Silly Bride

Chapter 216

Zayn’s sight, she made a call.The person on the other end of the line answered the call quickly. “What are your orders, Your Majesty? Please use me to your heart’s content!”Both of them were very close friends, so there was no need for them to exchange pleasantries.“Help me find a boat.” Winnie went straight to the point. “It’s at the border of the waters of Chanaea and Rodunst, and it’s currently moving at high speed. There are five people on board: three kidnappers and two hostages. The kidnappers are armed with guns and bombs, and the hostages are an elderly woman and a young woman. I need the hostages to come back alive. As for those kidnappers, they don’t deserve to live.”Lucas, who was the person on the other end of the line, was slightly taken aback. “Wow! A massive operation this time, huh?”Winnie furrowed her brows. “This is serious, Lucas. I’m not joking with you.”Lucas hummed in agreement, then continued solemnly, “I just received news that the south dock at Avenport was blown up, and the casualties were quite heavy. Is this the work of those kidnappers you mentioned?”“Exactly. I almost died. You know what to do.”“Got it! I promise I’ll find the most ruthless people to handle this matter for you!”“Lucas, I only need the steadiest ones. One of the hostages is my granny, and I want her to come back unscathed. Money is not an issue. I can afford it no matter the cost.”“All right. Wait for my news.”Winnie murmured an acknowledgment before hanging up the phone.She clutched the phone in her hand and knitted her brows once more.This country can’t be compared to Epea. Besides Lucas, I don’t have any other useful connections here. Everything is so inconvenient. Damn it!After composing herself, Winnie went to the ambulance.Josiah was bandaging the wound on Xavier’s arm.Stunned by the sight, Winnie asked, “Why are you here, Josiah? Where’s the doctor?”Josiah didn’t bother to look up as he continued to tend to Xavier’s wound.“What’s all the fuss about? Am I not a doctor too? There are so many people injured on site. Let’s not waste any medical resources.”“What about the wound on your back?”“I’m fine. The injuries on Xavier and I may look terrifying, but it’s not that serious. Besides, we’re young. It will heal in no time.”Winnie nodded before squatting down in front of Xavier so that she could see his face and he could see hers when he lowered his gaze.As they locked gazes, Xavier’s eyes were filled with gentleness and warmth. “Have you spoken to Lieutenant Zielinski? How did it go?”Winnie let out a sigh, but there was unwavering determination in her eyes. “Not that great. I can only depend on myself for the time being!”Xavier frowned. “What are you going to do, then?”Winnie could see the worry in his eyes. After pondering for a while, she decided not to tell him the plan she had in mind.“I haven’t thought about it yet. Let’s see if the police can track their whereabouts first. Anyway, does your wound hurt?”Xavier smiled faintly. “No. I forgot to tell you that not only is my reaction slower than before, but I’m also not so sensitive to pain. You don’t have to worry at all.”How can I not be worried if he can’t feel pain where it should hurt?Winnie didn’t say anything in response. She gently rested her head on his lap instead.Xavier used his other uninjured hand to stroke the top of her head, his eyes brimming with affection.Josiah glanced at them as loneliness and envy surged within him. He then quickly bandaged Xavier’s arm.After a few seconds, he said, “All right, I’m done.”“Okay. Both of you are hurt. I’ll get someone to send you two back first.” As Winnie spoke, she helped Xavier to his feet.Xavier glanced at her sideways. “What about you?”“I’ll stay. What if Granny comes back soon?”“I’ll stay here with you, then. I’m not leaving.”“But your injury—”“It doesn’t matter. Dr. Houghton has already given me the diagnosis, hasn’t he?”Winnie smiled in resignation. Before she could reply to Xavier, Josiah looked at her and shrugged.“Don’t look at me. My suggestion is that he should head back and get some rest, but he definitely won’t listen to me.”Winnie sighed. “You bring him back, then. You’re injured too and need to get some rest.”“I’m not leaving.” Josiah pushed his glasses up his nose bridge. “Even though I’m injured, I’m still a doctor. They need me here.”“All right. No one is leaving, then.” Winnie sat down at the side.However, she was not one who liked to stay idle. After thinking for a moment, she turned to Josiah and continued, “Let me assist you.”Josiah glanced at Xavier, who had his eyes glued on Winnie, and firmly declined, “I’m good. There are professional nurses over there. You can just stay here with Xavier.”With that, he carried the first-aid kit and went to another injured person, leaving Winnie and Xavier alone.As soon as Josiah left, Xavier called out, “Winnie Garland!”Winnie was stunned. She was not used to him addressing her by her full name out of the blue.“What is it, Xavier Fairchild!” Winnie responded in the same manner.Knowing that she was rather irascible, Xavier let out a sigh and asked, “What exactly do you want me to do? Kneel down and beg you?” “What are you talking about? Are you having a fever?” Winnie was baffled.As she spoke, she raised her hand to touch his forehead.Xavier grabbed her hand and stared at her intently. “I don’t have a fever.”“Are you out of your mind?” Winnie hurriedly grabbed his hand. “Don’t you know that your arm is injured?”“I said it doesn’t hurt!” Xavier could not care less about his injury. “Do you remember what you promised me before? What are you secretly planning now?”Winnie rarely gave Xavier her word in a serious manner, but she did promise him one thing not long ago.I promised him not to deal with dangerous issues all on my own.She nodded, feigning ignorance. “I do remember. But the situation is not dangerous now. Why would be I planning something behind your back?”“Winnie, do you really think I don’t know what you’re thinking about? I heard you say it with my own ears just now. You said your discussion with Lieutenant Zielinski didn’t go well and that you could only depend on yourself. You had a determined look in your eyes when you said that. I don’t believe you didn’t do anything!”Winnie parted her lips, wanting to speak, but she was at a loss for words. Suddenly, she thought of something she saw on the internet, which was a common quote jerks would say.She cleared her throat and sneered, “If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do about it.”Xavier frowned instantly. “Excuse me?”“I said—”She looked him in the eye, wanting to repeat herself. But when she saw that his eyes were filled with mixed feelings of vexation, resentment, and hurt, she immediately swallowed everything she wanted to say.After all, she didn’t have the heart to hurt him.Xavier’s eyes were already red with anger, but he was more upset with her instead. “What? Who was the one who said we should trust each other and never lie? Who was the one who said we should respect each other’s privacy but would always answer every question when asked? It was you, Winnie Garland!”Seeing him acting like this made her feel ashamed. “Yes, it was me. I’ll tell you now, then. It’s nothing much. I just asked someone to help me to check the waters and other places.”“Is it the underworld or legal authority?”“Um… A little of both.”“And where are those other places?”“I don’t know either. I’ll find a way to follow them at sea first. I’ll find them no matter they go.”“Where do you think Zyon will go? I won’t believe it if you tell me you don’t know.”Winnie almost chuckled in amusement. “You… Why does it seem as though you’re interrogating a criminal?”“Will I interrogate a criminal with pleading eyes?”Winnie did not know what to say. She grabbed his hands tightly as she gazed at his reddened eyes. “I’m sorry. Don’t be mad.”“Answer me.”“He might go to Jipsdale. They must have a huge base there. If he goes there, the Chanaean