ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 230: ONE LUCKY GUY

"Hmm...."

Hutton stirred, a faint groan escaping his lips as the haze of unconsciousness began to lift. His body ached, his muscles stiff, but something soft beneath his palms brought his attention to his hands. Confusion and curiosity blended in his half-lucid mind as he instinctively gave the softness the faintest squeeze, only to feel his heart jolt at the sensation.

His consciousness snapped back with startling speed, his eyes flying open as realization dawned. His upper body was wrapped tightly in bandages, and he was lying in a soft, luxurious bed. But that wasn’t the most shocking part.

There, lying beside him on the same bed, were Vivian, Veronica, Rebecca, and Ling Fei, all still in their formal dresses from the awards ceremony. The gentle rise and fall of their breathing indicated they were asleep.

His eyes widened in pure horror as he looked at his hands. One was firmly on Vivian’s chest, while the other rested on Veronica’s. Time seemed to freeze as his mind raced. What... what is happening?!

Before he could think of how to remove his hands without waking anyone, Vivian stirred. Her lashes fluttered, her eyes slowly opening as she yawned. She blinked at him for a moment, her expression innocent—until she looked down at his hand on her chest.

A moment of silence passed, thick and suffocating. Then—

"HUTTON!" Vivian screamed, bolting upright. Her face turned beet red as she slapped his hand away with enough force to make his head spin.

Rebecca jolted awake from the commotion, rubbing her eyes groggily. "What’s going—" She froze as she took in the scene, her gaze snapping between Hutton’s mortified expression and Vivian, who was now breathing heavily in embarrassment and rage.

Ling Fei, ever the light sleeper, was already awake and watching the chaos unfold with a raised brow. "What’s all this noise?" she muttered, her sharp eyes narrowing as they landed on Hutton.

But it was Veronica’s reaction—or lack thereof—that made the atmosphere even stranger. She didn’t yell or push his hand away. Instead, she calmly removed his hand from her chest, her face unreadable, though her cheeks were tinged pink.

"I… I can explain!" Hutton stammered, trying desperately to sit up but wincing from the pain in his bandaged torso.

"You better!" Vivian snapped, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. "What kind of pervert takes advantage of injured circumstances?!"

"I didn’t—I wasn’t—!" Hutton’s words tumbled over themselves as he gestured wildly.

Ling Fei crossed her legs, leaning back against the headboard with a smirk. "You’ve got some nerve, Hutton. Here I thought you were all serious and brooding. Turns out you’re just a closet womanizer."

Rebecca covered her mouth with her hand, trying—and failing—not to laugh. "I mean, he does have good taste."

Vivian shot her a glare, but Veronica’s quiet voice cut through the chaos.

"Enough."

Everyone turned to look at her. Veronica’s expression was calm, but there was a strange sadness in her eyes as she stood up from the bed. "He didn’t mean anything by it. Let’s not make this worse than it is."

Her words, though soft, carried enough weight to make the others pause.

Hutton, still red-faced and flustered, nodded quickly. "I swear, it wasn’t intentional! I just… woke up like this."

Vivian huffed but seemed to calm down, muttering under her breath. Ling Fei shrugged, looking more amused than anything, while Rebecca finally let out a small chuckle.

Veronica turned to Hutton, her voice quiet. "You should rest. You’re still injured." Without waiting for a response, she left the room, leaving behind a silence that felt heavier than before.

The door clicked shut as Veronica exited, leaving a tense silence hanging in the air. The others watched her go, each lost in their own thoughts, until Vivian broke the quiet, arms crossed and face still tinged with embarrassment.

"You’re lucky Veronica spoke for you, Hutton," she said, her tone sharp but carrying a trace of lingering irritation. "If she hadn’t, you’d be experiencing something right now that you’d never forget—and not in a good way."

Hutton, still reclining on the bed with a mix of exhaustion and awkwardness, raised a brow. "Oh, really? And what in the world are all of you doing on the bed I’m supposed to be recovering on?"

