"No, we can''t leave you behind," Emma expressed her deep concern. If something were to happen to


    her, they would be haunted by guilt forever.


    "Mrs. Riddle, please go! Once you''re safe, I''ll find a way to escape,” Patricia urgently shouted, clearly


    struggling to hold on.


    "You muste back safely," El I ar gritted his teeth, pulling Emma away with him.


    "Patricia!" Emma was still worried about Patricia, her eyes reddening with urgency.


    After escaping the parking basement, Er put Emma in a taxi.


    "Mom, Dad is in the hospital; you go home first. I''m going back to save Patricia," Er said, turning and


    rushing back to the parking basement.


    He knew that their staying wouldn’t have helped Patricia; it was necessary for Emma to leave first.


    However, he couldn’t abandon Patricia alone; he had to go back.


    "Er!" Tears instantly welled up in Emma''s eyes as she watched Er dash back into danger, biting


    back the words urging him to return.


    Returning to the parking basement, Er saw Patricia injured, her movements bing increasingly


    sluggish. His heart ached immensely at the sight.


    "Ah!" Patricia was kicked again, this time in the chest, causing her to stagger backward in pain.


    Just as she was about to fall, Er caught her.


    Falling into a familiar embrace, Patricia was shocked. "Why did youe back?"


    "Don''t worry, my mom is safe now," Er said, steadying Patricia. "I wanted to be here with you."


    Patricia red at him. "You''re not helping by being here, whye back?" Her inner voice was filled


    with exasperation, ''Doesn''t he realize how dangerous it is to return? He actually came back after


    escaping. What a fool.''


    "I just can''t let anything happen to you," Er insisted.


    "Go back!" Patricia shouted, pushing Er aside and then raising her foot to kick the assant who had


    just charged at them.


    Er, still reeling, saw another assant approaching and braced himself, closing his eyes and charging


    with all his might. Surprisingly, brute force proved effective as the assant was caught off guard and


    tumbled to the ground.


    Seizing the opportunity, Erunched a flurry of punches and kicks.


    Thoughcking technique, his attacks overwhelmed the assant, who could only howl in pain.


    Patricia was taken aback, but she couldn''t focus on Er as another punch was alreadying her


    way.


    The night was deep and tense.


    ***


    The hospital lights were off, visiting hours over. The group, without any news and reluctant to leave the


    hospital, waited in the courtyard.


    "Nicole, they haven''te back for so long, could it be..." Lulu''s voice broke, her anxiety palpable.


    "Charlie hasn''t sent any news back; let''s wait a bit longer," Nicole said, her expression somber yet


    clinging to hope. She knew that if anything had


    happened to Er and Patricia, Charlie would have been informed and wouldn''t have kept it from her.


    "At least Emma is safe," Lulu said, ncing toward Dexter''s hospital room.


    Emma had returned safely and was now resting in the hospital room. They could only wait outside for


    news, unable to return home without any updates.


    Suddenly, two cars drove into the courtyard and stopped in front of the group.


    Jared and spencer got out of the cars and approached Nicole and Lulu.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "There''s no news yet," Nicole said, looking up at Jared. Her calm tone belied the anxiety beneath.