Chapter 332 I'm Seriously Wounded Too
"For now, I guess," Winona said, avoiding details since Austin's condition didn't allow a long conversation.
Seeing how hard it was for Austin to talk, she worried he might not make it if they delayed.
Austin dropped his usual carefree attitude. "Winona, you don't believe in this relationship."
Without confidence, there was no sense of belonging or possessiveness when she talked about it.
Winona paused while unbuckling her seatbelt, dodging the topic. She got out and opened the passenger door. "Should I call a bodyguard to help you?"
Austin coughed weakly, smirking. "Why not just announce it to everyone with a loudspeaker?"
Winona rolled her eyes. "You're half-dead and still joking."
She helped him out of the car. "Sit on the couch. I'll get a room ready. Stay on the first floor; you shouldn't be climbing stairs."
Austin looked weak, either from his condition or hearing she had reconciled with Zachary. After a while, he said, "Okay."
"Your wounds need re-stitching and bandaging. Should I call the Bailey family's doctor? He's discreet," she said, knowing a family doctor for the wealthy must be tight-lipped. "If you're worried, I'll give you a towel to cover your face."
Austin was amused but too weak to laugh. His lips lifted halfway before falling. "I want to shower first."
Winona, making the bed, retorted, "Your wounds shouldn't get wet, and can you even stand?"
Austin squinted, his hand hanging down, his tone suggestive. "You..."
His teasing was clear.
Winona turned sharply, embarrassed and angry. "Don't even think about it. I'm not helping you shower. Stay put and shut up."
Austin chuckled. "A young lady, and all you think about are dirty things? I just wanted a basin of water to clean myself."
He raised his hand, looking disgusted. "Too dirty for a bed. You can't expect me to lie on the cold, hard floor when I am wounded. Smell it, it's awful."
Winona retorted, "You insisted on sitting on the floor. I didn't say anything about tainting the bedsheets."
Despite her words, she fetched a basin of water and found a set of Zachary's unworn clothes for him.
By the time the doctor arrived, Austin was clean and lying on the bed. He and Zachary were about the same size. Winona wondered how someone who could barely walk had the strength to clean up.
She thought Austin's inability to walk was due to a high fever from an infected wound, but when he rolled up his pant leg, she saw a severe leg injury.
A palm-length gash, likely from a sharp weapon, with flesh turned out and badly infected.
Winona knew he was hurt but hadn't realized it was this serious.
The doctor frowned. "How did it get this infected? We need to cut away the necrotic tissue. I didn't bring anesthetic, not knowing it was this bad."
"Then don't use it, just cut it out," Austin said nonchalantly.
"Can someone bring it over?" Austin and Winona said at the same time, locking eyes.
A smile flickered in Austin's eyes. "Winona, I'm a bit hungry. Can you make me something to eat?"
Winona stared at him for a few seconds. "Okay."
Since Austin was weak, Winona made some easy-to-digest dishes.
The doctor left after changing his bandages.
Austin lay on the bed, shirtless, with a blanket covering him from the waist down, showing off his lean abs and smooth muscles.
His face was pale, sweat on his forehead, looking pretty rough.
His phone lit up with a WhatsApp message: [Damn, where are you? I was gone for two days, and you didn't get killed, did you?]
Winona placed the food on the bedside table. "Time to eat."
Austin casually turned off the phone screen and raised his hand when Winona looked over.
It seemed like he used a lot of effort, but only his fingers moved.
Austin slumped his shoulders helplessly. "See, I can't move. That doctor was too rough, almost dug a hole in my chest. A bit deeper, and you could see my heart beating."
Winona sneered. "Oh, I thought you weren't afraid of pain."
How long could it take to get anesthetic? She rolled her eyes at him.
Austin felt guilty and looked at the food, changing the subject. "I'm hungry."
Winona sighed, seeing he really couldn't lift his hand, and resignedly fed him. "I really picked up a burden."
Just as she brought the spoon to Austin's lips, Zachary's tall, cold figure appeared at the door, looking indifferently at Austin.
Despite his injuries, Austin was very perceptive. Facing the door, he noticed Zachary as soon as he approached.
Austin slowly lifted his eyes. "Mr. Bailey."
Footsteps sounded behind her, and before Winona could turn around, a hand reached over and took the bowl from her.
Zachary held the bowl in one hand and pulled her up from the bed with the other, holding her in his arms.
Winona's back was pressed tightly against Zachary's hard, hot chest.
Zachary's cold voice came from above, directed at Austin. "Are you too stupid to eat, or are you paralyzed and can't move?"
The family doctor had called him as soon as he left Regal Oaks, informing him of Austin's condition.
Austin didn't mind his harsh words. "Almost paralyzed, I was just about to thank Mr. Bailey for taking me in."
"No need, I don't plan on taking you in. Put on your clothes and get out, or I'll call security," he said, his eyes falling on the steaming, fragrant food, tightening his grip around Winona's waist in displeasure.
Zachary used to be Winona's husband, now her boyfriend, and he had hardly eaten her cooking, let alone been fed by her.
Matthew and Austin, unrelated to her, had enjoyed it.
One was sick, the other injured.
Indeed, the weak were more likely to elicit sympathy.
Winona grabbed his arm. "He's seriously injured."
Zachary was the type who could truly leave someone outside to their fate.
Zachary looked down at her for a while, coldness flashing in his eyes. "I'm seriously wounded too."
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