Chapter 17

"What did you say?"

Adrian's heart clenched violently, as if squeezed by an invisible hand. He instinctively pressed a hand to his chest, brows furrowed. "What happened to her?"

"Miss Stella—"

"Adrian!" A shrill scream cut through the call. Lily collapsed onto the lawn, clutching her ankle with tears in her eyes. "It hurts so much..."

Nearby, a small boy stood frozen, clutching a tattered soccer ball.

"Mr. Roland?" Damian's urgent voice crackled through the phone.

Adrian's gaze locked onto Lily. "Lily's hurt. Handle the hospital matter yourself."

"But Miss Stella—"

"What scheme is she pulling now?"

"It's not like that! Miss Stella is in critical condition. The doctors said—"

Lily's sobs suddenly intensified. "Adrian, I can't stand up..."

He ended the call decisively. "I see through her tricks. Don't fall for them."

Striding toward Lily, he knelt to examine her injury. Her pale ankle was already swollen, streaks of blood visible.

"How did this happen?"

She bit her lip, tears rolling down. "It was my fault... What did Damian want?"

"Nothing important." He scooped her into his arms. As he turned, his sleeve was lightly tugged.

The boy looked up, eyes red. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to..."

Adrian's expression darkened. "No ball games in public areas."

"I know." The boy pulled crumpled bills from his pocket, hands trembling. "This is all I have for medical fees..."

His small hands were dotted with needle marks, still bearing cotton balls from recent injections.

"Where are your parents?"

"Mom's cleaning..." The boy's voice faded. "The ball didn't hit her. She walked into it..."

Lily leaned weakly against Adrian's shoulder. "Don't blame the child."

The hospital reeked of antiseptic.

The doctor adjusted his glasses. "A mild sprain. Rest for two days."

"Thank you, Doctor." Adrian exhaled in relief.

The doctor smiled at them. "Newlyweds? You're lucky, miss. This morning we admitted a young mother with terminal lung cancer. So tragic..."

Lily's eyes flickered. "How is she?"

"Stabilized for now, but with late-stage cancer and postpartum weakness..." The doctor shook his head. "No family has come."

Adrian pinched Lily's cheek. "Worry about yourself first."

"I can't bear seeing others suffer." She clung to his neck like a spoiled child.

His phone rang again. Lily snatched it and declined the call. "Today's our wedding day. You promised to stay with me."

"Fine. Let's get you home."

As they drove away, Lily scrolled through his call log. Seeing "Damian Chamberlain," she smirked and deleted the record.

"The number you dialed is currently unavailable..."

Damian paced frantically. The surgery consent form required a family signature, but Adrian's phone stayed unreachable.

A weak moan came from the hospital bed.

"Miss Stella!" Damian rushed to her side.

Stella's pale lips trembled. "My... children..."

"They need immediate surgery. Can you sign?"

With great effort, she lifted a finger. Damian placed a pen in her grip, guiding her hand to leave a shaky signature.

As the pen clattered to the floor, Stella whispered, "Adrian..."

"Mr. Roland said Miss Savigny was injured. Then he stopped answering."

A spray of crimson blood bloomed across the oxygen mask like a withering rose.