlier. Why didn’t you say anything? Were you concerned about something?”
Hugo was left speechless. Sensing the tension, Jennie quickly intervened, “We’re outsiders; it’s not our place to meddle in the Farrell family’s affairs.”
“Tina has Jared and Mr. Farrell’s support. She won’t be mistreated,” she added.
“Is that so?” Logan gave them a meaningful look. “I’m tired. I’m going to rest now. Feel free to stay a while and finish your tea.”
Hugo quickly waved his hand. “No need, thank you for your hospitality, Logan. We won’t disturb you any longer.”All content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.
Seeing that Logan had spoken, Hugo knew better than to overstay their welcome.
Jared put his arm around Tina’s shoulders. “I’ll walk you out,” he said.
Tina looked up at him and smiled. “Alright.”
Although Jared hadn’t spoken earlier, she sensed his anger. She knew he was holding back for Logan’s sake and refrained from confronting Nathaniel directly. But in the end, he couldn’t hold back completely. That kick had rendered Nathaniel incapacitated.
As they walked ahead side by side, Hugo and Jennie followed awkwardly behind, their expressions complex. Throughout the meal, they had revealed many of their intentions.
Tina had been testing them on purpose, and everyone else was watching their performance.
“What do we do now…” Jennie whispered to Hugo.
Hugo said nothing but kept his eyes fixed on Tina, who was walking two meters ahead. If he didn’t act soon…
They reached the Farrell family’s courtyard where Jared was about to get the car to drive Tina home when suddenly someone leaped out from the bushes and lunged at Tina.
A flash of a knife caught Jared’s eye, and he quickly stepped forward.
“Tina! Watch out!”
The shout came not from Jared but from Hugo behind them.
As Jared shielded Tina, Hugo also rushed forward and grabbed the attacker. The stranger slashed Hugo’s arm deeply with the knife.
Blood gushed out, soaking Hugo’s clothes.
“Oh my god!”
The servants nearby screamed in terror while Jennie’s legs went weak with fear. “Hugo!”
At Jared’s signal, hidden guards from the Farrell family emerged and subdued the attacker within minutes.
Jared glanced at Tina, who remained calm and unafraid, then approached the attacker and asked quietly, “Who sent you?”
The stranger kept his mouth shut, refusing to speak.
Jared sneered coldly. “Don’t want to talk? I have a hundred ways to make you.”
He signaled his men to bind the attacker and take him away.
“I want answers,” Jared said with a look that could cut through skin. “Be careful not to kill him.”
Death would be too easy; some fates were worse than death.
“Yes,” his men responded respectfully before taking the stranger away.
“Hugo! Hugo!” Jennie knelt beside Hugo in panic as tears welled up in her eyes. “You’re bleeding so much!”
Despite his pale face from blood loss, Hugo said, “I’m fine. A little injury is nothing as long as Tina is safe.”
He turned to Tina with guilt in his eyes. “Tina, I’m sorry I couldn’t stand up for you when the Farrell family bullied you earlier. The Reed family is just too insignificant compared to them…”
Tina listened expressionlessly, feeling only annoyance inside.
Hugo was generally unambitious and honest but always stood up for her when the Reed family mistreated her. He had even been willing to leave the Reed family and lose his job for her sake. Such a person wouldn’t say something like ‘insignificant.’
She glanced at Hugo’s wound; though it bled heavily and looked alarming, it wasn’t life-threatening.
Tina tore a strip from her clothing and bandaged his wound to stop the bleeding.
“You’ve been hurt; speak less,” she said coldly.
“Tina…” Hugo hadn’t expected such indifference from Tina after risking his life for her protection.
“Tina, your father cares about you deeply,” Jennie said tearfully. “We came to the capital for you. He wants to start a perfume company so you’ll have a fallback if things go wrong with the Farrell family…”
Her words made it sound like everything they did was for Tina’s benefit while portraying Tina as ungrateful.
Jared interrupted coldly, “Jennie, are you implying that I can’t protect Tina?”
Jennie froze. “That’s not what we meant…”
She awkwardly fiddled with her hair. “We’re just concerned for Tina because we’re family.”
Hugo coughed weakly on purpose. “Jared, I’m doing my best but can’t do much more. Please take good care of Tina… cough…”
Tina watched their act with barely concealed disdain.
It was just a superficial wound that didn’t even touch bone or muscle yet Hugo acted as if he were gravely ill and on death’s door.
Seeing through his pretense, Jared ordered a servant nearby, “Take Mr. Reed to the hospital.”
Then he opened the passenger door himself to drive Tina home.
“Tina…” Jennie called out reluctantly, “Aren’t you going to check on your father at the hospital?”
“I have other matters,” Tina replied indifferently before turning away with Jared.
The car drove out of the Farrell estate as Tina gazed out the window thoughtfully. “It seems they can’t wait any longer.”
“Indeed,” Jared replied with narrowed eyes. “My sources tell me GTO’s human trials are at a critical stage and urgently need supplies.”
“No wonder,” Tina sneered.
“First we need to find Mr. Reed and Jennie,” Jared said calmly. “I’ve already set people on it; we’ll have news soon.”
“Alright,” Tina nodded.