Chapter 558

"Damn it!" Hannah muttered under her breath, her foot slamming against the cabin door so hard that the frame quivered like a startled bird.

She spun around, stealing a guarded glance at the man stretched out on the bed. If Brixton really breathed his last,that madman Scorpio would pin the blame on her without blinking, and then her own goose would be cooked.

So, time and again, Hannah pressed the damp towel against Brixton's burning forehead, steady hands hiding her storm of unease.

Time limped forward until Brixton stirred. His eyes cracked open,immediately latching onto the fact that someone else was in the room. His gaze fastened on Hannah, perched tensely on the sofa.

As if by reflex, he lurched forward, his fingers clamping around her wrist like iron shackles. His fever-roughened voice rasped out,"Who let you in?"

Pain shot up her arm. Hannah gasped, twisting to break free,"Who else? Your oh-so-brilliant subordinate, Scorpio! Do you think I'd have the nerve to walk in uninvited?"

Brixton froze, shards of memory before his collapse flickering back. His grip slackened, only slightly.

Hannah snatched her hand back, rubbing the angry red mark,her lips tightening at the pain.

Brixton's eyes fell on the red mark on her wrist, and his brow furrowed unconsciously. How could this woman be so delicate?

furrowed unconsciously. How could this woman be so delicate?Just a touch, and the skin blossomed red.

He looked away, his voice still edged. "Why aren't you leaving?"

Hannah jabbed a finger toward the door, annoyance flaring."I want to leave, but your genius subordinate bolted it from the outside. Do you expect me to walk through walls?"

Brixton's frown deepened, apparently displeased with Scorpio's audacity. But at the moment, his mind was hazy with fever,and he lacked the energy to pursue the matter further.

He slumped back onto the bed, closed his eyes, and tried to sleep. But Hannah's very presence-her quiet breathing, her unmoving form-gnawed at him like sand in a wound.Discomfort welled up, sharp and relentless. His eyes flew open,irritation boiling over. "Can you stop making noise?"

Hannah blinked, caught off guard. "Noise? I haven't said a word.I haven't even moved."

Her calm defiance only stoked his fever-fed temper. He pushed himself upright, hand slipping beneath his pillow to draw a gun.

Hannah's heart leapt into her throat. What was he going to do?Would he really shoot her over a quarrel that wasn't even a quarrel? She fought to steady her breath. "Brixton, calm down!You're still burning with fever!"

His finger hovered taut on the trigger, chest heaving with rage he could neither contain nor release.

The moment stretched, a knife's edge between danger and restraint.Then, with a violent slam, he threw the gun onto the bedside table. He collapsed back onto the bed, turning his back to her, and growled, "Shut up! Go to sleep!"

Hannah rolled her eyes skyward, frustration bubbling over.What kind of lunatic had she been saddled with?

The night trudged on. The morning came.

At last, the rattle of a key outside shattered the silence. The door swung open, and Hannah slipped past Scorpio in a heartbeat,fleeing back to her cabin without a backward glance.

Inside, Brixton was already sitting upright, fever burned away,expression unreadable as he watched Hannah's hasty retreat.

"Mr. Ward, your fever's gone! Thank heavens-I was worried sick!" Scorpio blurted, his relief genuine.

Brixton's gaze cut to him, voice like frost. "Why was she here?"

Scorpio blinked. "Wait... Didn't you tell me to fetch her? Last night, half-delirious, you kept muttering you wanted her here."

His voice trailed as Brixton's expression darkened, shadows gathering across his features.

"When did I ever say that?" Brixton's tone was cold steel.

Scorpio's heart dropped. He bowed hastily. "I misunderstood!Forgive me, MAr. Ward. You should rest-I'll handle matters downstairs."

With that, Scorpio nearly bolted from the room.

Back in her own quarters, Hannah shut the door, locked it,and leaned against the wood, drawing long breaths to steady herself. She washed up quickly before heading to the kitchen,as though nothing had happened.

There, Hannah began preparing ingredients as usual,chatting lightly with the others, especially head chef Kayce Pearson."Mr. Ward just recovered from a fever. His appetite won't be strong, soI'll make porridge and a few lighter dishes."

Her statement was flawless. No one raised suspicion.

But midway,Hannah let out a loud gasp. "What in the world?

But midway, Hannah let out a loud gasp. "What in the world?How did these vegetables and this meat become so much less?"

All heads snapped toward her. An assistant cookand a servant hurried over, alarm rising.

"That's impossible!" Doug Holden, keeper of the stores, pushed forward,eyes widening at the sight of the noticeably emptier storage shelves. "I counted everything just yesterday afternoon -there was enough to last half a month!"

Hannah hid her sly smile behind a mask of worry and anxiety.The night before, she had sneaked down to the lower deck,hiding vegetables and meat in forgotten ventilation shafts and empty crates-meticulously staging a theft.

"What do we do now? If Mr. Ward discovers this, we'll be in for it!" Hannah cried, her display of fear perfectly timed, every look and gesture convincing.