After lying down, Elliott realized that his injuries were severe and required treatment from a skilled healer. He couldn't afford to waste time here.
"Isabella," he said, "can you take me to Vanderbilt—to the Kennedys?"
Isabella frowned. "What's your connection to the Kennedys?"
In truth, Isabella's master had ordered her to travel to Suzhou to assassinate someone from the Rothschild family. She didn't know the Rothschilds and the Kennedys were related—only that the Rothschild target was hiding among the Kennedys. This man before her seemed connected, so she decided to keep him around for now and report back to her master later.
Elliott replied, "I have a task to fulfill—something I promised to the person who saved my life."
Isabella scoffed. "And I saved your life just now. Shouldn't you help me first?"
"I need to recover from my injuries before I can assist you," Elliott countered.
"No. The Kennedys aren't some place you can just waltz into. What if you go in and never come back? I'd be at a loss." Clearly, she didn't trust him.
Elliott had no choice. "Fine. I'll meditate to heal myself. Keep watch and make sure no one disturbs me."
Isabella snorted. "Hmph. So now I'm your guard?"
Elliott chuckled. "Don't worry, Isabella. Once I recover, I'll help you find your Henry.Rockefeller."
She spat in annoyance. "I won't be following you. You'll be following me."
Elliott fell silent. This girl was so stubborn about semantics. Still, he pressed, "Isn't Henry.Rockefeller your brother? Why are you so desperate to find him?"
The moment he mentioned it, Isabella shouted, "No! I don't believe that! I won't believe it! Even my master lied to me!"
Elliott knew how deeply Isabella loved Henry.Rockefeller, but there was nothing he could say to ease her pain. He remained quiet.
"How do you know about this?" Isabella demanded. "Did Henry.Rockefeller tell you?"
Elliott shook his head. "I'm tired. I need to meditate. Henry.Rockefeller never told me anything." Isabella didn't reply, lost in her own thoughts.
She had fled from Dali, and her master—her mother, Charlotte—was searching for her. Now, she was on the run, hiding wherever she could.
Lily, that silly girl, also had feelings for Henry.Rockefeller. Isabella still hadn't dared to tell her they were siblings, afraid the girl wouldn't be able to bear the truth. But after what happened in the Valley of Ten Thousand Calamities, she had no choice but to leave.
And now, by sheer chance, she had crossed paths with this blind man and learned more about Henry.Rockefeller. Part of her longed to see him again, but another part dreaded it. She didn't know what to do.
A full day and night passed before Elliott awoke. He had mended most of his minor injuries through meditation, but the wound on his back—where Gabriel had struck him—remained unhealed.
The first thing he said upon waking was, "Isabella, take me to a waterfall or somewhere cold."
Grumbling, Isabella had no choice but to comply.