Chapter 178

Chapter 178

A piercing shriek tore through the hall. Without hesitation, Grace hoisted the heavy candelabra high and swung it with every ounce of strength toward the back of Louisa's skull.

It happened so fast. The room fell deathly silent. No one had time to react. Nearby guests screamed in terror, reporters stumbled backward, and the scene descended into chaos.

Neville was closest. His pupils contracted sharply. He moved instinctively to intervene, but it was already too late.

In that split second, Jasmine—still nestled in Louisa's embrace—reacted on pure instinct, faster than thought. Without a moment's hesitation, she spun around and threw herself in front of Louisa.

A dull, sickening thud rang out. The heavy metal candelabra slammed squarely into Jasmine's lower back, right over her kidney.

Searing pain exploded through her body, sharp and bone-deep.

Jasmine's body jerked violently. Her face drained of color at a visible speed, and a thin line of crimson trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Her kidney ruptured instantly. The agony of internal organ damage obliterated her consciousness.

She didn't even have time to speak. Her body went limp, vision went black, and she collapsed.

"Jas!"

Louisa's entire body trembled, her voice breaking in terror.

Neville's eyes blazed with fury, his aura plummeting to subzero. Murderous intent radiated from him as he lunged forward like a madman, catching Jasmine's falling body. His icy gaze locked onto the deranged Grace.

The gilded candelabra hit the floor with a harsh clang. Crimson blood soaked the hem of Jasmine's white dress. The engagement party dissolved into complete pandemonium.

After the assault, the madness in Grace's mind receded slightly, replaced by sheer panic that wrapped around her like a vice.

She knew full well that strike hadn't just destroyed Jasmine—it had obliterated her own future too. Staying here meant being torn apart. Her only chance at survival was to slip away in the chaos.

A flicker of hope flashed in Grace's eyes. She shoved aside panicked guests and ducked her head, trying to blend into the crowd and sneak out the side exit.

But her pathetic scheme meant nothing to the enraged Neville.

He carefully laid the unconscious Jasmine flat on the ground, his body radiating bone-chilling violence, his eyes churning with near-apocalyptic killing intent. He didn't even waste a glance on the fleeing Grace. In one fluid motion, he closed the distance in seconds, catching up to her in an instant.

Before Grace could react, Neville raised his foot and stomped down hard on her back with brutal force.

Grace crashed to the floor, pain exploding through her chest, a metallic taste rising in her throat. Neville ground his shoe into her spine, pinning her to the cold floor like an insect. She couldn't move an inch.

Pain shot through her vertebrae, threatening to snap. Grace's composure shattered completely. She screamed desperately, "Murder! He's killing me!"

Neville stood over her, his voice colder than a thousand-year glacier, every word laced with venom. "No one's saving you today."

He turned to the black-suited security guards rushing over. His tone carried zero warmth. "Tie her up. Guard her closely. Call the police immediately. Turn her over to the authorities. Prosecute every single charge to the fullest extent."

"Yes, Mr. Cooper!"

The guards moved in, pulling out restraints and roughly binding the struggling, screaming Grace. No matter how much she cursed and threatened, Neville didn't spare her another glance.

He returned to Jasmine's side and carefully scooped her up in his arms—her face deathly pale, blood at the corner of her mouth. His movements were impossibly gentle, a complete contrast to the violence moments before.

"Jas, don't be afraid. I'm taking you to the hospital."

Leaving behind the chaotic guests and reporters, Neville carried Jasmine out of the ballroom, got into the emergency vehicle stationed at the hotel entrance, and sped toward the city center hospital.

Upon arrival, medical staff took over immediately, rushing Jasmine into the emergency room. After a quick preliminary exam, the attending physician emerged, his expression grave, and approached the dark-faced Neville.

"The patient suffered a severe blow to her lower back. Her kidney is extensively ruptured with massive internal bleeding. The situation is critical. We need to perform emergency surgery immediately."

Neville's fists clenched tight, his voice hoarse. "What are the odds? Will there be lasting damage?"

The doctor's face showed reluctance as he delivered the worst-case scenario. "I'll be blunt with you. The kidney damage is far worse than we initially estimated. It's triggered acute kidney failure. The tissue is completely necrotic—beyond repair. To save her life, the only option is to remove the damaged kidney."

Those words pierced Neville's heart like a blade.

"Remove her kidney?" Bloodshot veins filled Neville's eyes. He forced down his panic and pressed on. "How much will that affect her? Can we arrange for a donor kidney immediately and do a transplant?"

"Her immune system will weaken afterward. She can't overexert herself. She'll need lifelong rest and care." The doctor shook his head helplessly, crushing his hopes. "Here's the real problem—Miss Hale has an extremely rare blood type: RH-negative AB. The donor pool for matching kidneys is incredibly small. The national registry is empty. We can't find a suitable donor in time. We can only remove the necrotic kidney and temporarily preserve the other one, which isn't as badly damaged, while we wait for a donor."

Despair settled over the corridor. Neville's aura grew more oppressive, his eyes filled with helplessness.

Just as everyone stood at an impasse, Louisa—still in her wheelchair, not yet fully recovered—spoke up without hesitation, her tone unwavering. "Give her mine."

Every eye in the corridor turned to Louisa.

She looked up at the doctor. "I'm Jasmine's biological mother. Direct blood relatives have a much higher compatibility rate than strangers. Run a compatibility test on me."

"Mrs. Lane, your body hasn't fully recovered yet. Surgery right now carries enormous risk." The doctor tried to dissuade her.

"No matter the risk, I'm saving my daughter." Louisa's tone was firm, brooking no argument. "I've owed her for over twenty years. I won't stand by and watch her die in front of me. Run the compatibility test immediately. If anything goes wrong, I'll take full responsibility."

The doctor couldn't argue with Louisa and rushed to arrange the testing. Half an hour later, the compatibility report came back with results that lifted everyone's spirits—every indicator was a perfect match. One hundred percent compatible.

Louisa immediately finalized the surgical plan. "I voluntarily donate one kidney to Jas. Schedule both surgeries simultaneously."

She wheeled herself over to Neville. Stripping away all her authority, leaving only a mother's anxiety and trust, she gazed solemnly into his eyes. "Neville, I'm entrusting my daughter to you. From this day forward, I need just one promise from you. Protect her. Shield her from suffering. Treat her with the same devotion for the rest of your life. Never let anyone or anything hurt her again. Can you do that?"

Neville straightened his back, his expression solemn, his voice ringing with conviction as he made the most important vow of his life. "I swear on my life—Jasmine is the only woman I will ever love. From now on, I'll shield her from every storm, bear every hardship. I'll spend my entire life keeping her safe and will never betray her. If I break this oath, I'll pay with my life."

Those few words carried more weight than a thousand speeches. The tension in Louisa's heart finally eased. "Good. I believe you."