Elin hesitated, unsure of how to respond, until Erick gently lifted her to her feet.
His eyes fixed on the red marks encircling her neck, his gaze intensifying as he softly asked, âCan you walk?â
Elinâs hand found warmth in his grasp, nestled in his palm.
She nodded.
âYes.
â
Erick leaned slightly and reached to button the blazer for her.
Throughout the drive to the hospital, silence lingered between them, an unsettling atmosphere settling in.
After the medical examination, Erick swiftly handed the documents to his assistant and instructed, âFind the top lawyer.
Make sure Daytonâs held accountable.
â
Seated in the car, Elin felt a fraction of her fear dissipate upon hearing Erickâs directive, her heart finding some stability.
Once the assistant left, Erick adjusted the carâs temperature to a comfortable level and handed Elin a cup of sugar water for calming.
Sipping slowly, Elinâs emotions began to steady.
Erick explained, âRaegan tried reaching you at the studio but couldnât, so she requested me to come check on you.
â That explained his appearance.
Elin didnât need to ask since Erick had already provided the answers she sought.
âFarley has passed away, which allowed Dayton to come to Ardlens.
â
The demise of Farley, the only person who could discipline Dayton, nullified any previous assurances made to Erick.
Elinâs hand trembled her hold on the cup weakening.
This meant Dayton was now unrestrained.
Their only option was a temporary detainment, which was insufficient to contain such a villain.
Witnessing Elinâs distress, Erick felt a pang in his heart.
Taking the cup from her hands, he enveloped her in a comforting embrace, murmuring reassurances, âItâs alright, Elin.
Iâm here, and I wonât let anything happen to you.
â
At his words, the tears Elin had been holding back finally spilled over.
Her eyes turned red, resembling those of a frightened rabbit.
Fortunately, due to the timely intervention of the officers, Elin had not sustained more severe physical injuries besides those to her neck and arms.
However, she suffered from psychological scars.
Living like a prisoner for two years had deeply ingrained fear of Dayton in her psyche.
Just the mention of his name was enough to send shivers down her spine, let alone encounter his actual presence and malevolence.
Daytonâs understanding of Elinâs timid nature had emboldened him to confront her without holding back.
Despite Elinâs recent thwarting of Daytonâs scheme, no one truly understood the immense courage it had taken her to stand up to him.
After the incident, Elin was so weakened that she had to be helped into the police car, barely able to stand.
It marked their first direct confrontation, leaving Elin uncertain about facing him again.
She knew Dayton, the psychopath, would not stop his malicious actions.
Especially now that he had been thwarted, which only fueled his rage and made him even more dangerous.
As he was restrained on the ground by the officers, his gaze bore into her with intense hatred.
Elin dreaded the feeling of being enveloped in darkness again.
Erick held Elin, providing a safe haven for her to release her emotions.
Elin, always guarded, shed tears silently, adding to her poignant vulnerability.