Chapter 11
Just as Vincent regained consciousness, Knox, who had been rushed to the hospital, also woke up.
The first person he saw was Skylar.
The pretty girl pouted as she complained: “What happened to you? Why did you suddenly pass out?”
“Oh, by the way, I’ve got good news-I won’t have to marry into the Blackstone family after all!”
Knox wasn’t fully lucid yet.
In his mind, he thought, of course-he had made thorough plans to have Raelyn substitute for Skylar. How could Skylar possibly leave
his side?
But Skylar’s next words jolted him fully awake.
“I don’t know what Raelyn was thinking. She actually volunteered to marry him! Is she stupid? I can’t believe she’d agree to marry a dying man.”
A sharp pain shot through Knox’s temple.
Yes, he remembered before losing consciousness, his subordinate had told him that Raelyn hadn’t been forcibly taken to the Blackstone family.
How could this have happened?
Julian, who was also in the hospital room watching over Skylar, snorted and tapped her forehead:
“You really think she’s that stupid? I had to transfer two of our family mansions to her to get her to agree to marry in your place.”
“She has nothing to complain about.”
“Besides, marrying into the Blackstone family isn’t so bad. They’re wealthy with strong family values. Grandpa Blackstone is a respected figure. Even if her husband died, she’s probably living quite comfortably now.”
The more Julian spoke, the more reasonable it seemed to him, and his guilt toward Raelyn diminished considerably.
Ever since his conversation with Raelyn in the office, he’d been unable to eat or sleep properly.
The image of Raelyn’s defiant eyes kept appearing before him.
He even began to wonder if he had truly been too cruel to her.
It seemed like ages since that little girl who tugged at his sleeve and called him “brother” had disappeared.
Julian drifted into thought.
He was pulled back to reality by Knox’s voice.
Knox looked shocked and blurted out: “She married into the Blackstone family? What about me?”
Julian felt awkward and scratched his head: “Don’t blame me for keeping it from you. Raelyn threatened not to go through with the substitution if I told you.”
“I didn’t expect her to be so heartless, not even telling you. Just forget about her.”
“Besides, doesn’t Skylar really compare to Skylar?”
Knox suppressed his displeasure.
He forced a smile at the siblings.
In his mind, the Winters family should be begging on their knees for him to accept them.
They really thought he was still that poor boy they could pick and choose?
But before he could say anything…
Skylar interrupted with embarrassment: “Oh, brother, why are you talking about this?”
“Don’t you remember? Lord Kingston already proposed to me. How could I refuse him?”
Julian’s expression changed: “Right, I almost forgot about that.”
Knox’s discomfort grew stronger.
It was he who had asked to marry Skylar.
The “Lord Kingston” they referred to was him.
But for some reason, he felt something was off.
Knox suddenly recalled the first time he met Raelyn.
Back then, he had also awakened in a room.
Raelyn hadn’t just talked at him-she had moistened his lips with a cotton swab dipped in water.
Unlike Skylar, who couldn’t even be bothered to pour him a glass.
And Raelyn’s happiness had been so simple.
She had never asked Knox what his family was like.
It was Knox who had voluntarily lied, saying he came from a poor rural village, struggled after getting into college with multiple
unsuccessful jobs.
He claimed he’d been stabbed several times in the stomach during a robbery, with all his money stolen.
At that time, Raelyn’s eyes had been full of sympathy.
She believed every word of his obviously flawed story.
Later, he only needed to take her side when she was upset about Skylar, say a few caring words…
And Raelyn’s heart and eyes would be filled with only him.
Knox had met countless women.
But including the seemingly innocent Skylar before him, Raelyn had been the easiest to please.
He suddenly decided he needed to bring Raelyn back from the Blackstone family.
They needed to have a serious talk.
Having made up his mind, Knox sent the Winters siblings out of the hospital room.
He called in his subordinate: “What’s wrong with my legs? Why do I still have no feeling in them?”
“Are the doctors in this hospital incompetent? They can’t even treat a minor injury properly?”
“Well, this… this…”
“Stop stammering. Speak clearly. Don’t stutter.”
Knox felt a sense of foreboding rising from the depths of his heart.
His eyes fixed on his subordinate, looking as if he might tear the man in half.
The subordinate couldn’t control his trembling.
Finding no other option, he steeled himself and revealed the doctor’s diagnosis:
“Lord Kingston, the doctor says your legs hadn’t fully recovered from your previous injury. This time the damage is severe, and I’m afraid… I’m afraid you’ll never be able to stand again.”
