Chapter 60
“Losey Olson, I don’t have time for your nonsense. Don’t ever call me again!” Scarlett’s sharp words cut through the line, but before she could hang up, a sudden scream echoed from the other end of the call.
“Scarlett? Scarlett!” Lorey’s voice rose in panic, but the line went dead. Ainsley twisted in his seat as he tried calling her back to no avail. Something was wrong. Without a second thought, he dialed Grace.
At the hospital’s ER, Lorey paced restlessly near the ambulance bay, his mind racing. Minutes felt like hours before the sound of sirens broke through the tense air. He rushed toward the incoming stretcher, where Grace ran in alongside a team of paramedics.
“Scarlett was in a car accident,” Grace said breathlessly, her voice shaking. “The doctors said she needs surgery. I didn’t trust anyone else. You have to save her.”
Grace clung to Lorey’s arm, her desperation evident. He gave her a firm nod, steadying her as much as himself.
“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, she’ll be okay.”
Grace stepped back, letting Lorey move swiftly into the operating room. Inside, Scarlett lay unconscious, prepped for surgery. The injuries were serious but localized, with the most severe damage to her leg. Lorey breathed deeply, centering himself before getting to work.
In the hallway, Grace sat anxiously beneath the glowing red light above the operating room doors. Her fingers tapped nervously against her phone when a clattering sound drew her attention. Turning, she saw Cedric hobbling in on crutches, flanked by his mother.
Grace’s frustration flared. She opened her mouth to snap at him but stopped short, noticing his dramatic limp. Instead, she bit her tongue and stood still.
“How’s Scarlett? It’s just a minor surgery, right? Why is it taking so long?” Valda’s tone was sharp, and she wasted no time voicing her complaints.
Grace bristled, her patience wearing thin. Before she could respond, Zoe appeared in the corridor, her expression a mix of annoyance and sarcasm.
“Mrs. Reid,” Zoe began, her voice dripping with mock politeness, “I hate to break it to you, but even minor surgeries require precision and care. Especially when it’s someone as important as Scarlett.”
Then, turning to Cedric, her gaze turned sly. “And your leg—when did you hurt it? Because from the way you walked in here earlier, it didn’t look all that bad.”
Her words hung in the air, clear in meaning. Grace’s eyes flicked toward Cedric, catching his involuntary flinch. She narrowed her gaze, suspicion blooming. Sensing the growing tension, Valda jumped in defensively. “Grace, why are you staring at us like that? Don’t tell me you’re actually believing this girl’s nonsense!”
Grace forced a calm expression, even as her thoughts churned. “You misunderstood. I’m just worried about Scarlett.”
Zoe scoffed. “Funny, considering how the two of you seem more focused on yourselves than her.”
Her words landed like a punch, leaving Cedric visibly squirming. He avoided eye contact, his guilt written all over his face. Valda, however, wasn’t backing down. “My son was here when he heard Scarlett got hurt!” she snapped. “He’s doing everything he can. You’ve got no right to question his intentions.”
Valda sighed in frustration, eventually settling into a chair with a look of helplessness. On the other hand, Zoe rolled her eyes, disgust flickering across her face. To her, this mother-son duo was annoying.