Chapter 5

Hailey furrowed her brow and quickly grabbed a thick pillow to support Travis’s hand, making it easier to handle. As she gently grabbed Travis’s wrist, two audible gasps filled the room, drawing the attention of Travis’s mother, Thalia. Though the butler’s expression remained stoic, she silently observed the reactions of the two individuals, noting their struggle to maintain composure and their need for reassurance.

After carefully applying alcohol to Travis’s wound, Hailey noticed his hand trembling slightly from the irritation. Witnessing Travis’s volatile temperament and the force with which he had hit the car window, Hailey felt a pang of concern. She understood the potential danger if Travis’s anger turned toward her. After a moment of contemplation, she kneeled to tend to Travis’s wound, surprising him and leaving the onlookers, including the butler and servants, in disbelief.

The Blake family elders had been aware of Travis’s mild mysophobia since he was young, as well as his desire to maintain a certain image. Despite his injuries, Travis allowed no one to assist him or show any signs of discomfort. His ex-girlfriend’s complaints about his refusal to accept help or affection were a testament to his independence and reluctance to display vulnerability.

The young lady, who had lost her status upon joining the Blake family, bravely blew into Travis’s hand, determined to survive.

To her surprise, Travis did not react angrily to Hailey’s action. He simply looked at her coldly, then closed his eyes, conveying his indifference.

This unexpected reaction puzzled everyone in the room, sparking various speculations about the teacher’s true thoughts. Was it for Calvin’s sake? Did Travis find the young lady pitiful and decide to forgive her again?

No one noticed the angle allowed a glimpse of Hailey’s chest when she crouched down. If Travis shifted his gaze slightly, he could see inside her clothes.

A single glance reminded Travis of the tender moment they shared last night. However, it was neither the time nor the place to dwell on such thoughts, so he quickly averted his eyes.

Was this woman too frivolous, or was she simply not cautious? Focused on treating the wound, Hailey failed to notice the reactions of those around her. She concentrated all her attention on the hand-inflicted wound on Travis’s back. As she disinfected the wound, she gently blew on it to ease the stinging sensation from the alcohol. After finishing the disinfection, she examined the gauze and reconsidered the need for bandages on Travis’s hand.

In Hailey’s opinion, the small wounds did not require bandages. Although she was more concerned about Travis’s hand, his swaying motion reassured her about his bones. Placing a bandage on his knuckles, where his palm and fingers met, seemed challenging. Wrapping gauze around that area also appeared inconvenient.

Hailey took a deep breath, overcame her fear of Travis’s fist, and suggested, “I believe these minor wounds only needed disinfection. Bandaging them may slow down the healing process.” Her statement induced anxiety in some individuals, as they expected a potential confrontation.

Thalia gave Hailey a fleeting glance, as she was interested in both her relationship with Calvin Blake and Hailey’s potential future actions. Travis opened his eyes and casually looked at Hailey, questioning the sincerity of her suggestion. Hailey hesitated before admitting that she was unsure of what to do next.

Hailey believed her wounds only required disinfection and not bandages, a stark contrast to the expectations of someone from the esteemed Blake family. In her childhood, a simple remedy sufficed, but she understood the importance of proper care in their eyes.

With a single glance, Travis coldly dismissed Hailey’s lack of genuine concern, realizing she wasn’t truly worried about him.

However, Travis Blake seldom gave a damn if someone was truly concerned about him.

At that moment, the butler approached with a smile and suggested, “Master, since the young lady is unsure of what to do, shall I take care of it?”

Travis examined the injured fairy’s hand and remarked, “It’s unnecessary. Disinfection should suffice for minor wounds like this.” This unexpected display of casual conversation from Travis surprised everyone. Some felt a sense of disappointment, realizing that the dramatic scene they had hoped for did not unfold. Although Hailey was slightly taken aback, she found it unsurprising as the injuries were minor. After that incident, Hailey remained at the Blake mansion, releasing Rowena Harver before Calvin’s funeral. Upon returning home, Rowena immediately charged toward Hailey, intending to hit her.

You are a bringer of misfortune! You killed Calvin the moment you entered the family!

“Give me Calvin back!” A slap in the face stunned Hailey. She covered her cheek, thinking, “There are so many irrational people in this family.”

“Even though I may bring bad luck, your family forced me to marry Calvin to change his luck,” Hailey retorted. “I didn’t insist on it,” she said.

Her bold response shocked everyone. How could she speak to her mother-in-law like that?

Thalia’s expression remained indifferent and inscrutable, making it difficult to discern her thoughts. Mary Hewitt, the third lady of the Blake family, had always looked down on Rowena because she couldn’t bear children. Because she wore her heart on her sleeves, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter upon hearing Hailey’s words.

Rowena screamed in rage and ran after Hailey to strike her in the face once more.

Hailey was naturally reluctant to take another slap after the first one. However, she found herself unable to defend herself because no one in the room was on her side. Anticipating the inevitable outcome if she fought back, she turned around and lowered her head to escape. A few steps later, she collided with someone, the impact nearly knocking her thin and slender figure off balance.

Travis noticed Hailey rebounding after bumping into him, and he instinctively reached out to steady her around the waist. As Hailey clung to Travis’s shirt, she regained her balance and realized who she had collided with.

This incident allowed Rowena to catch up with Hailey, who then grabbed Hailey’s hair and raised her other hand to strike her once more.

With her hands on her head, Hailey let out a painful scream. Travis instinctively seized Rowena’s arm, preventing her from striking Hailey and unintentionally injuring herself. Rowena was stunned when she realized what had happened, and her grip on Hailey’s hair loosened. Hailey seized the moment to free her hair, and the area fell into silence.