Chapter 86
Lila froze.
Alexander's harsh scolding made her feel like she was the other woman, hurting the person he cherished most.
This feeling was awful, so awful it made her want to cry.
Julie glanced at her, then turned to Alexander and said, "Mr. Sinclair, I'm fine. Don't blame Mrs. Sinclair. Don't let me damage your relationship."
"She was the one driving. Who else should I blame?"
"It's just a scrape on my leg. There's a lot of blood, but it's not that serious."
Lila snapped out of her heartache and looked at Julie. "Miss Baker, I'm really sorry. I made a mistake just now. I didn't brake properly and hit the gas instead, which is why the car moved forward. If you don't think the injury is serious, you can go home and rest first, then get it checked at the hospital tomorrow morning. I'll cover all the examination and treatment costs."
As she spoke, she took out her phone. "What's your number, Miss Baker? I'll call you so you can save mine. If you have any problems with your leg later, you can reach me."
Julie stared at her blankly without speaking, instead turning her gaze to Alexander.
Alexander glanced at Lila impatiently. "Get back in the car."
Lila didn't move. She reminded him, "I hurt Miss Baker. I need to take responsibility."
Alexander threw her a blunt reply: "It's not your place to take responsibility for her."
Lila met his impatient and disgusted look, and her heart felt like it had been stung. She instinctively took a step back, like a deflated balloon, and lowered her eyes.
Alexander didn't care about her.
His attention was entirely on Julie as he held her arm. "I'll take you home."
"No need, Mr. Sinclair. I can walk by myself." She dodged his arm and stubbornly took a step forward.
The sound of a body hitting the ground echoed again on the quiet street.
"Ouch!" Julie fell to the ground again. Her already bleeding wound suffered a second injury, and she screamed in pain.
Even Lila, caught up in her sadness and disappointment, felt her legs tremble at the sound of that scream.
Alexander's face darkened as he helped her up from the ground. "Alright, I'll help you upstairs."
"It's all because I'm so clumsy. Mr. Sinclair, I'm sorry for taking up your time."
"Let's go."
Alexander supported Julie as they walked toward the path leading into the residential area.
Lila watched their backs and suddenly felt lost.
She didn't even know whether she should stay or go.
After their figures disappeared from view, she crouched down by the roadside.
There were people walking after dinner or heading home. It looked pretty lively, but Lila felt like the most unnecessary person in the world, crouching on the busy street corner with no one paying her any attention.
She felt helpless and pathetic.
For some reason, in that moment, she felt so sorry for herself that tears fell uncontrollably.
Lila couldn't understand why she felt so wronged when she was the one who had hit someone, when Julie was the one bleeding and suffering.
She wasn't hurt, she wasn't bleeding, her body was perfectly fine. No pain, no discomfort.
But the more she thought about it, the clearer the image of Alexander blaming her out of concern for Julie became, and the harder the tears flowed.
Lila didn't dare cry too openly.
She was afraid passersby would look at her strangely, and she was afraid that if Alexander came down and saw her crying, he would scold her.
After the worst wave of emotion poured out with her tears, she wiped them away with her hand, looked up at the night sky, forced a smile onto her face, and made herself think of happy things.
She didn't know how long she'd been crouching by the roadside when a cold voice reached her ears: "What are you doing squatting on the ground?"