CWMBR 75

Chapter 75

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Realistically, the only people who would come to the mansion at this hour were Ronan or Donna. They were the only ones staying here voluntarily. But if it were either of them, they wouldn't have pressed the bell like that. They would have keys.

Considering other possibilities...

Bridget recalled that grocery deliveries often came in the early hours of the morning. Freshness was paramount for groceries. Especially in large estates, servants rise before dawn to prepare food for the master and mistress's breakfast. Jane had been making an effort lately to pay attention to Bridget's diet, so perhaps as part of that, she had paid extra attention to the groceries this time.

......But even so, it seemed unlikely she would have arranged for a delivery to arrive at dawn on a day she herself was away.

Thump! Thump!

After what felt like repeated rings of the bell, the visitor now knocked on the door.

Hesitating, Bridget quietly moved toward the small window beside the front door instead of opening it. Carefully pushing aside the curtain's edge, she caught a glimpse of the figure standing before the entrance. It was a petite woman wearing a white gown. Something seemed written on her chest; judging by the shape, it appeared to be some sort of uniform.

The moment Bridget lifted the curtain a bit more to see the writing clearly, the woman sensed her presence, turned her head, and their eyes met.

Startled, Bridget dropped the curtain. Simultaneously, a voice came from outside the entrance.

"You're inside. Are you Mrs. Bridget Wise?"

The voice was more ordinary than expected. Yet, the mere fact of a visitor at this hour was reason enough for caution. Bridget pressed her lips tightly together and didn't answer.

Perhaps sensing her wariness, the person spoke again.

"I'm not a strange person."

The calm explanation still wasn't enough. Despite Bridget's continued silence, the person seemed to conclude she was listening and calmly continued.

"I apologize for coming at such an early hour. I've just come from the hospital."

At those words, Bridget murmured absentmindedly.

"...Hospital?"

"Someone concerned about your health sent me. I heard it was an emergency."

The phrase 'someone concerned about your health' made Jane come to mind. She had worried about Bridget until the very end before leaving. Perhaps she had called the doctor. Come to think of it, the white coat resembled a doctor's uniform. Plus, she seemed to be carrying something like a doctor's bag.

Bridget gently lifted the window curtain again. Their eyes met, and the woman offered a faint smile, as if to prove her harmlessness. She held a doctor's bag in her hand.

Bridget, who had been on edge at the stranger's appearance, exhaled in relief and unlocked the front door.

As she released the handle lock and the upper latch, Bridget suddenly felt a twinge of doubt.

Jane had been close with Magnus from the start. If she needed a doctor, wouldn't she naturally contact Magnus?

But her question came far too late. The figure outside turned the knob the instant they heard the lock click. The locked front door swung open. The woman, seeing the door open, wiped the bright smile from her face. Behind her, the street was thick with fog.

A large, black carriage stood visible in the mist. And as the door opened, the figures of large men striding purposefully toward her.

Sensing something was terribly wrong, Bridget immediately tried to slam the front door shut again, but the woman quickly blocked it with her body.

"Wait a moment!"

Realizing she couldn't close the door, Bridget spun around quickly. Her plan was to escape through the back door leading to the kitchen.

The woman grabbed Bridget's arm from behind, but Bridget violently shook off the grasp and dashed inside.

"Catch her!"

"Over there!"

As Bridget ran past the dining table, she threw whatever came to hand wildly. Heavy objects clattered noisily, tumbling everywhere.

Crash!

"Ow!"

A woman's scream rang out, likely hit by something. Seizing the momentary pause, Bridget grabbed a poker leaning against the wall and struggled to unlock the back door. After several frantic, futile attempts, the door finally swung open. In that instant, the woman and men who had paused briefly surged into the narrow kitchen. Bridget quickly stepped outside, slammed the door shut, and wedged the poker into the handle to bar it.

Creak, creak!

"Open up!"

The small wooden door rattled as if it might shatter any moment. Bridget quickly turned, deciding the poker wouldn't hold for long. But there was nowhere to run in the fog-filled street. The desolate street was so empty that running would only make her more visible. In that moment, a loud crack echoed behind Bridget as the door shattered.

"Over there!"

She decided she should flee into the alley between the mansions instead. Just as Bridget changed direction, a strong arm wrapped around her body.

"Aah!"

"Got her!"

"Hold her tight!"

Besides the people chasing Bridget, someone else had been waiting outside the house. Bridget, who hadn't anticipated anyone else being there, was helplessly seized. A large, thick hand clamped over her mouth.

She struggled desperately, twisting her body, but the thick forearm only tightened its suffocating grip around her torso. Gritting her teeth, Bridget kicked wildly at the man's shin. Curses rang out behind her.

"She's putting up too much resistance!"

"Hold her tight!"

The woman panting heavily approached and pulled something from the bag she carried. Even in her dazed state, Bridget recognized it as a syringe and recoiled in horror, struggling fiercely. Men arriving shortly after grabbed Bridget's flailing arms and legs, pinning them down. Seizing the moment, the woman swiftly plunged the syringe into Bridget's forearm.

"Ugh..."

The sensation of the drug spreading through her body felt intensely unpleasant. Bridget thrashed once more, struggling desperately, but she could feel the strength gradually draining from her body. She could see the liquid in the syringe steadily decreasing.

Bridget's face contorted with terror. In contrast, the woman smiled, looking relieved at last.

"That's it... Ah!"

Suddenly, the woman was shoved away. The syringe was yanked out, scraping against her skin. The half-full syringe rolled across the floor.

One of the men holding Bridget, startled, rushed to help the fallen woman. The other men released Bridget and lunged at the unexpected intruder. But they were kicked aside in an instant, groaning in pain. Meanwhile, the man covering Bridget's mouth was punched in the jaw and fell down in a heap.

Freed from the grip holding her, Bridget momentarily lost her balance and staggered. Just as she was about to fall to the floor, a strong arm caught her.

"Ha, this place is a veritable crime city. Kidnapping now?"

The sarcastic tone was painfully familiar. Perhaps her senses were dulled, for though the voice seemed familiar, she couldn't immediately place it. Blinking laboriously, Bridget finally lifted her head. The first thing she saw was a sharp jawline and prominent Adam's apple.

Bridget barely registered that she was leaning against Ain’s chest.

"Kidnapping?.........! This is simply a patient transport operation!"

The woman pushed aside by Ain retorted with an aggrieved expression. At her words, one of the men supporting her lowered his voice menacingly, his face twisted into a sinister scowl.

"Whoever you are, don't interfere. This is all being done at the guardian's request."

"This is all perfectly legal."

They spoke with smug confidence, glaring. Ain tilted his head at the man's words.

"I never requested this kind of kidnapping crime."

"What did you say?"

Ain spoke to the frowning woman in a tone dripping with contempt.

"The guardian of a married woman, wouldn't that be her husband? But the guardian never requested this."

The men, who had been listening to Ain with furrowed brows, gradually began to look flustered. They stared at Ain, who was practically holding Bridget, with shocked eyes, then quickly glanced at each other.

"...lord Ain Wise?"

"Why is lord Wise here?"

The men, realizing Ain's identity, instantly lost their nerve and faltered. Ain glared at them with a cold stare.

"The guardian's request? Ha. You dare to blatantly commit fraud right in front of me."