Ch. 431..435
Chapter 431
A while later, Violet came in.
She picked up the wood block and looked at Sylvia with a concerned look. “Madam, what happened with Master
Carter?”
Sylvia did not want to vent her anger on the poor girl. She took a deep breath and said, “I’m fine. Just leave.”
Violet stood still and stared at her in hesitation.
Sylvia noticed the stare. She asked, “Is there anything else?”
Violet had a glance at the desk in front of her and said, “ Before Master Carter left, he ordered me to take away all your
carving materials.”
Sylvia choked on her anger.
She clenched her teeth to swallow the grievance and then sat down on the couch beside the desk using her crutches.
The desk was free for Violet to clean up.
Violet wore an apologetic look and then took her carving tools plus the wood blocks away.
Even the rose that Odell stomped was swept away.
The room returned to silence.
Sylvia was robbed of her hobby, so she simply sat in front of the ceiling-to-floor window and stared outside blankly.
The scar on the back of her right hand got itchy while she was gazing out. She scratched a few times and stopped.
She got the scar and the one on her right index finger a few days ago and it was because of the frustration she had over the pain in her legs. She accidentally cut herself using the knife while carving.
The cut was deep and she bled quite a lot.
Thankfully, she was done carving the rose, so she painted the rose red with her blood.
Since the cut was nothing serious, she asked Violet for some medicine and patched herself up. The wound started to scab after a night.
The man somehow lost his mind and stomped on the rose that she carved. He even forbade her from carving.
He must be crazy!
After leaving Carter residence, Odell drove to the boxing gym.
Odell had been a regular at the boxing gym recently and the staff already recognized him. Upon his arrival, the staff immediately opened the door and welcomed him.
Several coaches were in the gym when he arrived but neither of them had the audacity to even look at him. Some even turned a blind eye and walked away.
Odell looked at them and said, “Who’s up today?”
The coaches exchanged a baffled look and no one dared to answer Odell’s challenge.
Irritated, Odell furrowed his brows. “A million an hour!”
The coaches were intrigued and their eyes gleamed.
A million an hour was a massive sum but as they recalled how Odell beat the previous coach to the ground, several of them hesitated even before the large sum of reward.
Fortunately, a brave coach finally answered the challenge.
“I’ll have a go with you, Master Carter.”
Odell changed into his boxing attire and got into the ring.
The coach stood opposite him, staring at him like a predator.
Odell replied with a glance. “Bring it on.”
The coach threw himself forward.
Odell easily dodged the forward punch and countered with a jab.
Bang!
The coach screamed in pain.
“Again!” Odell bellowed.
Thinking about the million-dollar reward, the coach threw himself forward again.
• ••
Half an hour later, the coach finally collapsed to the ground with his face swollen.
He mustered his remaining strength and looked at the man who had just knocked him out. He tried lifting his swollen
face and begged in pain, “Master Carter, I’m done. Please stop.”
Odell frowned hard. “Get off the ring and bring two more men up here! ”
“R-Right away!”
The coach immediately crawled off the ring.
A few moments later, two more coaches got into the ring.
One of them asked in a small voice, “Master Carter, who do you want to spar with first?”
Odell had a glance at them and said, “Both of you together.”
Chapter 432
It had been an hour since the sparring started but the man showed no signs of stopping.
Sweat rolled down the edge of his face and highlighted the contour of his pronounced features. It even wet his rigid
collarbone and shirt.
He nimbly dodged the coaches’ attack and landed a punch on each of their faces.
While punching his opponent to the ground, his mind was replaying the scene of that bloody wooden rose.
‘That woman painted the wooden rose with her own blood?! Has she gotten out of her mind? Is she trying to kill herself
just to make me mad?’
Suddenly, a powerful punch approached his face.
Odell narrowed his deep eyes and countered with a jab.
Bang!
He punched a coach in the face and sent the man to the ground.
As the fallen coach squealed in pain, the other coach faltered out of fear.
Odell glared at the two of them.
