Aurora Dourada: Retorno By Ricardo Almeida

The Thompsons took Bella and Steven away while the police

apprehended the hitmen.

The scene was horrifically bloody.

Only Justin stood frozen, his hand holding the gun. The scuffle with the hitmen did not even mess up his hair. Yet, Justin felt more

drained than when he was fighting on the battlefield,

“Mr. Salvador.”

Ralph led two police officers to Justin and glanced at the gun in his hand, his eyes unreadable. “Please come with us for further investigation, Mr. Salvador.”

“Hey! What’s the meaning of this?”

lan came to his employer’s defense, his face flushed. “Mr. Salvador

grabbed the gun from the killer. I hope you’re not assuming that Mr.

Salvador pulled the trigger. If Mr. Salvador hadn’t stepped in, Ms.

Bella could’ve…”

“Enough, lan.” Justin stopped lan and faced Ralph. “Alright. I’ll go with.

you.”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, Mr. Salvador. We’re not listing

you as a suspect. We have procedures to follow in police work. We

are hoping you could help us with our investigation.”

Ralph murmured in an unusually nice tone, “My sister will be

cooperating in the investigation too. She is rather emotional and

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requires medical attention now. I’ll collect her statement tomorrow.”

The thought of Bella sucked the air out of Justin. “Captain Thompson,

can I check on Bella? I’m worried about her.”

In other circumstances, Ralph would have rejected him.

However, Justin saved Bella from the jaws of danger. Ralph could not be so cruel as to turn down Justin’s lowly request.

The air was thick with tension in the hospital.

Steven was in surgery to get stitches for his cuts.

The gash on his left shoulder was deep, and a slight mistake on the

operating table could cost him his arm.

Bella wanted to perform surgery on Steven, but Asher and Drew

stopped her.

Not in the best state of mind and health, Bella likely would not last

the whole surgery.

“Don’t worry, Bella. I sought out the best surgeons in the city.

Whatever it takes, they will do their best to save Steve’s left arm.”

Asher hugged Bella’s trembling body and consoled her.

“It’s all my fault. I am the reason why Steve is in surgery now.” Guilt

overwhelmed Bella. Her eyes welled up.

“Don’t say that, Bella. No one expected this to happen.” It distressed

Drew to see Bella upset.

A flurry of footsteps ensued.

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“Bella!”

Axel and Declan, who had been missing in action for a while, heard

the news and made their way over from the other end of the corridor.

Apart from Ralph, who was on the way, all the Thompson brothers

were present.

There was no doubt that these brothers wanted to be there for their

sister when it mattered.

“Declan!” Drew’s eyes lit up at the sight of Declan.

It was no secret in the Thompson family that Drew and Declan were

the closest growing up.

Their affinity might have something to do with sharing their mother’s

last name.

Axel pouted at the contrasting treatment between the brothers.

Declan nodded at Drew before rushing to Bella’s side. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Bella? I’m here, Bella.”

Bella lifted her pale face and narrowed her swollen eyes at Declan, her lips quivering. “You’re back, Declan. I screwed up… I screwed up big time…”

Declan swallowed hard, his heart grieving. He held his sister’s cold hands. “It’s okay, Bella. Don’t be scared. It’s okay that you screwed up. My only fear is that you won’t tell me when something is wrong. I

will always have your back.”