At his words, the room fell into an even heavier silence. Ling Fei and Rebecca exchanged glances, their cheeks turning a noticeable shade of red. Even Vivian, always quick with a rebuttal, looked uncharacteristically flustered, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for the right words.

Finally, Vivian cleared her throat and glanced away. "W-We were just… trying to make sure you got better quickly."

Rebecca nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You lost a lot of blood, and you were unconscious for a while. Ling Fei suggested we stay close just in case you needed immediate attention."

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Hutton blinked, his initial disbelief giving way to a surprising warmth that spread through his chest. He glanced at Ling Fei, who simply rolled her eyes, though her ears were pink.

"Don’t get the wrong idea," Ling Fei muttered, leaning against the bedpost. "It’s not like we wanted to sleep here. We just… wanted to make sure you didn’t, you know, die in your sleep or something."

Vivian, still looking away, huffed. "Exactly. Don’t read too much into it, Hutton."

But despite their words, Hutton could see the genuine care beneath their embarrassed expressions. He leaned back into the pillows, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Well… thank you," he said softly, his voice carrying more gratitude than he intended. "It means a lot. Really."

The three women exchanged glances again, their embarrassment softening into quiet smiles of their own.

"Don’t mention it," Rebecca said with a wink. "We couldn’t just leave you to fend for yourself, could we?"

Vivian grumbled something under her breath but didn’t argue further, while Ling Fei shrugged nonchalantly, though the faintest smile played on her lips.

Hutton closed his eyes briefly, feeling an unfamiliar but welcome warmth settle over him. In that moment, he realized just how fortunate he was to have people who cared so deeply for him—even if they expressed it in their own unique ways.

Meanwhile, The corridor outside the room Hutton and the other are in was eerily quiet as Veronica walked, her heels clicking softly against the floor. Her mind was swirling with a mix of emotions—confusion, guilt, and a newfound resolve. She hadn’t gone far when a faint murmuring caught her attention. Slowing her pace, she stopped near a window that overlooked the courtyard below.

Through the glass, she saw Kenneth and Bob seated at a small table, steam rising from their cups of coffee. Their postures were relaxed, but their expressions hinted at the depth of their conversation. Veronica hesitated, unsure if she should eavesdrop, but their words drifted upward, clear and unintentional.

"Honestly," Kenneth said with a chuckle, "that boy Hutton doesn’t even realize how lucky he is. Surrounded by so many people who’d risk their lives for him."

Bob nodded, a small, rare smile tugging at his lips. "It’s not just luck. Hutton has a way of inspiring loyalty. He’s earned it, though he’s too humble to admit it."

Kenneth took a sip of his coffee before adding, "Still, people like that don’t come around often. He’s got something special. A spark that makes you want to believe in him."

Veronica felt her chest tighten at their words. Averting her gaze, she turned away from the window and continued down the corridor. Their conversation lingered in her mind, but she didn’t allow herself to dwell on it.

After a few more moments of silent walking, she finally arrived at a balcony. Stepping out, the cool breeze brushed against her skin, carrying with it the faint scent of freshly cut grass. She placed her hands on the railing and looked out over the compound surrounding the building. The view was serene—trees swayed gently in the wind, and the soft glow of lanterns illuminated the pathways below.

She let out a sigh, her thoughts turning inward. Although Franklin had inexplicably left her alone after all that had happened, his words and intentions still weighed heavily on her. She didn’t know what his next move would be, but she couldn’t shake the lingering fear of his threats.

Yet, as her gaze wandered over the tranquil scenery, her resolve hardened. She thought of Hutton—his unyielding determination, his strength, and the way he managed to make people believe in him, even when all odds were against him.

"I don’t know what Franklin’s game is," she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible over the breeze. "But I won’t let him hurt Hutton. No matter what it takes, I’ll do everything in my power to keep him safe."

Her grip on the railing tightened as she made her silent vow. The night stretched on, but in her heart, a small fire burned brighter than ever—a fire of determination to protect the one person who had unknowingly given her hope amidst the chaos.