Chapter 57 The Mysterious Drowning Incident
"Just bear with it," Alexander said.
During his youth, he'd served briefly in the special forces, where injuries were inevitable. The unit medic had taught him a set of techniques for treating sprains that were remarkably effective.
Grace cried out from the pain, biting her lip as she endured it. But as Alexander's movements gradually became gentler, the swelling miraculously began to subside.
Grace looked at him in surprise. "Your technique actually works?"
"Does it feel better?" Alexander asked.
"Mm..."
Grace lifted her head to look at Alexander.
He kept his head down, his large hands still gently massaging her ankle. But when her gaze drifted to his lips, her expression stiffened slightly. She quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing involuntarily.
Alexander released her ankle. "There. Apply some heat when you get home and rest for a couple days—you'll be fine."
"Okay..."
The doctor emerged and said to Alexander, "Liam is awake. We're transferring him to a room for overnight observation. If there are no complications, he can go home tomorrow."
Alexander nodded.
Jeremy arrived shortly after. Liam had already been moved to his room, and Jeremy stood at the doorway looking concerned. "How is Liam?"
"He's out of danger," Alexander replied.
"Should we notify Mrs. Hayes?" Jeremy asked.
"Don't alarm her—no need to worry her. Just tell her Liam got out of school late today and won't be coming home."
"Yes, sir." Jeremy nodded. "I'll report to Mrs. Hayes right away."
Alexander suddenly called after him. "Also, I want you to find out exactly what happened with Liam today."
Liam wouldn't have wandered into the school's aquatic center for no reason, much less fallen into the water and nearly drowned.
Alexander was determined to get to the bottom of this.
"I'll go to the school right away to review the security footage," Jeremy said.
"Good."
Jeremy immediately left to conduct his investigation at Alexander's instruction.
That night, Grace and Max stayed at the hospital to watch over Liam. Alexander had wanted to drive them home, but Grace couldn't rest easy.
Once in the room, Liam drifted off to sleep. He woke again around seven-thirty, calling for Grace in slurred speech.
Grace immediately went to his bedside, gently taking his hand. "Liam, I'm here. I'm right here with you, and I'm not going anywhere."
Liam opened drowsy eyes to look at Grace, his small hand clutching hers, unwilling to let go.
Grace squeezed his hand tightly in return, and only then did Liam settle back into sleep.
Alexander had questions for Grace, but with Liam gripping her hand and refusing to release it, he didn't want to disturb the child, so he held back.
Only after Liam's condition stabilized did Alexander notice Max in the corner.
Max had been quietly staying in the corner of the room ever since they arrived. He was still wearing his dirty school clothes, and there were several bruised spots on his body.
"What happened to you?" Alexander asked, looking at the bruises.
Max frowned slightly. "I got banged up."
"How did you get hurt like that?" Alexander pressed.
"A kid from my class locked me in the supply closet. I was trying to break down the door to get out." He looked at Alexander. "I was afraid something had happened to Liam."
Alexander asked, "Who discovered that Liam was at the aquatic center?"
This was the question that puzzled him most, and the one he'd been wanting to ask Grace.
According to Lily, for safety reasons, the aquatic center door was locked from the outside, and it couldn't be opened without a key. If Grace hadn't forced it open with brute strength, they never would have gotten inside.
The entire aquatic center seemed to form a sealed space.
How Liam had gotten inside and ended up drowning in the pool remained a mystery.
Max's gaze flickered slightly.
He wasn't sure whether he should explain to Alexander—he was afraid Alexander wouldn't believe him.
"Max," Alexander said, "tell me, how did you know Liam was in trouble at the aquatic center?"
"Intuition," Max replied.
Alexander was surprised by this answer. "Intuition?"
"I can't really describe it to you," Max said. "It was just this mystical intuition, this feeling that he might be there and that he was in danger. That's why I took Mommy there."
Such an incredible thing seemed like pure fantasy—truly beyond belief.
Alexander felt that a simple "intuition" could hardly explain it.
"Whether you believe me or not, that's what it was—my intuition," Max said. He still hadn't fully processed it himself. If he hadn't trusted his intuition, Liam might not have been saved.
He'd followed his gut feeling, never expecting that Liam really was in trouble.
At the time, Max's mind had completely shut down. It wasn't until afterward, when he came to his senses, that he broke out in a cold sweat.
"This is absolutely incredible," Alexander said, staring at him.
"I don't know who took Liam there," Max said. "Maybe when Liam wakes up, we can find out."
Alexander nodded, looking at Max. "Max, thank you."
Max's small face reddened slightly. "You don't need to thank me." He didn't want anything to happen to Liam either. At the time, he hadn't thought much about it—if Grace hadn't jumped into the water first, he would have jumped in without hesitation to save Liam.
Even though he wasn't particularly good at swimming.
Perhaps it was all instinct.
Actually, Max had someone he suspected.
Mason—Amelia's son. Max suspected that after he'd punched Mason during study hall, the guy had held a grudge and lured Liam to the aquatic center, maybe even pushed him into the water.
But Mason was only seven years old. How could a seven-year-old dare to do something so heinous?
This was potentially a matter of life and death.
Besides, he had no proof.
Max was waiting for Liam to wake up.
"Let me take you home to shower," Alexander said.
Max looked at his dirty clothes, then at Liam lying in the bed.
Grace was slumped beside the bed watching over Liam. Perhaps exhausted, she had fallen asleep.
Alexander asked the nurse for a thin blanket and covered Grace with it. After instructing the nurse to look after Grace and Liam, he took Max home to shower.
By the time Max finished his shower, it was already 2 AM.
He was swaying with exhaustion but still insisted on going back to the hospital.
Alexander couldn't argue with him. He carried Max to the car and had just finished buckling his seatbelt when his phone rang with a call from Grace.
"Alexander, Liam's awake." Her voice came through slightly tired and hoarse. "The doctor examined Liam and says he's completely out of danger now."