Damian Sinclair’s eyes darkened.
He knew of Isla Chambers because she bore a slight resemblance to his stepmother.
In fact, he and a few others had once beaten Winston Wyatt up over it.
Secretary Cheney said, “Mr.
Sinclair, Lord Wyatt’s condition doesn’t look good.”
Damian Sinclair knew that “doesn’t look good” meant Winston Wyatt was having one of his episodes.
When Winston Wyatt had an episode, he was like a crazed beast—devoid of reason, immensely powerful, bloodthirsty, and violent.
“Go help them,” Damian Sinclair ordered.
“Yes, sir.” A convoy of bodyguards was following their car, and Secretary Cheney took a few men with him to assist.
…
Meanwhile, a dozen bodyguards plus Kian Blackwood were still unable to restrain Winston Wyatt.
The more they tried to control him, the more ferocious and violent he became.
Seeing this, one of the bodyguards was once again reminded of the crucial importance of a calming master.
He immediately called Isla Chambers.
“Miss Chambers, can you come over?
The Master is having an episode and needs you to calm him.”
“Winston Wyatt is having an episode?” Isla Chambers clutched her phone.
At the same time, a knock came at her door.
It was Mr.
King, urging her to open up, come downstairs, and leave at once.
‘It must be serious,’ she thought.
‘This is the only time the staff at the villa would disregard my wishes.’
Isla Chambers was confused.
‘But isn’t Aurora Rivers there?’
But she quickly figured it out.
‘Aurora Rivers was only able to calm him before because he was disoriented and mistook her for me.
Now that he’s realized his mistake, her calming abilities naturally won’t work on him anymore.’
Isla Chambers shook her head.
‘A substitute is just a substitute.
How could she possibly compare to the real thing?’
Still, she had no intention of going to calm Winston Wyatt.
‘Aurora Rivers only managed to calm him because of that slight resemblance to me.
She probably hasn’t witnessed his truly terrifying side yet.
It would be good for her to see it.
That way, she’ll know when to back off and understand that staying by Winston Wyatt’s side is not as easy as she thinks.’
‘I’m doing this for her own good, to protect her from getting hurt in the future.
I hope she understands my difficult position.’
With that thought, Isla Chambers immediately replied, “Isn’t Miss Rivers there?
As far as I know, Winston Wyatt took her with him.
Just have her calm him down.”
A beastly roar erupted from Winston Wyatt’s throat, each cry more filled with hatred and rage than the last.
Everyone except Aurora Rivers.
Without a hint of fear, Aurora Rivers stepped forward and embraced the extremely violent and dangerous Winston Wyatt.
Everyone present held their breath.
The bodyguard on the phone fell silent.
For the past three years, Isla Chambers had been the constant, while other calming masters came and went like water.
That was why the bodyguard had contacted her in a panic.
But now, he realized, it seemed she wasn’t needed after all.
Isla Chambers stared at her phone in disbelief.
They had hung up on her.
Even though she had no intention of helping, the fact that they hadn’t even tried to persuade her left a sour taste in her mouth.
Outside, Mr.
King’s knocking had stopped as well.
The sudden change made Isla Chambers feel a vague sense of unease.
…
“There, there,” Aurora Rivers soothed Winston Wyatt.
The moment she embraced him, some of his sanity returned.
His scarlet eyes reflected her image.
Terrified of hurting her in his frenzied state, Winston Wyatt desperately suppressed the violent mania raging within him.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, veins bulged on his temples, and his whole body trembled from the strain.
“It’s okay, it’s okay.
Let’s regulate our breathing and let your emotions slowly stabilize.”
“I believe in you.
You can do it,” Aurora Rivers encouraged.
As reason warred with his affliction, Winston Wyatt bit his lip so hard he drew blood, tasting the coppery tang of rust.
Noticing this, Aurora Rivers gently cupped his face, forcing him to release his lip.
The moment his mouth opened, a mournful, beast-like whimper escaped his throat.
Aurora Rivers sensed something was wrong.
She frowned, her mind racing.
‘Why would symptoms of manic depression and schizophrenia include mimicking animalistic behavior?’
“Teacher, she got the candied hawthorns you gave me dirty,” Winston Wyatt mumbled pitifully, resting his chin on Aurora Rivers’ shoulder as tears welled in his eyes.
Aurora Rivers gently patted his back, cooing as if to a child, “There, there.
I’ll buy you new ones.
How about I get you one of every flavor?”
In truth, Winston Wyatt was still just a child in Aurora Rivers’ eyes.
Even though he was a grown man, to her, it was merely a change in age and physical stature. Get faster updates on g.com.
After all, Aurora Rivers had traveled twenty years into the future, but from her perspective, only a few days had passed since she had been separated from the six-year-old Winston Wyatt.
“Okay,” Winston Wyatt replied, his voice hoarse.
By the time Secretary Cheney arrived with his men, Winston Wyatt’s condition had already stabilized before they could even offer assistance.
But since they were already there, he had to at least greet him.
He gave a respectful, slight bow.
“Lord Wyatt.”
At the sight of Secretary Cheney, Winston Wyatt’s nerves flared, and he hugged Aurora Rivers a little tighter.
‘Secretary Cheney’s presence means Damian Sinclair is here too.’
Twenty years ago, with his teacher as a witness, he and Damian Sinclair had become sworn brothers.
He was the fourth, and Damian was the second.
Strictly speaking, he should call Damian Sinclair “Second Brother.”
His teacher had only just returned, and although she hadn’t mentioned the others in his presence, Winston Wyatt knew that sooner or later, Aurora Rivers would go looking for them.
He couldn’t stop her, but he didn’t want that moment to come so soon.
Sensing Winston Wyatt’s tension, Aurora Rivers looked up, a little puzzled, her gaze landing on Secretary Cheney.
When their eyes met, a look of profound astonishment bloomed in Secretary Cheney’s.
Secretary Cheney didn’t quite agree with Victoria Sutton’s remark about a “substitute.” He had seen Isla Chambers, and now, he felt the two women didn’t look that much alike after all.
“Lord Wyatt, Mr.
Sinclair is…”
Before Secretary Cheney could finish, Winston Wyatt cut him off ruthlessly.
“Is there a problem?”
Meeting Winston Wyatt’s gloomy, impatient gaze and his still-scarlet eyes, Secretary Cheney froze for a second.
‘Why do I get the feeling Lord Wyatt is in a hurry to get rid of me?’ he wondered.
Secretary Cheney answered dryly, “Nothing, now.”
A hostile, irritable aura radiated from Winston Wyatt.
“Then get lost.”
Secretary Cheney was speechless.
‘Okay, so it wasn’t my imagination.’
Secretary Cheney awkwardly adjusted his glasses.
‘Am I really that annoying?’ he thought.
‘Lord Wyatt has never treated me with such disdain before.’
“Winston, you can’t be so rude to people,” Aurora Rivers chided, noticing that Secretary Cheney had brought bodyguards, presumably to help.
A low, animalistic growl rumbled in Winston Wyatt’s throat.
His disheveled black hair, which had stood up like wild spikes, seemed to soften as he slightly lowered his head.
But his gaze toward Secretary Cheney remained dark and hostile.
Secretary Cheney quickly waved his hands.
“It’s fine, it’s fine!
I’ll be going now.”
‘Should I stay and wait for His Lordship to apologize?’
‘Unimaginable.
Just the thought made his scalp tingle, like he was being stalked by a predator.’
Aurora Rivers watched Secretary Cheney leave.
She could tell he was acting on orders.
‘But whose?’ she wondered.