Chapter 149 The Treatment Three Years Ago
Victor stared at the man before him in disbelief.
After a long moment, he finally found his voice, stammering in shock, "...Mr. FitzRoy?"
He assumed Mr. FitzRoy had come to hold him accountable for the violence and quickly explained, "We responded as fast as we could. When we tried to stop the attacker, several medical staff were injured trying to restrain him. Unfortunately, the first stab to Dr. Hamilton hit his heart directly. By the time I got there to try to save him, it was already too late..."
His expression was defeated, but he stood at attention ready to take his punishment. "Regardless of the circumstances, this kind of incident happening in my hospital means I can't escape responsibility as director. We failed to have proper protocols in place for this scenario. Mr. FitzRoy, I'm willing to accept any consequences, including termination and financial liability."
Alexander stood before him, looking into Victor's lifeless eyes. After a moment, he spoke in a low voice. "The attacker has been taken into custody. I'll have our legal team coordinate everything from here. I'll make sure Dr. Hamilton gets justice for both criminal liability and compensation."
"Beyond that, the hospital will provide a condolence fund to Dr. Hamilton's family and ensure his widow and children are taken care of."
"I know Dr. Hamilton was your most talented student. Please accept my condolences."
"As for you—if you want to donate to Dr. Hamilton's family personally, that's your business. You don't need to clear it with me."
Victor never would have expected Mr. FitzRoy to show up here before dawn to tell him this.
"You're... not going to punish me?" A flash of grief crossed his eyes. "I am responsible for this hospital, after all."
"Yes, under your management, this kind of incident occurred. By rights, I should hold you accountable, even though you're innocent." Alexander's blue eyes were unfathomable. "The parent company will take responsibility this time. In exchange, I need you to answer some questions for me."
Victor froze, staring into Alexander's bottomless blue gaze. An inexplicable unease crept over him, as if he already sensed that what Alexander was about to ask wouldn't be simple.
But he also understood this was Mr. FitzRoy giving him a way out.
After hesitating, he finally said, "Go ahead. I'll answer anything I know."
"Three years ago, when you were working in the emergency room, you participated in treating a very serious car accident case. Is that right?"
Victor's heart jumped. He looked up sharply at Alexander, his breathing quickening. "You heard about that accident too?"
Alexander didn't answer his question. "Yes or no?"
Victor nodded with difficulty. "Yes."
"Tell me the details of that accident." Alexander's gaze was steady.
Pain flashed through Victor's eyes. He turned his back to Alexander and looked out the window where dawn was beginning to break.
"It was... it was late at night."
Victor's voice trembled. That incident from three years ago was like a massive scar for him. He'd changed his entire career trajectory because of it. If Mr. FitzRoy hadn't asked, he would never have wanted to relive it.
"It was raining that night. We got word that a large truck had collided with a sedan. There was a family of three in the car—the mother died on impact. The father and child, along with the drunk driver, were rushed here for emergency treatment. The entire ER mobilized to prepare for this difficult case."
"When the ambulance brought them in, there were three injured parties. The child from that family had the lightest injuries and was assigned to a newly hired doctor and some residents. The father was reportedly trapped from the waist down in the vehicle and might face amputation, but his life wasn't in immediate danger. The real challenge was the drunk driver. A young doctor and I were assigned to treat him."
"The driver was critically injured—multiple ruptured organs, massive hemorrhaging, compound fractures. That young doctor was responsible for the internal organ repair surgery."
"The operation was going smoothly. Just when we were about to finish..." Victor couldn't control himself and his voice broke. He forced the emotion down and continued. "A family member of one of the patients burst in with a knife, running straight at that young doctor. The blade... plunged deep into his body. I was frozen in shock, paralyzed like a useless piece of trash on the floor. Security subdued the attacker quickly, but that young doctor... didn't survive."
"Because of the young doctor's sudden death, the drunk driver didn't make it either. He died a few days later."
Victor casually wiped at the corner of his eye. When he turned back around, aside from the redness, there was no trace of emotion. He asked in confusion, "Mr. FitzRoy, why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Alexander's expression darkened. He didn't answer Victor's question. Instead, his mind flashed back to a conversation he'd had with Arabella when they first met.
"How did you and Anthony meet?"
"Three years ago, my parents were in a car accident. My mom died on the scene. My dad injured his spine and his legs were paralyzed. The driver fled. I met Anthony at my lowest point. He helped me track down the hit-and-run driver and found the best specialists for my dad, which saved both his legs."
He could now confirm with near certainty that the accident Victor had treated was the same one Arabella had experienced.
But Arabella had said the driver fled the scene and Anthony helped her find him. Victor said the driver had died.
Alexander looked up at Victor. "What happened to the father from that family of three?"
Victor thought back. "I didn't follow up on those patients afterward, but I heard his injuries were severe. Luckily, though, even with the spinal injury, they were able to save both his legs. With long-term physical therapy, he might even be able to walk again."
Alexander's eyes went cold.
The hospital had already saved Percy's legs during the initial treatment, yet Arabella believed Anthony had found top specialists who saved them.
Three years ago, Arabella had seen Anthony as her savior. She'd trusted him, been grateful to him. And he... what had he treated Arabella as?
"Did that incident cause you to transfer to management?" Alexander asked.
Victor slowly nodded. "Yes. After that, I developed acute stress disorder. I couldn't trust patients anymore, couldn't perform surgery. So..."
"I heard that for Dr. Hamilton's surgery this time, you were the lead surgeon?"
Victor smiled bitterly. "I was just trying one more time for my student's sake. But he didn't make it..."
"My condolences." Alexander's tone was flat. Then he asked, "Why are there no records of that emergency treatment from three years ago?"