Due to their responsibility and the promised reward, the two coaches regained their composure and continued sparring with Odell.
Outside the ring, all five coaches, who had sparred with Odell earlier and got beaten up, sat together and panted heavily.
They sympathized with their colleagues who were crying in pain in the ring and were grateful that they survived Odell’s thrashing.
“What has gotten into Master Carter today? He’s really angry.”
“Sigh. I think the two of them are at their limit.”
“But Master Carter doesn’t seem tired at all. All of us had sparred with him. Are we going for a second round?”
The five of them got nervous.
“No. I’ll die if I get into the ring again.”
“Me too. I can’t even get on my feet.”
“What are we going to do now?”
They found themselves in a quandary.
Suddenly, one of them suggested, “I know. Do you guys remember Ms. Avery that Master Carter brought over here the other day? I heard they’re close. Why don’t we call her and ask her to talk him out of his thrashing frenzy?”
The suggestion intrigued the others. “Great idea! Hurry up and contact Ms. Avery!”
Half an hour later, the last two coaches of the boxing gym collapsed to the ground.
One of them feigned death and the other begged for his life.
“Master Carter, we’re not your match even if we teamed up against you. We surrender. Please let us go.”
Odell had a glance at the two of them and said, “Get out.”
The two coaches immediately got out of the ring as if they were granted a second life.
Odell received a bottle of water and a towel from a staff member. He sipped some water before he stared at the five
other coaches sitting beneath the ring.
The five coaches averted his gaze hurriedly. They either looked down or looked elsewhere. No one dared to exchange
a look with him.
Odell frowned. Just when he was about to call either two of them, he saw Tara running in.
“Odell!”
Tara wore a slim waist white dress and she ran to the ring. She looked up at him with a concerned look and said, “I
heard you’re boxing here all day now. Did something happen?”
Odell frowned at her. “Why are you here?”
Tara stared at his wet but handsome face and said in a small voice, “I heard you were in a bad mood. I was worried, so
I came.”
She was already thinking about seeing him earlier and after the coaches called her, she immediately came over to
check on him.
“I’m fine. Go home,” Odell said.
Tara wore a worried look. “You’re drenched. Are you still going to continue?”
Odell’s patience wore thin.
Chapter 433Fortunately, the woman before his eyes was someone he knew. He suppressed his irritation and said, “Wait for me outside. I’ll come find you after I get changed.”
Tara obediently hummed a reply.
Odell got out of the ring and went to the changing room.
After he had a quick shower, he changed into his own clothes and went out.
Tara was waiting for him outside the changing room.
She sat on the bench quietly and her slender figure screamed of elegance and softness.
She curled her lips when she saw him. With a soft voice, she said, “ Odell.”
Odell immediately thought of the woman back home.
The woman would either bite him, scold him, or even stare at him blankly as if she lost her soul. She even mutilated herself just to make him angry.
If she was half as obedient and caring as Tara, he would not have gotten so angry that he stomped the wooden rose.
He sat opposite Tara and the staff came serving him a glass of water.
He had a sip from the glass.
It was then his other arm constricted by Tara’s arms.
He tightened his brows and withdrew his arm from her embrace.
Tara said, “Odell, I just want to see if your hand is swollen.”
“I’m fine,” he said.
“But you don’t look like you’re fine.” Tara looked at him with a soft look and said in a small voice, “Did you argue with Sylvia again?”
Odell’s expression turned grim as soon as he heard the name.
Tara saw the change of expression on his face. She immediately said, “Odell, I know how you feel about her but I don’t want to see you like this. Why don’t you just divorce her?”
Odell frowned and said coldly, “I’ll never divorce her. Don’t you mention this again.”
‘Divorce? So that she could go to Edmund? Never!’ he thought.
Tara secretly clenched her fists. She then said, “I don’t mean anything else. I just don’t want to see you like this.”
Odell had another sip of water but it did not wash away the gloom on his face.
