Chapter 4

Austin's strikingly handsome face came into full view as the car window rolled down. Suzanne stepped closer, surprise flickering in her eyes. "You didn't leave?" He got out of the car without a word, opened the trunk, and carefully placed her suitcase inside. For a moment, she froze. She couldn't remember the last time someone had done something for her without being asked. Her eyes stung as she lowered her gaze and murmured softly, "Thank you." Austin's sharp eyes fell on her swollen cheek, and his expression darkened instantly. "Who hit you?" Suzanne's lashes fluttered as she hesitated. She didn't want to talk about it. "It's nothing. I'm fine." But Austin's demeanor grew colder, the sharp pressure he gave off cutting through the air as he turned and started walking toward the Yates residence. Startled, Suzanne grabbed his arm. "Austin, no…" "I'll kill anyone who hurts you!" His voice was icy, his words chilling enough to send a shiver down her spine. Suzanne clung to his arm, her face full of exhaustion and quiet desperation. "I'm so tired. Let's… Let's just go, okay?" One side of her face was swollen while the other side was pale. Austin's gaze softened briefly. After a moment, he relented, saying nothing as he turned back toward the car. The ride was silent. An hour later, they arrived at Starview Villa. As they stepped inside, Suzanne was met with the sight of several people standing in the grand living room. The moment they entered, the staff stepped forward and greeted them respectfully, "Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Hall!" Suzanne froze, her eyes widening as she instinctively glanced at Austin. He had already made all the arrangements. Austin looked at her briefly. "You can inform them if you need anything. They won't speak a word outside these walls." Her lashes fluttered as a wave of emotion washed over her. Quietly, she said, "Thank you." Austin dismissed the staff with a single nod before taking Suzanne's hand and leading her upstairs. Once they reached the bedroom, Austin went to a cabinet, pulled out a first aid kit, and walked over to her. Suzanne blinked, caught off guard. "You…" "Let's deal with the swelling first." For a moment, she was stunned. She never would have imagined someone as aloof and untouchable as Austin would personally tend to her injuries. Austin began to ask, "What happened back there?" As he spoke, his cool fingers pressed the soothing balm against her cheek. The cold touch brought her back to reality. Panicked, Suzanne tried to take the medication from his hands. "I can do it myself!" "Don't move." His tone left no room for argument, and Suzanne instinctively froze, letting him continue. The two of them were so close she could feel his breath. Her heart raced uncontrollably. She felt so nervous because of their close distance. Austin noticed her flushed cheeks, and his gaze sharpened slightly. "Henry did this?" Suzanne pressed her lips together and forced a faint smile, saying nothing. The look in her eyes was enough for Austin to know he was right. "Why did he hit you?" His voice was cold. After a brief hesitation, Suzanne replied softly, "The reason doesn't matter. They've already kicked me out." "Kicked you out?" Austin let out a disdainful scoff. He lifted her chin and locked his cool gaze with hers. "From now on, no one will ever be able to kick you out of anywhere." Suzanne was stunned. She stared at him, her lips parting slightly as if to respond, but no words came. She was at a complete loss. Before Suzanne could process what had just happened, Austin stepped back, calmly closed the first aid kit, and said in a cool tone, "As my woman, never let anyone bully you again. If they do, it's my reputation on the line." Suzanne's heart skipped a beat. His cold gaze locked onto hers. "You need to remember this—I'm your husband. And not just in name." Her chest tightened. What did he mean by that? "Suzanne, I'll give you time. But don't make me wait too long." Without waiting for her response, Austin stood and walked out, not sparing her another glance. Suzanne sat on the couch, stunned. After some time, a knock at the door jolted her back to reality. She quickly got up and opened the bedroom door. Standing there was a woman in her late 40s, dressed in a simple gray housecoat. Her face was warm and kind as she smiled at Suzanne. "Hello, Mrs. Hall. I'm Rita, the housekeeper." Suzanne had heard of her. She was a trusted member of the Hall family staff for decades. The fact that she was here meant Austin had arranged everything, even down to the details of the household. Suzanne stepped aside, and greeted, "Hello, Rita." Rita Sandoval chuckled warmly, stepping inside and looking Suzanne over with a pleased expression. "Mr. Hall certainly has good taste!" Suzanne's face flushed slightly, and she coughed awkwardly. Rita laughed again. "No need to be shy. Mr. Hall has already explained everything to me. If you need anything, just let me know directly." Suzanne nodded, still feeling overwhelmed. "Thank you, Rita." "Mr. Hall isn't one for words and tends to keep to himself. I've never seen him get close to any woman before, but this time, he specifically asked me to keep you company and make sure you're comfortable. That means he really cares for you." Suzanne's cheeks turned pink at the memory of Austin calling her his. "Did he leave already?" Rita noticed her reaction and quickly reassured her, "Don't overthink it, Mrs. Hall. He had to leave on urgent business. He'll be away for a week. It's not that he doesn't want to stay with you." "I understand," Suzanne replied quickly, worried Rita might misunderstand. "I'm not upset. Work is important." In truth, with everything that had happened lately, she felt more at ease with Austin away. It gave her space to sort through her thoughts and emotions. … Suzanne found herself unexpectedly at peace at Austin's place. Every detail of her stay was carefully managed, from her meals to the smallest comforts. Rita often kept her company, offering gentle advice and conversation. By the end of the week, Suzanne felt more like herself. She had found clarity–determination, even—and knew it was time to focus on moving forward. That morning, she tidied up, had a quick breakfast, and headed out. Suzanne was overwhelmed with emotions since the car she was driving belonged to Austin as well. He had truly taken care of everything. Pressing her lips together, she made a mental note to repay this kindness someday. As she drove through the streets, traffic was light as it wasn't peak hours yet. But then, there was a loud bang. Her eyes widened as her car collided with the car in front. She couldn't believe her luck. She unbuckled her seatbelt, stepping out to assess the damage. The driver of the other car, a burly man, got out quickly, his face twisting in irritation. The moment he saw Suzanne, his frustration boiled over. "Another woman driver? Are you kidding me? Stay off the road if you don't know how to drive!" Suzanne's expression hardened. "Bad driving isn't exclusive to women. And you slammed on your brakes." "There was a pothole! What was I supposed to do? Drive into it? Ever heard of keeping a safe distance?" the man barked, his voice rough and impatient. Suzanne's jaw tightened, but before she could respond, the rear window of the man's car rolled down just enough to reveal a glimpse inside. A low, familiar voice came from within. "Bret, we're in a hurry. Handle it quickly." Suzanne froze and glanced at the car window, but she couldn't see the man's face. However, she was certain that it was Jenson.