The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1496

The knife slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a sharp clatter. The man collapsed, covering his stomach, groaning in pain.

“You try to hurt her? Are you out of your mind?” Kenneth’s voice was rough, full of fury. Not satisfied, he stormed over and kicked him hard, twice for good measure.

That voice pulled Emily from her frozen panic. She lifted her head, blinking against the dim light, trying to make out the tall, broad-shouldered figure ahead. It looked so much like...

“Kenneth?” The name slipped out, barely more than a whisper.

He heard her. Kenneth stopped and turned. When Emily saw his face—so familiar, so real—her eyes widened, barely believing it. It was actually him. But he should have been resting back in Cabinda. He couldn’t possibly be here in Brenland.

Kenneth pulled out his phone, calling Knox. “Police. Come to the top floor.” He kept his eyes on Emily as he spoke, moving toward her, worry etched on his face.

“Are you hurt?” He put his phone away and inspected her, checking her arms, her face, every inch he could see, his expression growing stormy. “Emily, talk to me.”

She just stood there, trembling, her eyes red, staring right at him in shock and silence.

He frowned, thinking she was too scared to speak. He reached for her hand. “Let’s get you looked at by a—”

A doctor. He didn’t even get the word out before Emily flung herself into his arms, holding onto his neck so tightly that her whole body shook. She gasped his name, half crying, “Kenneth… Kenneth…”

Her sudden embrace nearly knocked him off balance. He froze, confused for a heartbeat, then found himself holding her tight, one arm around her waist, the other gently stroking her hair.

“It’s okay. I’m right here,” he whispered, his voice softer than she’d ever heard from him. “You’re safe now.”

He couldn’t help thinking—thank God he made it in time. If he hadn’t been here, he didn’t even want to imagine what could have happened.

“What’s going on?” Knox and Pam hurried onto the scene with hotel security and staff. The bloodied man on the floor caught them off guard. Then they spotted Emily and Kenneth, wrapped around each other like the rest of the world had disappeared.

Emily grabbed his arm, gripping tight, her eyes still damp. She was so pale, her voice nothing more than a raspy whisper. “Where are you going?”

Kenneth’s heart squeezed. She so rarely clung to him like this. He let out a soft chuckle and sat back down, leaning toward her. “Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere. I was just going to get you some water.”

“I don’t want water.” She shook her head and held onto him harder, like she was scared to let go.

He glanced down at her hand fisted in his shirt, then met her eyes. He dropped his voice, rough and warm. “Are you planning to hold onto me all night?”

“Why not?” Emily’s voice was small, vulnerable, her big eyes completely honest.

Kenneth let out a shaky breath and grinned. “If it’s up to me, you can hold on as long as you want.”