After Prison I Rushed into Marriage with a Comatose Tycoon-Chapter 4: A Family Should Sleep Together

Eliza Sutton was startled, a flicker of surprise crossing her face, but she remained silent.

"Are you wondering why I seem indifferent, even though they keep targeting Emmett?"

"I wouldn’t dare," Eliza Sutton said, then added deferentially, "You have your reasons."

Mrs. Lockwood gave a bitter laugh. "Reasons? Hardly. With Shane incapacitated, the Lockwood family is in turmoil. Everyone has their own agenda. Emmett is the next heir, and his very existence is an eyesore to those with ulterior motives."

If Shane were to die, she and her grandson would be next.

This sprawling, opulent Lockwood family was never a safe haven.

"Eliza Sutton."

Mrs. Lockwood suddenly gripped Eliza’s arm, her eyes filled with desperation and pleading. "You have to make Shane well again. You *must* make him well again, do you understand?"

...

Eliza returned to the room with a heavy heart.

Shane Lockwood was still lying there, unconscious, the machines connected to him humming steadily.

She sat by the bed, watching the unconscious man. After a long moment, she took out her acupuncture kit and began the treatment. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

As the Silver Needles began to hum, Eliza’s expression grew cold, her eyes devoid of emotion.

After the acupuncture, Shane Lockwood began to bleed again. Blood seeped from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, and even from the pores of his skin, until he looked as if he’d been pulled from a pool of blood.

Eliza wrung out a hot towel and began to clean the blood from Shane’s body. As she wiped him down, she shamelessly copped a feel of his broad chest.

’This skin, this physique, this face... they’re absolutely perfect. Getting to enjoy this eye candy every day really isn’t a bad deal for me.’

Eliza shamelessly took her liberties. ’I’m working so hard giving him acupuncture, surely I’m entitled to a little perk, right?’

Eliza was so focused on Shane’s body that she failed to notice his eyes twitch beneath their lids.

This time, Shane had bled from all over his body, including his legs.

Just as Eliza was about to pull off the man’s pants, her wrist was suddenly seized by a large, dry hand. A weak yet commanding voice sounded by her ear, "St-stop!"

"Don’t struggle. I need to clean you down there, too. Or do you want to start stinking?"

Eliza froze. She slowly turned her head and saw that the man on the bed had opened his eyes. His deep, dark gaze glinted with indifference, ruthlessness, and a flicker of rage and killing intent.

Just then, a maid, Minnie, pushed the door open to bring in a meal.

When she saw what was happening in the room, the tray in her hands fell to the floor with a CRASH. She shrieked and ran out.

"Master Shane’s awake!"

Soon, the sound of frantic footsteps filled the hallway. Master Lockwood, Mrs. Lockwood, the doctor, members of the Lockwood family’s branch families, maids, and bodyguards all rushed in, crowding the spacious room until it was packed.

"Get out! All of you!"

Master Lockwood had roared. Not daring to linger, the crowd shuffled out in a hurry. Eliza also turned to leave, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Mrs. Lockwood gripped her hand, her voice trembling with excitement. "Eliza, don’t you go! You’re the one who woke Shane up! You deserve the most credit!"

Master Lockwood turned to look at her, his usually stern expression softening. "Eliza, you are the Lockwood family’s greatest benefactor."

Arranging the marriage to improve the grandson’s luck had been a desperate measure, an act of clutching at straws. No one had expected Shane to actually wake up.

Master Lockwood pressed a jadeite bracelet into Eliza’s hand.

"Grandfather, this is too valuable."

"This is a symbol of the wife of the Lockwood family’s eldest grandson. It’s rightfully yours."

Mrs. Lockwood chimed in, "You mustn’t refuse a gift from an elder. Go on, thank Grandfather."

Eliza had no choice but to accept it. "Thank you, Grandfather."

Just then, Doctor Shepherd walked over. He removed his stethoscope and said, "After this period of treatment, Master Shane’s bodily functions have recovered significantly. However, the nerve damage in his legs is extremely severe. Surgery would be very high-risk. I recommend conservative treatment."

Mrs. Lockwood was incredulous. "Doctor Shepherd, are you saying you’re not confident you can perform the surgery?"

Doctor Shepherd sighed. "I’m very sorry. My skills are limited."

Master Lockwood asked in a somber tone, "What about the rest of Shane’s physical condition?"

Doctor Shepherd fell silent for a moment before saying diplomatically, "With the young master to carry on the line, the Lockwood family’s future prosperity is assured."

The implication was clear: not only would Shane be confined to a wheelchair, but he would also be unable to father any more children. The shock was too much for Mrs. Lockwood; she fainted on the spot.

"Mrs. Lockwood!"

The room instantly descended into chaos.

Master Lockwood’s face was etched with grief. "Is there truly nothing that can be done?"

"Not necessarily." Doctor Shepherd adjusted his glasses. "If we could find Mr. Quillon Croft, Master Shane would have a very good chance of recovery. But..."

Mr. Quillon Croft had vanished seven years ago. Countless people had searched for him over the years, but not a single trace of him was ever found.

Eliza glanced up at Doctor Shepherd, a flicker of doubt in her eyes.

’Shane is impotent?’

’But just now, when I was cleaning him, he clearly...’

After Doctor Shepherd left, Master Lockwood dismissed everyone else. By then, the news of Shane Lockwood’s awakening was already spreading through Seabourne like a hurricane.

In the bedroom.

"Who is she?"

Shane Lockwood was leaning against the headboard, his presence overwhelmingly powerful. His eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, glinted with a chilling intensity that could freeze a person’s soul.

His slightly hoarse voice was packed with authority.

Master Lockwood personally took Eliza’s hand and said with a smile, "This is Eliza. She’s the wife Grandfather arranged for you to marry the day before yesterday."

Shane’s expression darkened instantly, becoming as ominous as storm clouds gathering over a city. A tempest brewed in the depths of his eyes.

"Divorce her! Get her out of the Lockwood family home now!"

Eliza’s heart clenched. Right now, Shane was like a rampaging beast, every glance radiating extreme danger. The hair on her arms stood on end.

Just as Eliza was about to take the opportunity to leave, a small figure shot toward her like a cannonball.

It was Emmett.

The little boy stood protectively in front of Eliza, his pale, tender face set in a determined expression, like a tiny warrior.

"Mommy, don’t go!"

A wave of warmth washed over Eliza as she looked at the little boy shielding her. This was the first time since her mother’s death that someone had stood up to protect her.

She couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke the little boy’s head.

Feeling the gentle touch, Emmett’s pale little face flushed red. He looked back at Eliza, his eyes filled with adoration and attachment.

Master Lockwood and Shane watched this scene unfold, utterly stunned.

Shane’s brow furrowed deeply. "What in the world is going on here?"

’No one knew better than him how wary his son was of strangers, especially women. Yet here he was, being so affectionate with a woman who had appeared out of nowhere.’

Master Lockwood sighed and recounted the events from that afternoon. "After Eliza married into the family, you woke up. She also saved Emmett. She is your benefactor, and she is a benefactor to our entire Lockwood family. I will not permit you to drive her away. You two will sleep together tonight!"

Hearing this, Emmett grew anxious. He pointed at his own little nose and hopped up and down in place. "Me, me, me!"

"Alright, our Emmett can stay too," Master Lockwood said, patting Emmett’s little head. Then, taking Butler Lockwood’s arm for support, he left the room.

CLICK—

The door was locked from the outside.