Back when Raegan helped with Mitchel's injuries, Erick, mistakenly thinking Mitchel was taking advantage of Raegan, delivered bunches on Mitchel without hesitation. Raegan's revelation about medical aids made sense.

Erick's brow creased slightly. It dawned on him that he had acted impulsively. Mitchel was, in fact, aiding Raegan in seeking justice.

It had to be said that Mitchel's throwing Lauren into Velvet Alley was a good decision. A mere drugging charge wouldn't lead to a severe sentence, and a competent lawyer could even secure probation.

Such a lenient punishment didn't fit Lauren's crime.

Lauren deserved to face the harsh realities of Velvet Alley, a place without law. The thought of enduring such hardships there was more daunting than imprisonment. The agony there surpassed the fear of death. Survivors from ordeals there often emerged broken, either physically or mentally.

Raegan voiced her unease, "I've been thinking about his condition since we departed."

"So you were planning to go see him just now?" Perceptive enough to speculate what was on Raegan's mind, Erick gave Raegan a look.

Raegan found herself at a loss for words. She hadn't foreseen Erick piercing through her pretense.

Raegan's concern wasn't solely for Mitchel's well-being. More pressing was the fact that Erick had struck Mitchel tons of times, yet Mitchel hadn't responded in kind upon hearing her requirements.

The possibility of Mitchel seeking vengeance once recovered, or his family demanding retribution, weighed on Raegan. Things didn't go Erick's way.

Raegan fretted, saying, “Erick, you struck him. What if he seeks revenge?"

“There's no need for you to fret over this, and you're forbidden from visiting him," Erick firmly dismissed Raegan's worry. He was firm about keeping her away from Mitchel.

Whenever Mitchel saw Raegan, the former's paranoia and possessiveness overflowed. This deeply troubled Erick, who saw himself as Raegan's protector. Reflecting on the hardships Raegan had endured in Ardlens in the past, he felt he was doing the right thing.

"And any help he provides you is his own choice. Don't feel indebted.

He's merely repaying a debt to you." Erick, aware of Raegan's compassionate disposition, feared she might feel obligated to Mitchel.

Deflecting a blade didn't clear Mitchel's wrongdoings so simply.

"Okay," Raegan agreed, yet her mind wandered elsewhere. She couldn't shake off the memory fragments of Mitchel stepping in to shield her from harm more than once.

Lately, her mind often drifted to past occurrences, with some memories clear and others blurry. Countless times, things she had just recalled would slip from her mind in the next instant. She feared Erick's concern, so she refrained from disclosing these circumstances to him.

Her current apprehension was focused on Mitchel and Erick. Her current worry was over the potential fallout Erick might face due to his rash actions toward Mitchel. Determining Mitchel's current state became her priority.

Suddenly, the door swung open. Nicole entered the room. "Raegan, are you alright?"