Tara saw everything. She said, “Odell, if you don’t want to divorce her, then try to understand her and make things work between you two. Or else it’s just torture for the both of you and it will become a problem sooner or later.”
Odell’s expression softened as he turned to her.
Tara wore the kindest and warmest look on her face.
Odell pursed his lips. “If she’s half as understanding as you...”
Tara smiled. “I think it’s because you broke her legs and imprisoned her. It blocked her off from the outside world. That’s why she’s throwing a tantrum. Besides...”
“Besides?”
Tara continued in a smaller voice, “I think there’s something wrong with her up here.”
She pointed at her own head.
Her gesture immediately reminded Odell of Sylvia’s cut on her hand and the bloody rose that she carved.
If it was not a mental issue, why would she mutilate herself?
Tara continued to observe his expression. “I heard that a person’s mind will go crazy if he or she is locked up for a long time and is denied all kinds of contact with the outside world. I’ve met Sylvia twice and she struck me as mentally ill. Odell, why don’t you release her and stop imprisoning her?”
Odell frowned.
‘Release her? That would mean giving her the freedom to go wherever she wants...’
Tara continued, “Odell, I don’t think Sylvia will run away again. She cares about Isabel and Liam and she won’t leave them behind.”
Odell’s gaze shifted.
‘Indeed, the woman cared about the children...’
Some careful considerations later, he said, “I’ll think about it.”
Tara then wore a smile and said, “Odell, no matter your decision, I’ll support you.”
Chapter 434
It was midnight at Carter residence. Sylvia had been drawing for the entire day inside her room.
She barely had any inspiration on what to draw and her carving tools were confiscated, so other than sketching, she had nothing to do.
She sat on the floor and scribbled whatever was in her mind.
It was until the door opened and the man’s uniformed footsteps sounded.
Sylvia frowned but did not look at him. She continued scribbling on the floor.
Odell walked closer to her and asked, “What are you doing?”
Sylvia chose to remain quiet.
Odell approached her side and saw her scribbling a dark drawing.
The entire drawing was dark, drawn only with different shades of black.
The dark sky, the black forests, and the crows on the branches, the entire drawing screamed of depression.
She was scribbling with charcoal, so her hands were also tainted black.
Odell frowned and said in a heavy tone, “Stop drawing.”
Sylvia ignored him and continued moving her charcoal across the canvas.
Odell’s expression turned frosty. He grabbed the canvas and tossed it away.
Sylvia immediately looked at him and it allowed Odell to finally have a clear look at her face.
Her petite face was dirty because of the charcoal. Her forehead, her cheeks, her nose, and even the edge of her mouth were all black and dirty.
In addition to her messy hair and clothes, she looked like an insane woman who had gotten fed up with life.
A strong feeling choked Odell’s chest. He bellowed, “Who told you to make yourself like this?”
Sylvia furrowed her brows. Her gaze went blank as she stared at him as if she could not understand his words.
Her countenance in addition to her dirty attire really made her look like a crazy woman.
Odell was even more frustrated at her blank response.
He wished he could toss her into the bathtub and cleanse her of not only her body but also her thoughts.
Unfortunately, her left calf remained in a cast and he worried that strong methods might further stimulate her in the wrong way. So he resolved by raising his voice, “Go get yourself clean immediately or don’t ever think of drawing again.”
The frostiness on his face was terrifying.
Sylvia believed the man must have lost his mind. She clenched her teeth as she got on her feet and limped toward the bathroom.
After she got in, she locked the door and looked into the mirror.
Her face was dirty, her hair was messy, and she was covered in charcoal stains.
The eerie look surprised even herself.
No wonder the man was mad at her. He must be disgusted at her disheveled look.
Though she did not care.
After she cleaned herself, she changed into some fresh new pajamas and went out.
Odell was still in the room and he was sitting on the couch.
Maybe because of the dim environment, Sylvia felt like the man was covered in a layer of frost and his gaze at her felt cold and unpredictable.
Sylvia had a glance at where she was drawing earlier.
