The billionaire's only desire-Chapter 43: Retribution part one

Oliver administered an IV to Maya while the pilot flew them back home. Maya was lying up straight in one of the sleeper seats on the private jet.

"What was the big suitcase for?" Oliver asked Aiden abruptly.

Dalton and Aiden exchanged a glance.

"It contains Maya’s clothes. Hathaway brought them along," Dalton lied smoothly. Fredrick Hathaway is no longer in the suitcase; he is now tied up and gagged, lying on the floor of the pilot cabin.

"Okay, then she needs to change into one of her dresses. Your coat is heavy and trapping heat, which is worsening her fever."

Dalton gritted his teeth. "Uh..." They had been caught in a lie. Dalton wished Oliver were more like his twin brother. They never had to hide the ugly things they indulged in from River because it didn’t faze him. But Oliver was like an egg that needed to be treated special, or he would have a breakdown.

"Sure, I will go get it," Aiden matched out.

Dalton followed behind him, feeling confused. "Where are you going to get that dress from?"

Aiden smirked. "River used your jet last week to pick up a Mexican girl he met on Instagram. I was bored, so I joined him on the trip. He took the girl shopping, and she left some of the clothes he bought for her on the jet when we dropped her off back in Mexico."

"That man-whore," Dalton cursed. Aiden laughed. "At the moment, I bet that guy is on vacation on some tropical island, picking up some chicks"

Typical of River; he can’t go a week without a new girl.

Aiden found a shopping bag in the next cabin. He opened it and took out a sexy nightgown that came with a long robe.

"This is suitable," Dalton said as he snatched the robe from him.

Oliver was applying ice to Maya’s swollen rib cage when they returned. A deep frown was etched on his face. "I hope Hathaway spends a long time in jail," he said.

Aiden chuckled and gave Dalton a look. They both planned to punish Fredrick Hathaway themselves; there was no need for the justice system to intervene.

Oliver removed Dalton’s coat from Maya and replaced it with the light robe Dalton had given him.

"Tell me every pain that bastard inflicted on, Maya," Dalton demanded. His blood was brewing with anger as it pumped faster through his veins.

Oliver took a deep breath before speaking. "She has a pneumothorax, which is a collapsed lung caused by changes in pressure within the chest. This condition is a result of her broken rib tearing a puncture in the chest wall. She is experiencing breathing difficulties, chest pain, and coughing up blood, judging by the colour of her lips."

"Collapsed lung?" Dalton’s chest crumpled with pain. Is he going to lose Maya?

"Don’t worry, Dalton. She will be fine."

Dalton searched into Oliver’s brown eyes, and he saw sincerity there. He believed him. Maya would be fine.

"I will relieve the pressure on her lung so that it can re-expand. I will do that immediately after we land."

Oliver’s words eased the throbbing ache in Dalton’s chest.

Oliver added, "She has a very high fever. I also noticed a few bruises on her face. Her back is mar with many cuts and bruises. I think she was whipped with a belt. Additionally, I believe she was drugged with some sort of sedative. I hope it is not harmful."

Dalton clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He is going to make Hathaway suffer every pain he has inflicted on her.

"Are you sure she is going to be okay?" His eyebrows creased with worry.

"Yes, she will be fine within a week or two," Oliver assured him. "She needs a lot of rest; we need to excuse her." With that, Oliver and Aiden left the room. However, Dalton refused to leave; he stayed by her side and watched her sleep.

Hours later, they landed back in the country and soon arrived home. Maya was transferred to one of the hospital rooms in the west wing of the mansion.

Oliver quickly treated her pneumothorax. He numbed Maya’s chest and inserted a chest drain. He placed a small plastic tube through the chest wall, which allows air to escape but prevents it from re-entering, enabling her lung to re-inflate. The tube will remain in place until the air leak is fixed and her lung has fully re-inflated.

Oliver tested her blood and discovered that the sedative given to her was not harmful, and the dosage was appropriate.

He administered fentanyl through the IV he had inserted into her veins to alleviate the pain she would experience upon waking up.

Dalton refused to leave her side. Even though Oliver tried to persuade him to get some rest, fearing that the lack of sleep would make him sick, Dalton remained stubborn. He hadn’t slept for nearly 24 hours.

Fortunately, his body surrendered, and he fell asleep with his head resting beside Maya.

Dalton shot awake. He felt fingers strumming through his thick black hair.

"Maya," his heart thudded.

He raised his head and looked at her. She had a big smile on her weary, beautiful face.

"Dalton," she softly called out, her voice weak. "I thought I would never see you again." She stroked his face, her smile growing wider.

It amuses Dalton that she can smile this much, even after just experiencing a terrifying situation. She has been through many traumatic experiences but has never stopped smiling despite that.

"Thank you for rescuing me," she said, squeezing his hand.

Dalton gently caressed her long black hair. "He will never hurt you again. I promise you will never have to see that monster again."

Tears filled Maya’s blue eyes, and he gently wiped away her tears with his thumbs. "Don’t cry,"

"I will never let him hurt you again." He reassured her.

Suddenly, anger contorted his face. "Your stepfather has been abusing you, and you never told me." He was furious with her.

Tears rolled down Maya’s cheeks. "Not only my stepfather, my half-brother has been hitting me since I was a kid."

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