Chapter 43

He hadn't gotten a good look at the girl's face then, but he seemed to remember it now. The girl who saved him had hair so long it nearly wrapped around his neck in the water—much longer than Roxanne's. However, after he was rescued and woke up, Roxanne was the first person he saw. He subconsciously assumed she was his rescuer.

Joanna coughed violently, utterly drained. After being in the ocean so long, she'd swallowed a great deal of seawater. Although a strong swimmer, she felt helpless dragging a large man.

They bobbed in the water, only ten meters from shore. She could have reached it in under a minute alone, but dragging Bruce took over ten minutes. Coughing, she staggered up the beach, exhausted and near collapse. She couldn't move him, much less carry him to shore. She managed to drag him only far enough to rest his upper body on the steps, preventing drowning or suffocation.

"Bruce, wake up!" she called, coughing.

Half-conscious, he couldn't open his eyes. Joanna shook him vigorously and performed CPR. He finally opened his mouth, spitting out seawater, his breathing easing. Relieved to see him awake, she noticed his severely bleeding head wound. He needed immediate hospital care.

A crowd had gathered, pointing and whispering.

"Help! Please call an ambulance!" Joanna cried, staggering toward them.

Seeing her thin, delicate figure, Bruce experienced a moment of déjà vu. His mind reeled, searching his memories. The image of a delicate figure with long, wet hair solidified. He remembered: ten years ago, it had been exactly the same. A girl had dragged him ashore and then anxiously sought help. When he woke up, Roxanne was there.

His memories were jumbled; he'd mistakenly believed Roxanne had saved him. That was the day he'd developed feelings for Roxanne. Before that, he'd been in love with the long-haired Joanna.

"Joann" Bruce called weakly, lifting his arm.

Several cars sped toward them. Over a dozen people rushed down to the beach to help. Bruce's bodyguards and assistants, tracking his car via GPS, had arrived.

"Mr. Everett! Hurry!"

They lifted Bruce into a car and sped to the hospital. Andy stayed to deal with the police.

At the hospital, Bruce went straight to the emergency room, while Joanna was taken to a treatment room. She had several deep cuts from the car's broken glass requiring stitches, but her injuries were less severe than Bruce's.

Margaret, Roxanne, Ingrid, Shaun, and others rushed to the hospital.

"Bruce!"

"Bruce!"

"Don't worry, Mrs. Everett. Mr. Everett has just received stitches and is awake."

Margaret, though relieved, remained worried. He was the Everett family's only son; his death would leave their vast empire heirless.

Bruce's wound was dressed, and he rested in his hospital bed.

"Bru, are you okay?"

"Grandma, I'm fine!"

"How did this happen?"

"An accident."

Margaret gripped his hand. "How many times have I told you not to drive?"

Her voice was laced with worry and heartache.

"Bruce, you scared me!" Roxanne sobbed, burying her face in his arms.

Ingrid added nervously, "Yes, you scared us! Be careful driving, or better yet, don't drive at all. We have drivers, don't we?"

Shaun, too, expressed concern. "Fortunately, you're safe this time, but be more careful."

Everyone fussed over Bruce; no one showed Joanna concern, not even Shaun.

Joanna's wounds were dressed, and she'd received anti-inflammatory medication. She was about to leave.

"Joann!" Jaydon rushed over. "I'm so sorry!"

He hugged her tightly, repeatedly apologizing.

"I'm fine. My wounds are dressed, and I can leave."

Seeing her pale face, he worried more. "Are you sure? Let me see your wounds." She gave a weak smile, enduring the pain. "Yes, I'm fine. I'll just need to return tomorrow for a dressing change."

Her body ached; the anesthetic had worn off from the numerous stitches. Jaydon, heartbroken, lifted her shirt to examine her wounds. Her abdomen, thighs, and arms were covered in stitches. They would likely scar.

"Bruce! That son of a bitch! I'm going after him"

"No, Jay, don't," Joanna stopped him. What good would it do? She'd receive minimal compensation, not imprisonment.

"Ouch!" she groaned.

Jaydon supported her. "Joann, stay a few days. Infection could worsen the wounds."

Joanna bit her lip, fighting the pain. "No, I need to go home to Lilia. It's past midnight. I need to hurry."

"Let me take you home."

"All right."

Back in the ward, the fuss over Bruce continued.

"Rest for a few days, Bruce."

"Grandma, I'm sorry to worry you."

Ingrid frowned. "You young men are impulsive, especially before marriage. See what happened? Mrs. Everett, once Bruce recovers, he should marry Roxanne. It's best to settle down soon…"

Margaret frowned. The Everetts were connected to Raymond, not Ingrid. Ingrid had no right to comment.

"Bruce needs rest. Everyone, please leave."

Ingrid left reluctantly, along with Roxanne and Shaun.