Chapter 911: Chapter 910
Even in death, Martin was determined to bring Serena home.
Serena’s biological father had been captured, her mother had passed away, and her adoptive parents had severed all ties with her.
She was left with no one but him to rely upon.
Even if all he could reclaim was her lifeless body, even if he could never walk her down the aisle, he was resolved to take his beloved back home, to ensure her soul could find peace.
"Thank you," Martin’s voice choked up, "Thank you, Mrs. Collins, thank you everyone."
He knew he no longer had the right to be part of the Collins family.
But still, he was deeply grateful for their decision.
When Serena was brought before him, Martin could hardly believe his eyes.
The once dignified and beautiful heiress, with her poise and grace, now appeared disheveled, battered,and hanging by a thread.
His heart felt as if it were being crushed by a weight of thousands of tons, too heavy to breathe.
His Serena, the moonlight of his heart, now looked so miserable.
Not only did she have wounds on her forehead, but her face, limbs, and clothes were all stained with blood.
When the servants handed Serena over to him, he couldn’t believe it, holding her gingerly in his arms,afraid to cause her the slightest pain.
He had held her before, but the person in his arms now was frighteningly light, much lighter than before, her body limp and without any strength, her skin scorchingly hot.
Tears uncontrollably streamed down his face, his heart torn asunder.
His Serena, whom he hadn’t seen in days, had become this.
Louisa ordered the staff to bring up two large trunks.
Inside were trophies, medals, and certificates Serena had won from childhood to adulthood.
In truth, these accolades were also gifts from the Collins family. Without their years of nurturing her talents and supporting her interests, she would never have achieved such honors, such glory.
"Take these with you," Louisa said coldly, devoid of any emotion, her expression indifferent, "Beyond this, anything related to her, we will dispose of. Furthermore, she is not our biological daughter, and she
will no longer appear on our family registry."
They were the heads of the household, with the right to move her registration.
As for where she might be registered in the future, that was her own affair.
Martin understood that the Collins family was intent on erasing every trace of Serena’s existence from.their home.
If it wasn’t for their deep-seated hatred, given the Collins’ reputation for decency, they would never have taken such a ruthless step.
They truly wanted to cut ties with Serena.
Although it pained him to see Serena reach this point, and to see her clash with the family she cared for, Martin also understood the feelings of the Collins family. This time, Serena had truly broken their hearts.
"From now on, the Collins family and she go our separate ways, with no further ties," Louisa stated with an icy finality.
"Yes." Martin knew Serena had committed an unforgivable error, and he spoke with sincere remorse,
"Over the years, Serena has caused everyone trouble, and I’ve thanked Mr. and Mrs. Collins, as well as everyone in the Collins family, for all the care and nurturing you’ve given Serena. I will always hold
your care and sacrifice for Serena in the past eighteen years close to my heart, and I will never forget."
"Remember your words. If one day she survives and becomes a threat, we will not only eradicate the problem at its root, but we will not spare the Cooper family either," Louisa warned.
Her words stunned Martin momentarily, but he quickly responded with politeness, "Yes, ma’am, I will always remember your words. Now, Mrs. Collins, Mr. Collins, my dear elders, Mr. and Mrs. Griffith, I must take my leave."
He bowed in gratitude to everyone present.
Two of Martin’s men each carried a hefty box, following closely behind as they left the grand estate.
The moment Martin stepped out of the main building, tears betrayed his stoic facade, streaming freely down his face. His steps quickened into a desperate run.
His voice trembled with pain and sorrow, "Serena, hang in there."
No matter what, she had to hang in there!
"I’m Martin. I’m taking you home!" He feared the woman in his arms might slip away with each passing second. He wanted to hold her tight, yet he dreaded causing her more pain.
The RV was parked just outside the villa.
As he sprinted out, the door swung open, welcoming him inside.
Inside the RV lay the most advanced medical equipment, alongside the top-notch doctor he had hired for a fortune.
"Save her. She’s burning up!" Martin carefully placed Serena on the prepped stretcher.
The RV door closed, and the doctors immediately began examining Serena, while the vehicle roared to life.
Martin’s gaze drifted to the window, catching sight of the Collins family’s servants tossing Serena’s used linens, clothes, and personal items into the trash bins outside.
The bins were overflowing, with piles of belongings heaped on the ground like small hills.
"Mr. Cooper, Serena’s wounds weren’t treated in time and have become severely infected, leading to a high fever. This is critical, and we need to get her to the hospital immediately. Please prepare yourself mentally for what’s to come." The doctor’s voice drew Martin’s attention back.
"What do you mean?" Martin asked, his voice shaking.
"She has been feverish for two or three days now. Her body temperature is so high that her digestive,nervous, and circulatory systems are showing signs of abnormality, which could lead to organ damage.
This injury could cause elevated transaminases, a drop in platelets, and abnormal clotting functions,among other issues. In short, the prognosis isn’t good."
It was as if a thunderbolt had struck Martin. He knew that bringing Serena back and keeping her alive had slim chances, but he hadn’t expected the situation to be this dire.
"Furthermore, her forehead, palms, and the back of her hands are swollen from untreated wounds,some bleeding, others purulent. Additionally, the shards of glass in her knee are deep, and without
timely cleaning and medical attention, the joint has swollen, and she can’t straighten her leg. We’ll need an X-ray at the hospital to see if there’s any glass left inside. If there is, the situation could be worse."
"What are we waiting for then, save her!" Martin was terrified of wasting even a second!
His eyes returned to Serena. Back at the Collins residence, he hadn’t taken a good look at her. Now he noticed her face was so swollen it was nearly unrecognizable.
"Her face is injured, too?" Martin asked.
As they tended to her wounds, the doctor explained, "It looks like she’s taken quite a few slaps, and there are even burns that look like they’ve been caused by hot water."
"What did you say?"
Burned with hot water?
Had the Collins family resorted to scalding her?
No, it couldn’t be. They couldn’t be that cruel.
If they intended to scald her, why only her face?
"Was the water extremely hot?" Martin asked, the pain in his heart intensifying.
"Not extremely, but hot enough to cause burns, especially since facial skin is delicate."
Martin speculated, could it be that upon hearing what she had done, someone in a fit of rage had thrown their cup of hot tea at her, resulted in the burns.