Chapter 66 What Did You Say?

Chapter 66 What Did You Say?

Steven's POV

I can't let myself stay idle. Once I stop, I start thinking about Rebecca.

I know very well I shouldn't be thinking about her anymore. She's already chosen Everett and deliberately keeps her distance from me. I should respect her decision and stop interfering in her life.

The noise of the lawnmower fills my ears, pulling my thoughts back. I look at the patch of lawn in the yard that I've already trimmed clean.

I sigh. I've mowed this lawn three times today already. If I keep this up, nothing might grow here next spring.

I turn off the lawnmower and drag it back to the tool shed. Just then, my phone suddenly rings.

I pull off my dirt-stained gloves, and before I can see the caller ID on the screen, there's a moment of nervousness in my heart.

What if it's Rebecca?

No, impossible. At this time she should be with Everett. Why would she think of me?

I know it's unlikely to be her, but I can't help feeling a little hopeful.

Of course the caller ID isn't Rebecca—it's my mother.

I casually toss the gloves on the railing, wipe my hands on my pants, and answer the call. "Mother, what's wrong?"

On the other end, Elsie, who's usually so gentle, has a voice clearly filled with panic this time.

"Steven, something happened, something terrible!"

My heart drops. What could have happened to make her lose control like this?

Elsie has always been steady and rarely uses this tone. I immediately tense up.

"Mother, slow down, I'm listening."

"Rebecca, it's Rebecca."

When I hear that name, a chill shoots from the bottom of my feet straight up my spine. I instinctively raise my voice. "What are you saying?"

"Blood, Everett said there's blood everywhere."

My mind feels like something slammed into it, going completely blank for a moment. My mouth opens but I can't get a single word out.

Elsie can't help sobbing on the other end. "Everett said that during practice, Rebecca was hit by a falling crystal chandelier. She was completely trapped under it, blood all over the floor."

Hearing these words, I immediately grab my car keys and rush out the door.

As I jump into the car, I mechanically repeat to myself, it's okay, Steven, everything will be okay. But my body is already cold, like I've lost all feeling.

I speed the whole way, no longer knowing how many red lights I've run.

Since being rescued from that place, I haven't experienced this kind of tearing pain in a long time.

I stop the car at the hospital entrance and practically charge into the emergency building.

I run into the elevator, pressing the floor button hard, with only one thought in my mind: faster, go faster.

Usually I can wait patiently for elevators, but now every second feels unbearably slow. As soon as the elevator doors open, I sprint straight toward the emergency room.

My steps slow down at the emergency room entrance. As medical staff push the gurney past me, I see what Rebecca looks like.

She's lying on that bed, looking especially fragile. There's blood on her face, blood in her hair, even blood around her neck.

But her lips are frighteningly pale, completely colorless.

I instinctively want to rush over, but a nurse reaches out to stop me. "The patient is being resuscitated, please step aside and don't interfere with our work."

The surgical light quickly turns on. I walk toward Everett sitting by the chair. He's completely terrified, repeating in a low voice, "Blood, blood everywhere, so much blood..."

When Elsie sees me, her tears won't stop.

I walk up to her. "Did you call Rebecca's parents?"

She nods. "Already did. They're on their way, but it might take a while before they get here."

I nod slightly. All we can do is wait. My gaze falls on an unfamiliar man nearby. There's blood on his clothes, and this sight makes anger rise in my chest that I can't suppress.

Even if he didn't directly cause this, he must be connected to this accident somehow.

Serena notices my expression. She walks up to me. "Steven, I know what you're thinking."

I don't respond, my eyes still fixed on that man.

Serena explains, "Steven, that's Alfonso—a teacher the Duke brought in. When the accident happened, he was the first one to pull Rebecca out from under the chandelier."

He's the new teacher, and also the person who's spent the most time with Rebecca recently. Did he really not notice anything unusual?

Alfonso meets my gaze and walks over, bowing deeply to me. "I'm very sorry about what happened to Rebecca. I'm truly sorry. If only I had been more careful."

The anger in my chest is about to burst out. I don't want to hear his apology right now.

I turn my head away. Rebecca is still in surgery. I don't want to create any more chaos at this moment.

The surgical light stays on. Time becomes long and torturous under this light. I can only lean against the wall and sit down in a chair, forcing myself to calm down.

I remind myself over and over to breathe deeply, telling myself she'll pull through.

I don't dare stare at those words "surgery in progress" anymore. Every time I see them, I can't help thinking about those days right after I was rescued.

I remember those scenes from the battlefield: my brothers' severed limbs, the heavy smell of blood in the air, organs and intestines exposed.

My hands start shaking uncontrollably. All of that is my nightmare, and also the guilt I can't escape. I didn't protect them, and I didn't bring them home.

Now, I can't even protect one girl. I care about her so much, yet I couldn't prevent this accident.

The surgical light finally goes out, and the doctor walks out of the operating room. Before I can speak, a couple has already rushed forward.

The panic and fear in their eyes can't be hidden. They grip the doctor's hands tightly. "Doctor, we're her parents. How is Rebecca?"

The doctor looks around at the people surrounding him and instinctively takes a step back. "You're the patient's parents, so who are the rest of you..."

Serena steps forward. "I'm her teacher."

Everett stands to the side. "I'm her boyfriend."

The doctor looks at me. I open my mouth, and finally only manage a few words. "Friend."

Yes, right now the only identity I can claim for myself is this one.

The doctor looks down at the medical chart in his hands. "I need to tell you, the patient's condition isn't very good."

My heart tightens again. If there's ever a time I regret most, it's now.

Why did I have to argue with Rebecca back then? If I hadn't left, the one picking her up today would have been me, not that guy Everett.

If it had been me in that situation, I definitely would have pulled her out of there, instead of letting her lie on a cold hospital bed now.

The doctor sighs. "Because a heavy object hit her head, she could slip into a coma at any time. We'll need the family's active cooperation with treatment going forward."

Suppressed crying comes from Rebecca's parents' side. Seeing their expressions, the doctor also shows some regret.

"Currently her physical condition is relatively stable. The bleeding has been controlled, and the wounds on her body aren't life-threatening for now."

"She'll be moved to the ICU next. During this time, we hope you can talk to her more and try to stimulate her consciousness."

"Now, who wants to go in and see her first?"