Chapter 76: Chapter 76

Third Person’s POV

"How's she?"

"She is still under the sleeping pills but soon she'll wake up."

Brett's eyes lit up with warmth as soon as he heard that Agatha was in good condition. He shifted his gaze to her peaceful, unconscious face and observed the steady rise and fall of her chest.

"I can't believe something like this happened," he sighed, lost in his thoughts.

"Good job," he said to the doctor he had called privately. Speaking slowly, he added, "I'll contact you again. Just make sure you keep quiet." Brett flashed a grin as he handed over a white envelope.

"Trust me, Mr. Holmes."

The doctor nodded and took the envelope. Without even checking its contents, he could tell it was a substantial amount. A smile formed on his lips as he left the room, hoping to cash in on his good fortune soon.

However, if there were to be another patient in the future, it might just be the person on the other side. With a determination fueled by murderous intent, Brett wouldn't rest until he found the mastermind behind this abduction.

He couldn't believe that someone had the audacity to touch what belonged to him. "How dare he?" he exclaimed, a sardonic laugh escaping his lips.

After calming down a bit, Brett sat on the edge of the bed, observing her peacefully asleep. In the midst of the deafening silence, he couldn't help but imagine Agatha's torment at the hands of her captor. "Perhaps she trembled, cried, and pleaded for her life," he speculated silently.

A sense of darkness clouded his eyes as he dug his fingernails into his palms. The mixture of anger and guilt overwhelmed him. Was it normal to feel this way when Agatha was merely a pawn in his game?

According to his plan, he would play dirty, just as his enemies had done to him. Even if it meant using an innocent pawn, he wouldn't hesitate. However, these strange emotions swayed him and robbed him of his rationality.

“Yes, it was me who sent you to hell," he admitted, his hand trembling as he reached out towards her. His eyes cast downwards, his long lashes flickering in the dim light. With a voice as delicate as morning dew, he spoke, "But would you believe me if I said that I never wanted any of this to happen?"

His usually warm fingers gently caressed her hair, brushing it away from her face. As he paused, a thought crossed his mind.

"Maybe it wasn't because of me after all. Perhaps someone else has been trying to harm her from the very beginning."

Using his logical thinking, he could only think of one person who fit the bill. But if he was right, the motive behind it all seemed perplexing. Why would they target a mere maid?

He glanced back at her, only to see her flinch at his touch. Before Agatha could fully open her eyes, Brett quickly withdrew his hand. The man, known for his composed demeanor, felt his ears turn red as he nervously swallowed. It was strange how he was so afraid of being caught touching her without permission, a behavior completely out of character for him.

"Sir…Brett ?" A faint whisper escaped her pale lips.

At the sound of her voice, Brett's furrowed brows relaxed. He took a deep breath, blinked rapidly, and then smiled.

"Welcome back, my slave."

It was the first time she had seen such a serious smile on his face, a mix of happiness and remorse. Maybe he was one of the countless guilty people out there. However, the Brett she knew was never this considerate.

Agatha's mouth opened and closed several times, as if she were struggling to find the right words. Eventually, she gave up and let out a sigh. Instead of starting an argument, she turned her gaze towards the window.

It was still dark outside.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"In my house," Brett replied, also glancing out the window.

The moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting a white glow into the room. As the light illuminated her face, her eyes widened. "Lanceil’s NEIGHBOR!" she exclaimed, sitting up and looking back at him.

“It was her. She… she…!” She kept yelling incomplete words, trying to remember the last moments before she passed out. That's when Brett stepped in and spoke up for her.

"You were kidnapped. Since you mentioned it was a neighbor, I'll make sure to catch her soon."

His words left her speechless. No matter how she tried to make sense of her memories, she couldn't believe it was Maxine—the woman next door. Agatha thought she had found a friend, but she was mistaken. That friend almost took her life.

'But why?' Agatha wondered. She looked at Brett and asked, "What happened next?"

"Agatha managed to escape, thanks to Adam." He smiled, but his words lacked any emotion. "It's really disappointing that I didn't witness his heroism firsthand," he chuckled. Despite his laughter, his forehead furrowed. Brett licked his lips and continued, "I don't mean to brag, but Mr. Adam took the poison meant for you."

Her eyes, already wide open, grew even wider.

'He did?!' Agatha screamed in her mind.

"Yup." Cutting her off, he tapped her head as if delivering good news. "But don't worry. Bad guys don't die easily. Adam, that jerk, is still alive."

A thorn that had been burdening her heart was finally removed. She let out a sigh of relief, placing her hand on her chest and muttering, "I understand."

Despite still harboring resentment towards the man who had sold him in exchange for her father's debt, she didn't wish for him to sacrifice himself for her.

"Rest assured. As long as I'm here, no one will harm you," a gentle voice suddenly reached her ears. When she looked up, Agatha locked eyes with her master, Brett.

Out of all the men in the world, she heard these words from Brett? The same man who had treated him like nothing more than a slave?

Although it was surprising, she couldn't help but feel a sense of protection in his gaze and his touch.

At this moment, Brett wanted her to believe that there was only him and her in the entire world. He wanted her to trust no one else but him and to feel like she had no other choice but to stay by his side. However, he knew that as long as she was in love with his enemy, his desires were impossible to fulfill. Just when she started to feel comfortable, she remembered Lanceil.

"Lanceil had to know that his neighbor is dangerous," Agatha said, removing Brett's hand from her head. "I have to let him know."

Hearing this, Brett's calculated smile quickly turned into a frown. He didn't want her to escape, so he grabbed her wrist and forcefully pulled her back to where she was standing.

"You..." His voice was cold and filled with anger. The warmth that was once on his face disappeared as he stared back at her with hostility in his eyes.

A chill ran down her spine, but she wasn't scared. In fact, it seemed like his rage was directed not at her, but at the person she had mentioned.

"You've forgotten the reason why I sent you there," he responded, his glare intensifying. "So let me remind you once again."

Her eyes dropped to his firm grasp on her wrist. It stung a bit, but she couldn't voice her discomfort because of his desperate tone.

"Win his heart, but don't fall in love. No matter what happens, you have to stay by my side." Brett lifted her chin, locking eyes with her once again. "Because..."

'...you belong to me?' Agatha expected him to say that, to remind her of her place. However, Brett took a different approach.

"Because... I can't bear to lose anyone else. Especially not you."

It was the first time he treated her like a person. It surprised not only her, but also the man who had uttered those words, as if he had just realized that Agatha was no longer just a pawn in his scheme.

"So stay here until I sort everything out. Forget about your damn mission and let me get a good night's sleep. Alright?"