Chapter 1128 When Did It Start?
Charles's face turned grim instantly.
Afraid he wouldn't believe her, Tina reassured him repeatedly, "I'm telling the truth! Because Hannah was hypnotized while she was conscious, she needs to be conscious to break the hypnosis!"
As she spoke, Charles stared at her without blinking.
After confirming she wasn't lying, he said, "Alright. For now, you'll stay in the detention center. I won't touch Austin for the time being. We'll wait until Hannah wakes up."
"But what if..." Tina hesitated, licking her lips. Though she felt it was inappropriate, she mustered the courage to ask, "What if Hannah doesn't wake up?"
The room fell into a deathly silence.
All three pairs of eyes turned to her.
Under their intense gaze, Tina felt a chill run down her spine.
She lowered her head, her voice involuntarily dropping, "I'm just saying, just in case! If Hannah really doesn't wake up, you can't harm Austin. It's not that I won't break Hannah's hypnosis, but she didn't give me the chance. I've fulfilled my promise to you, and you must keep yours."
Charles clenched his jaw, his eyes cold and terrifying. "If it weren't for Austin's scheme, finding someone to impersonate Violet, Hannah wouldn't be lying in the ICU now. He's the culprit!
If anything happens to Hannah, I'll make sure he pays.
No—I won't kill him, but I'll make him wish he were dead. I believe Hannah wouldn't want to see him even if she died."
Even if Austin was the Moore family's adopted son.
Even if their families had decades of friendship.
He absolutely wouldn't let Austin off the hook.
He'd make him suffer endlessly.
"You can't do that, you..." Tina anxiously tried to speak for Austin, but seeing Charles's bloodshot eyes, she stopped herself.
Charles was on the verge of losing his sanity; continuing would bring no benefit.
Whenever the topic involved Hannah's life or death, Charles couldn't think rationally.
Rather than angering him further, it was better to pray for Hannah to wake up soon and avoid any mishaps.
Tina was escorted to the detention center by bodyguards.
After resting for a while, Carter regained some strength and immediately went to the hospital to see Hannah.
At this moment, having dealt with Austin, Charles had some time. He stood alone outside the glass wall, looking at Hannah with a respirator, his heart aching.
So much time had passed, and she still hadn't woken up.
Carter walked up to him, looking at his pale, uncertain daughter, tears streaming down his face. "My daughter, Hannah, is my daughter. No wonder I felt an inexplicable closeness and fondness for her the first time I saw her. God had already sent my daughter to me, and I foolishly didn't realize it, letting her be bullied by an impostor. I've failed my daughter; I'm unworthy of being her father."
Charles placed his hand on the glass wall.
Hearing Carter's words, his hand slowly clenched into a fist.
He said nothing, just quietly watched Hannah.
Carter, still recovering, couldn't stand for long at the ICU door. Under Lassie's insistence, he had to leave.
Before leaving, he made a special trip to Sunshine Manor.
Austin was now locked in the underground wine cellar of Sunshine Manor. Since Hannah hadn't woken up, Charles decided to keep him there until she did.
When Carter arrived at the wine cellar, Austin was quietly sitting in a corner, legs curled up, arms resting on his knees, staring blankly ahead.
He didn't react to the approaching footsteps, maintaining his position.
Until a pair of shoes appeared in his view.
Familiar shoes made him tremble, and he looked up sharply. Seeing Carter, his eyes instantly reddened.
He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say many things, but found his throat blocked, unable to make a sound.
After a long while, he managed to utter one word. "Dad."
Seeing his once cherished son in this state, Carter felt both heartache and anger. Though he had many things to say, he ultimately expressed them with a slap.
The crisp sound echoed in the empty wine cellar.
Carter raised his hand and slapped Austin hard.
He used all his strength.
Austin's face swelled on one side.
He didn't feel any pain, tears falling from his eyes as he choked out another "Dad..."
Carter's tears followed.
He raised his hand again but couldn't bring it down, holding it in mid-air.
Austin moved, kneeling before Carter, head bowed in shame. "Dad, I'm sorry."
Carter slowly lowered his hand, gently placing it on Austin's forehead, just like he used to do when Austin was a child, closing his eyes as tears squeezed out. "You didn't wrong me; you wronged yourself! I've taught you since you were young to be upright and never do anything against your conscience.
Violet is your sister; how could you have such thoughts about her?
There are so many women in the world; why did it have to be Violet? And you did so many terrible things for her."
Tears slid down Austin's face, dripping onto the ground. "I don't know. I just know I like Violet, really like her. I can't live without her. If I can't be with her, I'd rather die."
"If you die, what about your mom and me? For Violet, would you abandon us?"
"I..." Austin struggled, "I don't want to hurt you. I don't know what's wrong with me. It's like I'm possessed, unable to control myself."
Carter, having experienced similar feelings, understood his madness from unrequited love.
Hunter had done many terrible things because of unrequited love.
If someone took Lassie from him, he'd go mad too.
"But that's no excuse or reason for doing bad things," Carter said.
"I'm sorry, Dad, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." At this moment, Austin didn't know what else to say.
The damage was done, and it couldn't be undone.
Carter took a deep breath, slowly opening his eyes. "Tell me, when did it start?"
His question was vague, but Austin understood.
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