Chapter 35
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you take the fall for this,” Carter assured.
Only then did Kelly break into a small, tear-streaked smile. She knew Carter wasn’t the kind of man who made promises lightly. If he gave his word, he’d follow through.
A few minutes later, Simon arrived at the door of another hospital room.
He had already found out that the owner of the car that collided with Kelly was staying in this very room. Naturally, something like this wasn’t worth Carter’s personal attention.
Simon knocked lightly, then stepped inside.
Meanwhile, Carter stood in the hallway, once again dialing Sharon’s number.
Just like the day before, the call rang and rang, unanswered.
A sharp irritation stirred in his chest.
He was about to call again when Simon reappeared, his expression oddly strained.
Carter paused. “You’re back already? She’s still not admitting it?”
Simon gave him a careful look, hesitation written all over his face. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.
“Mr. Biggs… you’d better take a look for yourself.”
Simon was one of the most capable assistants Carter had ever worked with. A small matter like this wouldn’t normally warrant such a response.
So if he was saying that Carter needed to see it personally, it wasn’t a small matter.
Carter glanced at him once, then pushed the door open and walked into the room.
The moment he saw the woman sitting upright in the hospital bed, his steps halted.
“Sharon?” His voice dropped. “Why are you here?”
Sharon had already learned why he’d come, thanks to Simon. So when he appeared in the doorway, she wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
She sat quietly by the bed, her face pale, faint scabs lining her forehead. Her expression was calm and detached.
“Why I’m here?” she said lightly, looking at him. “Aren’t you just asking what you already know, Mr. Biggs? Why you’re here- you should be clearer than anyone.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re the one who collided with Kelly?”
Sharon’s voice was feather-light. “That’s right.”
In that instant, everything became clear.
Carter’s gaze flickered like a candle flame, uncertain.
He looked at her, eyes filled with something unreadable. “When you called me yesterday… you were in the car?”
Sharon’s voice was soft, without emotion. “When you were pulling Kelly from the wreckage, my foot was pinned inside. I was calling you so you’d come pull me out too.”
But he hadn’t answered.
1/2
Chapter 35
+25 BONUS
He’d declined her call.
And even if he had just looked-just glanced in her direction-he would have seen her.
But he hadn’t.
Not even once.
His entire focus had been on Kelly. There was no room in his gaze for anyone else.
Was she disappointed?
No. She hadn’t expected anything from him in a long time. There was no disappointment, because there had never been hope.
But in a life-or-death moment, being left behind like that-it was a terrible feeling. One she never wanted to experience again.
“I’m sorry,” Carter said quietly. “I didn’t know you were there.”
Sharon gave a faint smile. “Right. You didn’t know I was there. You thought I was calling for something trivial, something unimportant. That’s why you could decline my call without hesitation. Because…”
She looked him in the eyes, each word deliberate. “In your heart, I never really mattered.”
And in that moment, any explanation would have sounded like an excuse.
Carter said nothing.
Sharon slowly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her gaze was clear, her emotions locked away.
“Mr. Biggs, if there’s something you need to say, just get to the point.”
Only then did Carter recall why he had come.
“Did you… crash into Kelly?”
2/2
