At the hospital.
“If that shard had gone any deeper, it would’ve been much harder to remove. Where’s your family?”
The intense pain had drained all color from Ashley’s face. Her lips, pressed tightly together, had turned pale.
“I have no family.”
The doctor froze for a second, then resumed treating her wound with more care, gently reminding her to rest and avoid walking too much.
As soon as she stepped out of the hospital, Ashley got a call from Mason.
“Where did you go? Why aren’t you at the office during work hours?”
“I was at….”
Before she could say “hospital,” Mason cut her off.
“Georgina’s having cramps. Come to the concert hall and drive us to the hospital.”
“But I…”
“Georgina’s pain is really bad. I had a drink today and can’t drive. You better be here in ten minutes.”
Ashley swallowed the rest of her words. Listening to the busy tone, she stood silently, lips pressed tight.
When she finally arrived, limping, her ankle still burning with pain, Georgina was curled up in Mason’s arms. He was gently rubbing her abdomen.
The tenderness on his face was something Ashley had never once received. She thought her heart had already gone numb, but sharp pain still cut through it. She bit back her tears.
Mason looked up and saw her. The softness in his expression disappeared instantly. With a glance, he signaled for her to get in the car without noticing her limp at all.
As Ashley climbed into the SUV, the sharp pain surged again, making her gasp. She felt the wound on her ankle tear open, warm blood seeping out.
“Hurry up. Georgina’s been in pain for a while now.”
Mason frowned, clearly annoyed by how slowly she was moving, a rare show of impatience.
Georgina added lightly, “It’s such a small thing. Why’d you even bother asking a little sister to drive?”
Mason responded coldly, “What, my secretary can’t even handle something this basic?”
At the wheel, Ashley’s focus faltered. She didn’t see the truck barreling toward them.
By the time she realized it, her injured ankle made it impossible to hit the brake fast enough. She could only jerk the wheel, narrowly avoiding the truck, but the SUV crashed violently into the landscaped divider.
The glass exploded across the cabin. Cuts opened on Ashley’s face and hands. Her body was wedged into the seat, too stiff and weak to move.
She cried out, “Mason, my leg is stuck. I can’t move.”
But all she heard was Mason’s voice, soft and reassuring for Georgina.
“Georgina, don’t be scared. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Through the rearview mirror, Ashley saw him cradle Georgina carefully in his arms.
He opened the door and gently lifted her out. Just as he turned toward the driver’s side, Georgina clung to his arm.
Tears in her voice, she whimpered, “Mason, my stomach hurts even more. Don’t leave me.”
Mason glanced once in Ashley’s direction, hesitation flickering across his face, but in the end, he turned away. Lifting Georgina into his arms, he said, “I’ll take Georgina to the hospital first. Wait for me.”
Watching his figure disappear into the distance, Ashley felt her heart turn colder. She quietly dialed for an ambulance.
By the time she was rescued, her legs were bruised and swollen. The extended loss of blood flow had left her unable to move them.
Inside the treatment room, several nurses chatted as they cleaned and bandaged her wounds.
“That was President Bennett earlier, wasn’t it? He treats his wife so well, so gentle and caring. And he’s so handsome too!”
“Right? How can someone be that rich, loyal and attractive? His wife is really lucky.”
“I heard he was hurt in the accident but didn’t let anyone treat him. He brought his wife in first.”
“And she didn’t even get hurt, just some cramps. But he still booked an entire floor just for her.”
One nurse finally noticed Ashley and gave her a curious look. “Were you in the same car as Mr. Bennett? Who are you?”
Looking down at her freshly bandaged legs, Ashley slowly wheeled herself forward and replied coldly, “I’m the Mrs. Bennett you’re all talking about.”
