Chapter 338

Martina didn't try to stop her. She just watched her retreating figure, her gaze deep and complicated.

"You were right to remind me earlier." After the door closed, Martina stood in silence for a long while before finally finding her voice again.

Katrina felt somewhat helpless too. Of course she didn't want Helena getting tangled up with the Quinn family again—things were already good as they were.

"You know yourself she's nothing but trouble. Better to cut ties now than drag it out. Save the Quinn family from future disasters," Katrina advised.

Martina sat for a while longer, making scattered conversation with Katrina before finally leaving.

But what Katrina never expected was that later that evening, shocking news came back.

Martina had been attacked by a robber. In that critical moment, Helena had taken a knife for her and was currently in the emergency room.

"How is that even possible? Martina has a private car service. How could she end up in that kind of situation, and then get saved by Helena of all people!"

When Katrina heard the news, her first thought was that something was off.

Maybe Helena or someone from the Fontaine family had orchestrated it somehow—either staging the whole thing or manipulating events to put Martina in danger so Helena could swoop in and play the hero.

But regardless of how it happened, the outcome definitely worked in the Fontaine family's favor.

"I've already sent people to investigate. This time they covered their tracks pretty well. Murphy still hasn't reported back," Noah said, frowning.

"I need to go to the hospital." The more Katrina thought about it, the more wrong it felt.

The two of them quickly drove to the city's best hospital.

News of Helena's hospitalization had already spread, sensationalized by the media who were painting her as a fearless, heroic figure who stepped up in a crisis.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Katrina's phone kept lighting up with reports about Helena. There were even interview videos with members of the Fontaine family.

She randomly clicked on one. The interviewee was Lancelot.

In the video, he stood outside the hospital looking anxious. "I'm trying to see my sister, okay? Can you guys move? You're blocking the way!"

"Mr. Fontaine, can you tell us how Ms. Swift is doing?"

"What exactly happened? Regarding all the questions online, what are your thoughts, Mr. Fontaine?"

"Many people suspect Ms. Swift is putting on a show. What do you think, Mr. Fontaine?"

...

A swarm of reporters had Lancelot completely surrounded. Breaking through was nearly impossible.

Lancelot pulled out his phone and scrolled through it. His expression turned ice-cold. The next second, he smashed his phone and exploded.

"These are all lies from people who have no skin in the game! My sister was stabbed multiple times. Her life is hanging by a thread right now, and they can say such vicious things?

They're saying we have some conspiracy? Even if we did, would we gamble with my sister's life? You're all crazy. Get out of my way!"

The video ended with Lancelot furiously carving a path through the crowd and storming off.

At least in the video, his reaction didn't look fake.

Katrina watched the clip several times but couldn't spot anything suspicious.

Could it really just be a coincidence?

"I don't think it's a coincidence," Noah said casually from the driver's seat.

"From what I heard, Helena insisted on taking Martina to the airport and bought her a bunch of things. Martina didn't want them.

While they were arguing, the attacker suddenly appeared. Everything happened so fast that the Quinn family's bodyguards didn't have time to react.

Helena was closest, so she jumped in front of Martina." Noah scoffed. "Don't you think that's a little too convenient?"

Katrina fell silent.

Of course she thought it was convenient.

But where was the proof?

She had a vague feeling that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes. Maybe they'd worked tirelessly to set this up, which is why everything fell into place so perfectly.

They soon arrived at the hospital.

The area outside was packed with people, all discussing Helena—opinions split.

Noah waited in the underground garage while Katrina took a special passage upstairs, heading straight for the emergency room.

Helena still hadn't come out. Martina, Brandon, and Lancelot stood in the hallway. The atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.

Katrina hadn't planned on approaching them, but Martina spotted her the moment she appeared.

"Katy, you're here. Come over here." Martina's voice trembled as she called out, like she'd just found a lifeline.

Brandon and Lancelot turned around too. They glanced at Katrina quietly but said nothing.

Katrina walked over and took Martina's hand. For a moment, she didn't know how to comfort the shaken elderly woman.

"How could this happen? How could this happen..." Martina gripped Katrina's hand tightly, her voice hoarse, like a helpless child.

Katrina saw anxiety in her eyes, and worry too. She definitely didn't want Helena to die. The weight of being responsible for someone's death would be pure hell.

"Mrs. Quinn, can you tell me exactly what happened? Maybe we can help," Katrina asked softly, keeping her voice low enough that Brandon and Lancelot couldn't hear.

Martina's gaze flickered. Then she nodded and pulled Katrina to sit on a nearby bench.

She stared into space, recalling the events.

"When I was about to leave, Helena suddenly showed up. I never told her my schedule, but she appeared right when my bodyguard went to the restroom—like she'd timed it perfectly.

She brought all these things—foods I love, local specialties—saying it was just a small gesture.

I was about to push her away when she suddenly screamed 'Watch out!' and shoved me aside, putting herself in front of me..."

At this point, Martina's voice shook even harder, as if reliving a nightmare.

"The attacker was shouting something about making me pay with my life, and then he slashed down with the knife. Helena screamed and told me to run, but she got stabbed multiple times. She was covered in blood.

That's when my bodyguard finally appeared and subdued the attacker. After a quick interrogation, we found out he was one of Adrian's old enemies. He'd just gotten out of prison and wanted revenge, so he came after me..."

Martina clenched her hands painfully. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

There were still bloodstains on her clothes. The faint metallic smell lingered, a reminder of everything that had just happened.

"What if Helena dies?" She suddenly looked up, staring straight at Katrina with burning eyes. "Will I... will I have to carry this burden forever..."

"She won't die," Katrina quickly cut her off. "They got her here in time. It's probably just surface wounds. She's lucky. She won't die."

What Katrina really wanted to say was that someone like Helena—a walking disaster—couldn't possibly die that easily.

"Mrs. Quinn, please don't get worked up. We're all here. You need to take care of yourself," Brandon said, walking over and offering a packet of tissues with perfect composure.

Maybe it was just Katrina's imagination, but he didn't seem particularly worried. Instead, he had this confident air about him, like he had everything under control.