He'd bought this hospital on a whim after returning to the country. If Moris hadn't discovered that Grandfather had been at this hospital three years ago, he never would have traced things back to discover that a car accident had also been wiped from the records.
Victor looked startled. "You didn't know? Shortly after that accident three years ago, there was a fire inside the hospital. It destroyed a lot of files. The hospital's network was down for half a month. By the time everything was back to normal, all the patient records had been lost."
Alexander's mouth twisted slightly.
Victor felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine. This was the first time Mr. FitzRoy had shown any expression during their entire conversation. But that smile was somehow bone-chilling—like a killer lurking in the shadows casually glancing up.
Just that look alone was enough to make your blood run cold.
Victor's instincts told him that Mr. FitzRoy's questions weren't simple. But he'd asked twice now and Mr. FitzRoy hadn't given straight answers, which meant this wasn't something Victor should be prying into.
So he stood there quietly. If Mr. FitzRoy didn't speak, neither would he.
Alexander looked down in thought for a long time before finally gesturing to Victor. "You can go. There won't be any accountability for this incident. Continue your work with a clear conscience."
Victor's eyes showed no joy, only acknowledgment. "Thank you, Mr. FitzRoy."
He turned and left.
Alexander remained by the window for a long time, his brow furrowed.
He'd originally thought Arabella's marriage to Anthony had been her pouring her heart out to an ungrateful man. But what Victor's words suggested was that Anthony had been planning something all along.
Anthony controlled the entire Watson Group. Arabella was just an ordinary girl. What could he possibly want from her? What was worth gambling an entire marriage on?
What could Anthony only obtain by marrying Arabella?
The clues Alexander had so far couldn't answer that question, and he couldn't tip his hand too early. But one thing was certain—Anthony's role in that accident hadn't been just that of a savior.
In other words, Anthony was more complicated than he appeared.
But he couldn't let Arabella know about this.
She'd finally escaped those nightmare memories. He would protect her happiness now.
As for the dangers and mysteries—he'd unravel those for her.
Dawn broke.
Arabella groggily opened her eyes to see Alexander helping Becky pack her school bag. Her lips curved unconsciously. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"It's only seven-thirty." Alexander's expression was gentle. "You can sleep a bit more. I'll take her to school and grab breakfast on the way back before waking you."
Arabella wrinkled her nose. "I'm just injured, not a little kid. You don't need to..."
She'd wanted to say "pamper" because that's truly how Alexander's recent treatment of her made her feel—pampered like some delicate flower...
But that word carried too many implications. She didn't dare use it. Instead, she finished quietly, "...treat me like I'm made of glass."
Alexander smiled. "You were hurt so badly. No amount of care is too much."
"But you've been taking care of me for so long. Isn't your work suffering?" Arabella brought this up again.
Because in her understanding, no matter how flexible a job was, they wouldn't let you skip going into the office day after day, right?
Alexander paused, then smiled. "I was actually going to mention that. I can't stay with you today. After I bring you breakfast, I need to go to the office. If I keep putting it off, my boss is going to have words."
Arabella felt oddly relieved. Right, that made more sense.
What working person could get away with this much time off? She was valued at her company and even she wouldn't dare.
"I'll come back this afternoon after work to help you check out." Alexander picked up Becky's backpack. "What do you want for dinner tonight? To celebrate your discharge."
Arabella felt a bit embarrassed. "That's pretty fancy."
"Of course it is. You cheated death this time. No amount of celebration is too much." Alexander's expression was soft. "Think about what you want. I'll cook it myself."
Arabella's heart started racing, equal parts sweet excitement and nerves. He was going to cook himself...
She tried to act casual. "Okay, I'll think about it."
Shortly after Alexander left, Arabella's phone rang. It was a somewhat familiar unknown number. After a moment, she remembered—it was the same number that had sent her that weird message yesterday.
Figuring it was a wrong number, she hung up. But the ringing immediately started again. Arabella answered with exasperation. "You've got the wrong—"
Before she could finish saying "number," a hysterical female voice came through. "Arabella, are you satisfied now? Is this what you wanted? You destroyed my entire family! You're going to get what's coming to you!"
Arabella frowned, completely confused. "Cassidy? What the hell is wrong with you?"
Cassidy's voice dripped with venom. "Bitch, you think I don't know who's behind all this? Let me tell you—don't think I'm someone you can mess with! I'll make you pay!"
She hung up abruptly.
Arabella had just been cursed out for no reason. Pissed off, she called back, but Cassidy wouldn't answer.
Anyone would be upset by something like this. She fumed for a moment before sending Cassidy a text: [I don't know what you're going through, but stop biting people like a rabid dog. I haven't interfered in anything involving you. Believe it or not!]
Cassidy, of course, didn't respond.
Arabella took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
Did this have something to do with Anthony showing up yesterday? Were he and Cassidy having problems?
But what did that have to do with her? She'd divorced Anthony ages ago. An ex-wife who'd been divorced for six months and moved on—anyone with half a brain wouldn't think she was trying to get back together, right?
Meanwhile, Cassidy viciously hurled her phone at the wall!
After her mother had torn into her at dawn, she now hated Arabella with every fiber of her being! Arabella had destroyed her family, and she would make Arabella pay!
A vicious plan began forming in her mind...
Arabella, you brought this on yourself!
Just then, the doorbell rang. There were no servants here, and only Anthony knew about this place. Who would be looking for her?
Cassidy got up to answer the door.
When she opened it and saw Molly standing there, her expression went cold. "What are you doing here?"
Molly's clothes were disheveled, her face red and swollen like she'd been hit. Her eyes were red as she bit her lip. "They said you adopted me. Now that you and Mr. Watson are divorced, the Watson family won't support me anymore. They told me to come find you."