Dangerous Love: You Are My One and Only Bride novel Chapter 1698

Henry whipped his eyes to Mark in the hope of an order. As the days went on, Shelly’s condition consistently nosedived. If they delayed her treatment, they might be setting themselves up for something more baleful.

Mark was quiet for a beat before finally giving his verdict. “Henry, send her away right now. You have found and contacted the premier institution for this, yes? Tell them to arrange a personal nursing assistant to look after her, and that I expect only the best care and treatment for her. Finally, keep me posted with updates of her condition.”

With an affirmative hum, Henry left the room and began preparing the ride.

Later that day, only Henry and Brian drove Shelly to the institution, as Mark had eschewed seeing her off. He worried that he would regret his decision if he went with them, especially when his stance could not help but soften and wither whenever Shelly mentioned her past of living like a prisoner in a cage, with a look of abject terror and despair.

Why did things have to come to this?

Mark skipped work the next day. Arianne, noticing this, quickly called him.

The phone went unanswered for a very long time before he finally picked it up. When he spoke, his voice was devoid of life. “Hello?”

Arianne furrowed her eyebrows. “Where are you? Why aren’t you coming to work today? You know, I bought breakfast for Smore this morning, and he thought it was very scrumptious, and insisted that I bring the same set for you, too. I brought it to work, only to find that you aren’t here at all…”

Mark went quiet for a few moments before croaking, “I’m at home. Just don’t feel like going to work today. Can you come and keep me company?”

“Here already?”

Mark had not lifted his head nor turned to look at her despite catching wind of Arianne’s footsteps. His croak sounded even gruffer and huskier than she had heard it from the other side of the phone.

Arianne stepped forward and placed her hands on his shoulders, her own stance already softening. “Maybe… Maybe we should take her back from there? Maybe there’s another way to treat her? I mean, a closed-off mental asylum like that does seem a little too… cruel for someone with her condition. I don’t want you to feel troubled and tormented over this decision, Mark. Especially when you aren’t the one in the wrong…”

Mark leaned his head over her hand slightly. “It’s not too bad. It’s good, really. We can always receive her back to the family once she’s finally bested her mental malaise. But as long as she remains by my side, I’m afraid her sickness will never go away. My presence reminds her of the pains she had experienced. It’s only when she has finally recovered... that she can finally accept the world and the new chance of life she’s been given. But I don’t want to wait for that at your expense, Arianne. The method you propose is a long game, spanning years, with no end in sight. How do I dare to stake your future with it? So, this is better. What we’re doing now is better…”