After Sean finished speaking, Desmond finally noticed that he was injured too.


    He was wearing a ck shirt, and the blood had soaked through, but the dark fabric made it hard to see. Bright red streaks of blood ran down his hand, stark and vivid against his pale, almost porcin-like skin. The contrast was striking.


    Jenny noticed it too.


    She didn’t fully understand who Joseph Ford was or what the so-called “Antis forces” meant, but she understood one thing clearly. The two men who attacked them tonight weren’t ordinary criminals. No wonder one of them had a gun, even though firearms were strictly banned in Jersey City.


    “Mr. Jasper, you’re bleeding! You should see a doctor right away,” Jenny said, startled by the sight of blood dripping from his hand.


    But Sean shook his head. “I’m staying here. With Lottie.”


    “Sean Jasper.” Desmond’s eyes were bloodshot as he red at him, every word dripping with hatred, forced out from between clenched teeth. “If something happens to my Lottie…”


    He couldn’t bring himself to say the words, “if she doesn’t make it”.


    After a pause, his voice grew harsher. “Even if it costs me everything I own, I’ll make the Jasper family pay.”


    “Joseph Ford has already been taken into custody,” Sean said quietly, lowering his eyes. “This time, he’s not getting away.”


    Mr. Riley.” Sean lifted his gaze to meet Desmond’s furious eyes. His voice was soft but steady. “If something happens to Lottie … I’ll give my life in return.’


    Everyone froze at his words.


    Desmond, Xena, and Jenny were all stunned. None of them had expected Sean to say something like that.


    Even Petra, who usually showed no emotion at all, was visibly shocked.


    “The heir of the Jasper family-someone with his status-willing to die for her?” she thought. <ul><li>?????????? ???? ?????? ?? </li></ul>


    Desmond quickly pulled himself together. He let out a cold scoff and snapped, “Your life? And what good would that do? If something really happens to Lottie, will that bring her back?”


    Sean’s brows drew together. He didn’t say a word, his lips pressed into a tight line.


    “Um…” Jenny hesitated, then stammered, “Mr. Riley, Miss Riley is still in surgery. It’s not over yet. She’s so kind… Heaven wouldn’t be so cruel. I… I believe she’ll pull through…”


    Her voice trembled near the end, choked by emotion. She couldn’t go on.


    “She’ll be okay,” Xena murmured, trying to console Desmond as she gently patted his back. “Don’t think the worst just yet…”


    Even so, her eyes were already red.


    Charlotte might not be her biological daughter, but she had always treated her like her own. Over the years, Charlotte had slowly gone from being cold and resistant to epting her.


    And now, just when Charlotte’s career was starting to take off, when everything was finally looking up…


    Why did this have to happen?


    She was still so young.


    Not long after, the other two partners from thew firm, Scott and Asher, arrived along with severalwyers.


    Jordan, Lena,n, Mia, Matthew, and Luna also rushed over.


    The hospital corridor quickly filled with people, but no one spoke a word. The crowded hallway was eerily silent, like the calm


    before a storm.


    Everyone’s mood was somber, weighed down by fear and worry.


    Silently, they all prayed the same thing in their hearts: that Charlotte would make it through this alive.