Chapter 44 Here I Am

Chapter 44 Here I Am

"Stop it!"

Flora's eyes sharpened. She skillfully dodged around the kidnappers blocking her way and, quick as lightning, grabbed Ava's arm, stopping her movement.

Ava stumbled into Flora's arms from the momentum, clutching tightly at her clothes, tears streaming down her face as she choked out, "But, but..."

But the kidnappers would use her as leverage. Rather than become a weakness, she might as well die and create a chance for Flora to escape.

Flora patted her head comfortingly and said in a low voice, "Stay with me. Don't run off."

"Okay!" Ava nodded hard, raised her hand to roughly wipe away the tears on her face, and consciously took two steps back, hiding behind her.

Flora tore off a corner of her shirt and quickly bandaged her middle finger, which was bleeding nonstop and barely hanging on.

"Get them!" Seeing this, the kidnapper leader gave the order, and his men swarmed forward. Flora didn't waste words either, diving straight into the crowd, and the two sides immediately started fighting.

Flora's moves were ruthless, her strikes clean and decisive. One punch knocked down one person, then she retreated and crouched, sweeping two more off their feet.

But two fists couldn't fight four hands, and with her injury, she was soon losing ground.

Just as Flora was being choked by the neck and pinned to the ground, getting beaten savagely, the other half of the door was violently smashed open again. A group led by Gavin rushed in swiftly and immediately joined the brawl.

Gavin's sudden appearance caught the kidnappers off guard. Plus, the bodyguards he brought were all professionally trained and carefully cultivated, each one strong and sturdy. In no time, the situation completely reversed.

Gavin's gaze cut through the crowd and locked onto Flora in the corner. He pressed his lips together and strode toward her.

A thousand words seemed to surge to his heart, but the moment he saw her seriously injured and covered in blood, only heartache remained in his eyes.

"I'm taking you to the hospital."

He crouched down and picked her up, his movements careful and gentle, as if holding fragile treasure in his arms.

"I'm coming too!" Seeing them about to leave, Ava immediately leaned against the wall, propping up her shaky body.

Gavin glanced at her. Seeing she only had minor external injuries, he said, "I've already called the police. They'll be here soon. You should stay and cooperate with their investigation."

Ava spat out the blood in her mouth and limped toward the exit, urging hoarsely, "Stop talking! Flora's badly hurt. We need to get to the hospital now. The investigation can wait!"

Her cousin was about to become disabled—how could she have any mind for cooperating with some investigation!

Seeing her insistence, Gavin stopped trying to persuade her and let her come along.

The group rushed all the way to the hospital. As soon as the car stopped, doctors who had been waiting outside immediately came forward, working together to lift Flora onto a stretcher and rush her into the operating room.

The red light above the operating room suddenly lit up. A nurse nearby suggested that Ava get her wounds treated first. But she just shook her head, insisting on waiting outside the door for Flora to come out.

She twisted her fingers together, her gaze frequently turning toward the operating room. The fear that had been suppressed in her heart for so long was eating away at her peace of mind, bit by bit, leaving her restless.

Ava closed her eyes tightly, clasped her hands together, and silently prayed with devotion in her heart.

Flora's middle finger was only half severed, the wound clean and intact. Less than two hours had passed since the accident, and Gavin had brought in a senior attending physician in the field. Nothing would go wrong.

She would definitely be okay!

Because they had to give statements to the police, Yara and Owen arrived a bit late.

Fortunately, the surgery was very successful. Flora's injuries were finally stabilized—she just needed to rest and recover peacefully.

In just four short hours, Flora had suffered serious injuries and undergone surgery. Looking at the heavy cast on her hand, Yara's eyes immediately reddened. She gently touched Flora's pale face with heartache. "Flora, you can't be so impulsive next time. If something really happened to you, what would Mom and Dad do..."

Yara and Owen hadn't expected things to get this serious. They absolutely refused to let those kidnappers off easily. Yara immediately told her brothers to pursue the matter severely, making sure this group paid the price they deserved and received the full punishment of the law.

Yara held Flora's hand and suggested, "When you're better, I'll take you to church to say a prayer—get rid of the bad luck."

Ever since she came home, accidents and illnesses hadn't stopped. Could someone have cursed her?

Thinking this, Yara's heart ached, and tears instantly welled up.

Owen on the side thought it was a good idea. "Should I get a fortune teller to come take a look?"

"Dad, Mom, I'm fine. I don't believe in religion." Flora raised her good right hand to wipe away her tears, urging them that it was getting late and they should go home and rest.

Every time Yara saw her injured hand, she couldn't help crying, and her crying was giving Flora a headache.

"Flora's right." Gavin, who Flora had called on, was secretly amused but put on a serious face, joining in the persuasion. "Mr. and Mrs. White, it's getting late. You've been rushing around for so long—you should get some rest.

Ava on the side keenly sensed the subtle feelings between them. Her gaze moved back and forth between the two, then she actively stepped forward. "Aunt Yara and Uncle Owen, I'll watch over her here. You can rest assured—I'll tell you immediately if anything happens."

Yara hesitated. "But you're injured too."

"These are just surface wounds. It's nothing. Besides, if it weren't for Flora, I wouldn't have been rescued safely. Staying to take care of her is what I should do anyway."

As Ava spoke, she led the two out of the hospital room, deliberately leaving Flora and Gavin alone together.

Although the Loomis family tried hard to suppress the matter, the news that Ava had been kidnapped and Flora had injured her finger was still discovered by Vivian's planted informant and quietly reported to her.

Learning of this, Vivian was overjoyed, slapping her thigh happily. "This is wonderful!"

She had been thinking about what method to use against Flora, but Flora had actually gotten her comeuppance!

A crippled Flora—what right would she have to compete with her in the future!

In high spirits, Vivian even treated her subordinates with a bit more kindness. But just as she was preparing to throw a party to celebrate this good news, her informant sent the latest intelligence: Flora's surgery was very successful, the severed finger had been successfully reattached, and her condition had stabilized. Moreover, Gavin was now staying by her side, taking care of her.

"That bitch!"

The moment she read the message, a fury at being played shot straight to her head. Vivian suddenly kicked over the chair beside her, then swept all the cosmetics off the vanity table onto the floor.