Chapter 1447

Adriana also wanted to follow in, but was stopped by Chad.

“Adriana, don’t go in just yet. You’ve had quite a shock, and you need to rest. Once you’ve regained some strength, it won’t be too late to visit her then.”

However, Adriana shook her head. “How can I rest at a time like this when Neera’s in this state? I’m so worried. I don’t even know how she’s doing right now and if there are any other injuries to her body. No, I must go in and see her, stay with her. Otherwise, I simply can’t put my mind at ease…”

After she finished speaking, she turned around to go upstairs.

Chad sighed, pulled her close, steadied her by the shoulders, and made her face him. “Adriana, at this moment, Jean probably doesn’t want to be disturbed. His mood is quite bad, and he seems very down.

For now, let’s just let him be alone with Neera. We shouldn’t bother them.”

Adriana paused, her eyes suddenly reddening. Large tears began to roll from her eyes, tracing a path down her face.

She shed many tears already, yet no matter how much she cried, it seemed endless. Her voice had even become hoarse from sobbing.

“Chad, did you see? Neera’s body is covered in so many wounds, all red and inflamed. They must hurt terribly. Just now, Jean wouldn’t let me get close to Neera. He must have seen the wounds when he was helping Neera change clothes. There must be even more signs of beatings on Neera’s body, which is why he hurriedly covered him with a blanket. He must not want me to see, afraid that I would feel heartbroken, so he deliberately didn’t tell us and didn’t let us see. He loves Neera so much. How heartbroken must he be after seeing those wounds…” The more she spoke, the more fiercely her tears flowed. “Even though she had a tough childhood, not having been pampered or loved properly, she never experienced hardships like these! Since I brought her abroad and kept her by my side, I have been taking care of her meticulously. She hasn’t suffered the slightest bit of injustice, let alone physical harm. I can’t even bring myself to scold her. I’ve always treated her as if she were my own daughter, raising her with tenderness. I don’t know how a delicate and refined woman like her can endure this torment. How much pain and helplessness she must have felt at that time? Yet, she still persevered…

It’s all my fault. If only I hadn’t fainted at that time and protected her, kept her from being taken away by those people, maybe she wouldn’t have had to suffer like this. I would rather it had been me they took so I could bear all this pain instead and prevent them from laying a finger on her! I feel so regretful and useless, like I couldn’t do anything…”

“Adriana, calm down. If you keep crying like this, you won’t be able to bear it.” Chad was also deeply distressed.

On one hand, he felt sorry for Neera, and on the other hand, he was heartbroken for Adriana. He was at a loss on how to comfort his wife.

When he received the pews, he was shocked and scared, too.

At that moment, he couldn’t care less about anything else. Without a word, he hurried back.

When he rushed back from afar, travel-worn, and saw Adriana safe and sound, he felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders On his way back, he was nearly driven mad with worry. He had no idea about her condition, whether she was injured or if she was scared. Merely overthinking was enough to drive him insane.

Therefore, he deeply understood how Jean felt at that moment.

If it were Adriana who had been tortured, he dared not imagine what his own emotional state would be.

He couldn’t even begin to imagine the terrible things he might be capable of doing. “Adriana, you must understand that what has happened cannot be changed. Don’t blame yourself like this. Neera wouldn’t have wanted you to take all the blame if she knew what you’re saying right now. Moreover, if you were taken away, she wouldn’t be able to bear it. This isn’t your fault. You’ve already done very well.”

“No, it’s not okay. What I’ve done is far from enough. Looking back now, I feel like such a failure. As an aunt, I failed to protect my own niece. I watched as she was taken away, allowed her to face such great injustice, such immense harm…”

Adriana was extremely fragile at the moment. Her mind was filled with Neera’s incident and the dreadful state the latter was in upon returning. She was deeply immersed in self-blame and guilt, unable to calm down.

She blamed herself and blamed those who had hurt Neera. She even directed some of that blame toward Chad. “It’s all because of you. I told you from the beginning that I didn’t want her to become the head of the Gordon family. I was worried that she wouldn’t be able to handle it. However, you stubbornly claimed that she could manage and insisted on helping her take this position! Look at her now. Look at what she’s been reduced to! It’s all because she came to Phison, joined Bartitsu Guild, and became the head of your Gordon family. She has been targeted by so many, faced hostility, and repeatedly found herself in dangerous situations. It was the same when she went to Mount Cloud to attend the district president selection. Now, she’s been hurt like this again. The consequences would have been unthinkable if Jean had been a step late. Perhaps Neera… I’m not even sure if she could appear before me again! Why did you insist on making her the head of the Gordon family? It’s all your fault. All because of the decision you made. If anything happens to Neera, I… I will never forgive you…”

As she spoke, Adriana punched him lightly, but her fists lacked strength, and the force she exerted was soft and gentle.

She hung her head helplessly, her crying intensifying in sorrow. “What should I do if something happens to her…”

Chad’s heart ached deeply. He quickly pulled her into his embrace, not dodging at all, allowing her to vent her emotions. “It’s my fault. Indeed, it’s my fault. The decision I made back then, looking back at it now, was indeed inappropriate. It was my lack of thorough consideration that put her in danger. You’re right to blame me, and I’m blaming myself too.”

Even if Adriana didn’t blame him, in reality, Chad was already harshly blaming himself in his heart.

Every time he thought of Neera lying in bed lifelessly, he hated himself. He questioned himself why had he been so impulsive, making such a foolish decision.

Even if he loved everything related to Neera, he shouldn’t have placed such a heavy burden on Neera’s shoulders.

Because of him, she became a thorn in many people’s side.

Chad thought, Adriana is right. It’s all my fault. I was too impatient..