Chapter 458 Seizing her chance, Raegan shoved Henley's chest forcefully.
Caught off guard, Henley staggered backward a few steps.
Immediately, his gentle appearance disappeared, giving way to a cold look.
Raegan didn't pause to observe his reaction. She rushed to Mitchel's bed and took his hand, her voice filled with astonishment. "Mitchel, you're awake!" Mitchel's forehead was creased with annoyance at Henley's appearance. Yet, his expression softened at the sight of Raegan. "Don't worry. I'm here." Mitchel held Raegan's hand tightly, his eyes scanning the room determinedly. "Nobody could bully you." His stern look was aimed not just at Henley but at Luciana as well.
Particularly, the noticeable disappointment in Mitchel's eyes made Luciana tremble, worsening the already strained mother son bond.
Right then, Matteo had managed to break free from Henley's bodyguards and returned with backup.
With a sign, the bodyguards Matteo brought over proceeded to secure Henley.
The news of Mitchel's injury had been kept under wraps until it somehow leaked, prompting Alexis to seize the opportunity to acknowledge Henley's identity.
Henley's unexpected arrival took Matteo by surprise, leading to the turmoil in the hospital room.
Henley's bodyguards were formidable, clashing with those attempting to capture Henley.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHenley smirked. "Hey, don't make a fuss. Is this your way of greeting me?" Mitchel's gaze turned sharply intense. "I merely rest for a bit, and all kinds of troublemakers show up." He then instructed Matteo, "Get rid of all the irrelevant people." Two bodyguards escorted Luciana out first.
Despite her resistance, Luciana felt overpowered by Mitchel's stern look. She exited without making a scene.
Only Henley remained in Mitchel's ward, stubbornly refusing to leave. During a standoff between bodyguards, he chuckled. "Mitchel, | was merely chatting with Raegan.
Does that make you uneasy?" Henley deliberately mentioned Raegan. Any past mention of Raegan would typically unsettle Mitchel As expected, Mitchel's pale face turned frosty, his grip whitening with tension.
Raegan sensed his tightened grip and squeezed back, trying to soothe him.
Henley seemed to take pleasure in Mitchel's reaction, his smile widening as he continued, "Mitchel, we're family now, destined to cross paths often. Keeping things this tense makes it seem like there's discord within the Dixon family." "Family?" Mitchel's tone was cold, filled with contempt.
"You're not worthy."
Having stayed away from such squabbles for a while, Mitchel had become more controlled. He wasn't as quick to anger as he once was.
However, Henley saw an opening and, with a grin, added, "Mitchel, if there's lingering anger toward me, | get it. My past with Raegan might've caused you misunderstandings.
If only I had known we are half brothers, | would have steered clear of her, but..." Henley paused, giving Raegan a gentle look, his voice gentle and appealing. "What's done is done. Please, let's not dwell on my past with Raegan. | was immature then." Henley's words sounded apologetic to Mitchel but seemed more like a veiled admission of prior rumors. He was still trying to provoke Mitchel.
Predictably, Mitchel's face fell, his hand's veins standing out. If not for being bedridden, his fists might have already shattered Henley's polite facade.
Henley's smile grew more pronounced at Mitchel's growing anger. "Alright, I'll leave you to rest,
Mitchel." oo Then, turning to Raegan, he said meaningfully, "Raegan, let's catch up properly another time." Henley didn't miss the chance to provoke further discord as he left.
"Wait," Raegan called after Henley.
In an instant, Mitchel's eyes brewed a dark storm, gripping Raegan's hand tightly. Apart from anger, his expression was touched with a hint of unease.
Henley was more delighted as he noticed it. It seemed Mitchel was still prone to insecurities, ripe for him to stir up further misunderstandings.
"What do you want, Raegan? Henley leaned over to Raegan, whispering into her ear, "You can fill me in later.
I'll be here waiting..." Mitchel's fingers tightened abruptly, but Raegan patted his hand, reassuring him, "I'll be right back." Mitchel didn't want to release his grip on Reegan but
respected her wishes. He fought the tightness in his chest and let go of her hand reluctantly, murmuring, "Alright, I'll be here." "Alright." Raegan and Henley didn't go far, the spot for their talk outside Mitchel's ward.
Mitchel could pick up their conversation with the door open.
Having well aware of Mitchel's tendency of being jealous, Raegan deliberately did so for him to hear them.
Henley found this thrilling, his mind racing as to how to further piss Mitchel off. Gazing at Raegan with a look of affection, he asked, "Raegan, what was it you wanted to say? Next, a sharp sound echoed. Raegan struck Henley firmly across the face.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHenley was taken aback as Raegan enunciated each word clearly, "That was my message!"
Henley was left dumbfounded.
The corridor became eerily quiet.
The confident smile vanished from Henley's face, replaced by a grim look. "Raegan, is this some kind of jest? "Mr. Brooks, you're the one who began this farce” Raegan retorted.
This formal address immediately darkened Henley's expression. Raegan refused to use his first name or recognize him as part of the Dixon family.
"What do you mean by our past? I'm clueless." Raegan crossed her arms.
Henley's lips curled into a thin smile. "Raegan, do you need me to spell it out? Wouldn't that make Mitchel jealous?" *Please go ahead." *Raegan, we were once quite close, right?" "Interesting!" A scoff escaped from Raegan. "Mr. Brooks, are you suffering from some delusion? We were never
close." Raegan felt she had been too naive in the past. Back then, she always assumed the best in people and failed to see through the facades.
Raegan eyed Henley's crumbling facade and stated icily, "Are you alluding to your orchestrated efforts to befriend me, to drive a wedge between Mitchel and me, and your switch to intimidation when your advances were rebuffed? is that your definition of 'closeness"?" "Raegan." Henley's gaze was intense, brimming with ‘emotion. "Have you forgotten? Mitchel was the one who never trusted you and caused you pain. Back then, | tried to defend you. But, sadly, | was powerless. | had mused it over multiple times that if | was powerful to protect you, perhaps you would have truly cared for me, choosing me over him." "Do you honestly believe your words?" Raegan looked at Henley with disdain. "Or did you just consider me a pawn in your game?"
Reflecting on the past, Raegan noted Henley's repeated timely arrival whenever she had a fight with Mitchel. And with his arrival and misleading words, Mitchel, a man prone to get jealous, always throw a tantrum. In those days, the naive Raegan refused to clarify things due to her clear conscience and Mitchel's lack of trust in her.
It was clear Henley had been manipulating Raegan from the start, aiming to sow discord between her and Mitchel.
And now, Henley, the man Raegan once viewed as a confidant sought to manipulate her again.
Raegan's face was clouded with fury. Without a moment's hesitation, she said, "Mr. Brooks, let me make it clear. My feelings for you have never surpassed friendship." Henley's handsome face fell in an instant.
Raegan glared at him, her tone becoming even more frigid.
"I regret having considered you a friend. From this point forward, we are nothing to each other. And I'd appreciate it if you kept your distance. Should you decide to continue spreading rumors, be prepared to face a lawsuit for slander!"