Chapter 214 Reaction 
William’s expression remained grim, and Emelie fell silent. Her arm throbbed painfully, prompting her to press the nurse call button. 
Upon the nurse’s arrival, Emelie informed her about the severe pain in her arm 
The nurse examined the wound and reassured her, “It’s normal to experience pain after stitches. If it’s unbearable, I can bring you some painkillers.” 
Emelle nodded. “Yes, please.” 
Emelie could endure psychological pain no matter how intense or stressful, but her tolerance for physical pain was much lower. Psychological pain often had to be endured regardless of its intensity. In contrast, physical pain could be eased with medication, so she chose not to endure it unnecessarily. 
After all, everyone had their limits, and enduring everything would eventually lead to a breakdown. 
The nurse brought Emelie some painkillers. After taking one, Emelle decided to get some sleep. 
Seeing William in the adjacent bed, the nurse asked, “Is your wound bothering you, too? Would you like a painkiller?** 

William responded calmly, “No need.” 
Intimidated by his demeanor, the nurse quietly left without another word. William’s expression remained stern as he sat in silence for a while before shifting his gaze to Emelle. 
She had already fallen asleep, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she had boldly challenged him earlier. William chuckled coldly to himself. It appeared she had forgotten how she had once pleaded with him for mercy, 
William’s thoughts paused briefly. He hadn’t intended to delve into that perspective, he was merely highlighting his skills and abilities. 
If he lacked genuine talent and capability, he wouldn’t have been able to successfully lead Cloudex Corporation forward despite being the sole heir of the Middleton family. 

Relying solely on Henry’s protection would have turned him into a pupper for the old guard. However, in reality, he had been the one making decisions and swiftly handling dissenting voices in the operations of Cloudex Corporation. 
When people evaluated William, they praised his decisive leadership. No one dared to challenge him. Yet, upon reflection, those words seemed somewhat ambiguous. 
“Incompetent” and “pleading for mercy” in that context, weren’t completely far–fetched 
When Emelie had been drugged that day, she initially resisted but eventually couldn’t hold out. Similar situations had occurred almost every night during those three years. 
As he pondered this, William found himself drifting from his original thoughts. He wore a hospital scrub with the collar slightly open to avoid feeling suffocated. 
However, at that moment, be felt a bit warm. He furrowed his brows and pushed the blanket down. 
He intended to reach for a glass of water, but it was just out of reach. Having recently undergone abdominal surgery, he couldn’t stretch or exert himself too much, even though the injury wasn’t severe. 
He could have called Ashton; she was waiting outside the door. Yet, he felt astringe reaction stirring within himself. William glanced at the blanket with a tinge of irritation. He was wexed by this involuntary physical reaction. 
It frustrated him further that despite the reaction, their current physical conditions prevented them from acting on it. All he could do was endure it and wait for it to pass. Tuming his head, he observed Emelie, who had triggered this inexplicable irritation in him. 
She slept soundly, oblivious to her surroundings. Her chestnut curls cascaded over the white pillow, adding to her beauty. The twilight softened the contours of her profile. William gazed at her briefly before averting his eyes. He didn’t feel anything in particular. His phone vibrated; it was Jayden.