The charcoal and paint remained but the canvas was gone.
Confused, she asked, “Where’s my drawing?”
“I’ve thrown it out.”
Sylvia widened her eyes in disbelief. “Odel Carter, are you out of your mind?”
Odell’s expression remained frosty as always as if her raising her voice did not anger him at all.
He said, “You should rest.”
Sylvia limped toward the exit with her crutches. She wanted to
retrieve her drawing.
Odell bolted up and stopped her from leaving.
“Move aside,” she said.
Odell shot a cold gaze at her and emphasized, “You should rest.”
“I don’t need you to tell me what to do!” Sylvia tried to push him away using one of her hands.
Chapter 435
However, her little push did not even budge Odell’s towering figure.
Sylvia was forced to muster all the strength in her.
Unfortunately, not only did she fail to move him, but due to her excessive exertion of strength, the crutches under her arm slipped off and she lost her balance.
Odell caught her from falling and carried her in his arms.
Sylvia froze for a moment before she started struggling.
“Let go of me!”
She struggled with all her strength. It was an obvious sign that she resisted his touch.
Odell’s expression fell. He then strode to the bed and tossed her on it.
Sylvia got up and wanted to get out of bed but Odell held her by the neck and pushed her back.
He shot a frosty glare at her and said, “If you don’t do what I say, I’ll throw away all your drawing tools.”
Sylvia was flustered. She glared at him for a few seconds before she lay down begrudgingly. She took a deep breath and no longer tried to resist him.
Odell withdrew his hand when Sylvia finally complied.
Sylvia immediately turned her back on him.
Odell had one last glance at her before he moved over her and left the room.
Bang!
The door was shut.
After a while, Sylvia got out of bed and got on her crutches. She believed it was almost time for Odell to leave, so she wanted to look for the drawing that he threw away.
The moment she opened the door, a frosty and towering figure entered her sight.
Odell was standing opposite the door. He leaned against the wall and had his arms crossed in front of his chest.
His eyes turned cold the moment he caught her coming out of the room.
Sylvia’s gaze shrunk. She instinctively wanted to retreat into the room but the man was faster.
The moment she shrunk into the room, the man approached her.
Before she could close the door, he lifted her by the waist and carried her to the bed again.
After tossing her back onto the bed, he opened the window and tossed all her drawing tools and paints out of the window.
Everything splat outside the yard.
Sylvia was petrified as if her blood froze.
Maybe because her anger reached its boiling point, her mind went blank for a moment as she stared at his emotionless face. She
cackled in laughter and said using a frighteningly calm tone, “Odell, why don’t you throw me out of the window as well? You can avenge Grandma and vent your anger once and for all.”
Odell’s expression turned grim. He strode to her and grabbed her face strongly.
He wore the most terrifying look on his face as he approached her. He then said in a crisp but scary tone, “Do you think I don’t dare to throw you out of the window? If it’s not for Isabel and Liam, I’d have made you pay for what you did to Grandma the day she fell down the hill!”
Sylvia’s frosty gaze softened upon hearing Isabel and Liam’s names. She bit her lips tightly.
Her obedience and compliance calmed his raging anger.
He grunted and pushed her face away.
Sylvia covered herself with the sheets and turned her back on him before she shut her eyes closed.
Odell also left the room without pause.
The depressing room returned to silence.
Sylvia’s eyes were tightly shut but she was void of any intent to sleep. Not only that, but her shut eyes also failed to contain her tears.
Odell strode out of the house and got into his car.
He wound down all the windows and started smoking a cigarette.
‘The woman must be suffering from mental illness. But I just imprisoned her and broke one of her legs. She has access to food and even servants to take care of her. I didn’t torture her or whatsoever...’
He imprisoned her and broke her leg because she and Edmund hurt Grandma.
However, her losing her mind was her fault!
The thought of her tainting her face black and the two scars on her hand choked him. He could barely breathe properly as if there was an invisible hammer pounding his chest, suffocating him.