The lights above the emergency room went out. Preston Vance was wheeled through the doors, and the small group waiting in the hallway immediately looked over.
“How is he?” Fiona Linton asked the doctor.
“He suffered significant blood loss, but he didn’t sustain any organ damage,” the doctor replied. “Fortunately, he was brought in just in time. He’ll be fine once he wakes up.”
Hearing this, Chloe Reed breathed an immediate sigh of relief. As long as he was okay, nothing else mattered.
Preston was transferred to a regular ward. His special assistant, who had just rushed over and assessed the situation, said, “I can’t make the call on this. We have to notify Mr. Vance’s family.”
Chloe nodded. “Notify them.”
Preston’s injury was severe; his family absolutely needed to know. At her word, the assistant turned and stepped out of the room to make the call.
Daniel Hayes looked at Chloe. “It’s getting late. Do you want to head back?”
Chloe shook her head. “I want to… wait for him to wake up.” She wouldn’t be able to truly rest until she saw him open his eyes and knew for certain that he was out of danger.
Fiona walked over and checked Preston’s pulse. “Chloe, he’s genuinely fine now. You don’t need to worry anymore.”
Despite her friend’s assurances, Chloe remained adamant. Since Preston was bound to wake up sooner or later anyway, the others decided to stay and keep her company.
Half an hour later, Mrs. Vance arrived. Supported by Ivy Vance, she hurried down the hall with a frantic expression on her face.
“Where is my son? Where is he?”
Daniel stepped forward. “He’s in the ward.”
Consumed by worry for Preston, Mrs. Vance had no time to process anything else. The moment she entered the room and saw him lying unconscious in the hospital bed, her tears began to fall.
Ivy, however, spotted Chloe immediately, and her expression darkened. But recalling the humiliation she had suffered at this woman’s hands before—and how fiercely Preston had defended her—Ivy bit her lip hard and kept quiet. Without her brother’s backing, she simply didn’t have the courage to pick a fight with Chloe.
As a result, she stared at the unconscious Preston without a trace of emotion in her eyes. Instead, she merely patted Mrs. Vance’s arm to comfort her. “Mom, don’t worry. Didn’t we already ask the doctor? It’s just blood loss. He’ll be fine.”
Wiping her tears, Mrs. Vance choked out a sob. “It’s right in the middle of the New Year holidays. How could he just suddenly get hurt like this? I told him not to go out, but he never listens. Look at him now! He hasn’t even woken up yet.”
Ivy shot a pointed glance toward the door. “My brother went out to look for Mrs. Grant. His injury must have something to do with her.”
As if suddenly snapping out of her grief, Mrs. Vance whipped her head around, her face twisting with rage. She stood up and marched to the doorway, glaring fiercely at Chloe. “How exactly did my son get hurt? Was it your doing, you jinx? Mrs. Grant, you’re already a married woman! Why are you still pestering my son? If you’re really that desperate for attention, could you at least go bother some other man?”
“Watch your mouth, you wretched old hag!” Fiona snapped back without hesitation. “Are you really forcing me to curse you out during the New Year? Who the hell do you think you are, pointing fingers at our Chloe? Did you never go to school? Do you not know the meaning of basic manners and decency? Your son seems like a decent guy, so how did his mother turn out so awful? Are you sure you’re even his biological mother?”
“You—!”
Mrs. Vance never expected someone to step up and talk back to her at a time like this, let alone with such harsh words!
Fiona lifted her chin defiantly. “Me what? Doesn’t feel good being insulted, does it? And what do you mean our Chloe went looking for your son? It’s painfully obvious that your son is the one constantly harassing her! He showed up uninvited and terrified her, and now you have the audacity to blame Chloe for this? Have you no shame?”