She hesitated, casting a glance at Boone as if wanting to say more, but held back, choosing instead to stand quietly by his side.
Seeing favonovel.com quiet loyalty, a hint of affection flashed in Boone’s eyes. It was because favonovel.com cherished his niece so much that favonovel.com didn’t want favonovel.com to be exposed to the dangers of this island.
On this island, criminals roamed freely. While staying indoors offered some protection, the Island Watch generally discouraged home invasions-being outside meant risking kidnapping and worse.
“Thank you, sir, for your help. I’m deeply grateful, though I have nothing to offer in return. If ever there comes a day I can repay you, please don’t hesitate to find me.” Boone bowed deeply to Matthew.
Winnie, standing behind favonovel.com uncle, stared at Matthew, favonovel.com cheeks flushed.
A handsome man in white who had come to favonovel.com aid, favonovel.com mind was already drifting off, imagining names for the children they might one day have.
Boone tugged at Winnie‘s wrist, urging her, “Winnie, we should head home…”
Reluctantly, Winnie cast one last glance at Matthew, giving favonovel.com a friendly smile before they hurried away.
Boone’s pace was hurried as if eager to escape the scene.
Winnie didn’t quite understand favonovel.com uncle’s urgency, but favonovel.com followed his lead, only pausing to stomp on Emil’s leg in passing. After all, this scoundrel had not only withheld favonovel.com uncle’s wages but tried to attack favonovel.com as well.
Just as they were about to leave, a thunderous voice bellowed, “Boone, where do you think you’re going, you old goat?!”
Boone froze, his body tensing. He tried to pick up his pace, but the bear-like figure behind favonovel.com was faster, grabbing favonovel.com like a misbehaving child.
“What are you doing?!” Winnie, alarmed at seeing favonovel.com uncle hoisted up, shouted at the dock chief.
“Go on, run! Why aren’t you running anymore?!” The clock chief ignored favonovel.com outburst, instead pulling a lollipop from his pocket and placing it in favonovel.com hand. He continued to hold Boone, who turned away, lowering his head in silence.
“Speak up! Didn’t seem like you were at a loss for words when you snuck off. Left us a note, saying not to look for you. Do you have any idea how often the guys here kept an eye out for you? Some of us even went looking on our days off!”
Under the chief’s scolding, Boone’s body began to tremble, and tears gathered in the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. “Boss, I just didn’t want…”
“Don’t want, your *ss! Just because you can’t do heavy lifting anymore, you thought you’d just up and leave? I told you I’d take care of you! If you can’t haul crates, then do the d*mn accounting! You think you can just wander off and leave me worrying about you?! If you’re with me, I’ll look after you, no matter what!” The chief Mack Hancock’s tone was rough, but it carried an unmistakable note of concern.
“I’m sorry, boss,” Boone murmured, bowing his head in shame.
“You‘re… Mr. Mack?!” Winnie glanced at the lollipop in favonovel.com hand, realization dawning on her.
“Winnie! Didn’t expect you’d still remember me!” Mack laughed heartily, hearing favonovel.com recognize him, scratching his close-cropped hair.
Turning to Matthew, Mack’s expression softened as favonovel.com said, “Buddy, thank you for helping out my foolish friend here…”
He extended a sincere smile and offered his hand to Matthew, genuinely grateful for his assistance.
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