Chapter 44
“All that scheming just to marry rich. How do you even have the nerve to keep living in this world?!”
“Women like you, all vanity and no shame, deserve to rot!”
“If the law won’t punish you, then we will. Today, we’re delivering justice on behalf of the heavens!”
The crowd had her surrounded, hurling insults and shoving her from all sides. Someone pushed her hard enough that she stumbled and fell to the ground.
It was only then that a hospital security guard noticed the commotion and rushed over.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing? Get out of here! This is a hospital!”
The group scattered at once, vanishing as quickly as they had come.
Sharon tried to get up. But before she could lift herself, a pair of polished black leather shoes appeared before her.
She instinctively looked up. Through blurry vision, she saw a face-cool, handsome, distant.
Carter’s dark eyes stared down at her, reflecting her disheveled state in their depths.
He said, calmly, “I’ve spoken to Kelly. She’s agreed not to pursue legal charges about the accident, but you’ll have to apologize. Publicly.”
Sharon closed her eyes for a moment. She drew in several deep breaths before she could steady herself.
She braced her hands on the ground and tried to sit up.
But her limbs felt like lead. She struggled and still couldn’t stand.
So useless. So pathetic.
Somehow, she was always this way around Carter-caught in her weakest, most humiliating moments.
And just then, the absurdity of it all made her want to laugh.
Her lips lifted into a faint smile. But for some reason, her eyes stung first.
Carter looked down at her pale, fragile figure, and his gaze deepened. His thin lips tightened. He stepped forward, intending to help her up.
But before he could reach her, a hand extended past him. 1
“Sharon, are you alright?”
She looked up to see Xavier’s familiar face-handsome, slightly roguish.
Her throat tightened, aching with a sour pressure. “Xavier…”
Xavier gently lifted her from the ground. “Sorry, things have been hectic these past few days. I forgot you were being discharged.
”
Her voice was hoarse. “I didn’t want to trouble you. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
He glanced down at the wound on her leg, then at the scrape on her forehead. “Your head’s bleeding. Let’s get you back in for a proper checkup.”
“It’s fine. Just a scratch. I can have it cleaned and bandaged-”
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“No,” Xavier’s tone turned firm, rare seriousness settling over his features. “We need to make sure you’re really okay.”
Seeing his insistence, Sharon finally nodded.
“Alright.”
With his arm supporting her, they started back toward the hospital.
Just then, a hand gripped her wrist.
Carter’s face had gone dark, his voice cold and restrained. “No need to trouble you, Mr. Cooper. I’ll take her back in.”
Xavier didn’t release her. Instead, he gave a look of mild surprise, like someone pretending not to notice the chill in the air.
“You want to take her in, Mr. Biggs? But just a moment ago, when she fell, it didn’t seem like you were planning to help her at
all.”
Carter’s expression turned stormy.
But before he could respond, a delighted voice suddenly rang out.
“Carter! You’re here!” Kelly hurried over and threw herself into his arms, as if no one else existed.
“You knew I was getting discharged today, didn’t you? You came just to pick me up, right?” Kelly’s voice was full of joy, her eyes shimmering like water, spilling over with tenderness.
Her face glowed with happiness. “Carter, I told you, if you’re too busy, you don’t have to come for me…”
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