Chapter 62
"Honestly, it only hurts a little. It's not a big deal, we don't have to go to the hospital..." Victoria began, her voice hesitant as she blinked, a hint of guilt in her eyes.
She was lying.
In truth, a sharp, insistent pain was radiating from her wrist, and her face was still pale from the shock.
But she risked a furtive glance at Edward's expression and found herself swallowing hard.
Why did he look so furious? The look on his face was genuinely frightening. She surreptitiously tried to rub her wrist again, only for his cold voice to slice through the air.
"Don't forget the contract between us."
Turning to face him, she was met with an expression that could only be described as frigid. "Until the terms of our agreement are fulfilled, that hand isn't just your concern. Understood?"
His long, elegant fingers rested on his knee, his gaze lowered, appearing no different from his usual detached self.
Yet, Victoria keenly sensed that something was fundamentally wrong.
"It was just an accident. I never expected him to lunge at me like that," she explained, blinking earnestly. "I promise I won't let anything affect my ability to fulfill your requirements, and I absolutely won't cause any delays to the contract, you can rest assured."
If not for the persistent throb in her wrist, she would have thumped her chest to emphasize her point.
Edward, however, merely let out a cold snort, offering no reply.
The moment the car stopped, her slender wrist was seized, and she was pulled from the vehicle, stumbling to keep her balance.
"Could you maybe let go?" Victoria pleaded, trying to negotiate as he held her left hand. "It's just a short walk, I can manage on my own. You don't have to drag me like this."
Her words trailed off as he shot her a severe, chilling glance, her voice shrinking until only she could hear it.
"Such a tyrant," she muttered under her breath, ceasing her resistance.
Edward's strides were long and purposeful, forcing Victoria into a near-jog to keep up.
She opened her mouth to speak several times, but after a moment's hesitation, she swallowed the words.
He looked deeply angry. She guessed it was because of the incident with the construction workers.
In any case, she couldn't imagine his foul mood had anything to do with her.
Just as they neared the doctor's office, Victoria suddenly reached out and tugged at the hem of his jacket.
She blinked, speaking with renewed seriousness. "When that man grabbed me, I overheard something. It might be related to whoever is behind them. I think..."
"Be quiet," Edward cut her off, his tone almost brutal, his brow furrowed. "And don't move."
He was holding the wrist of her uninjured hand, but his gaze dropped, a clear note of displeasure in his eyes.
Victoria followed his line of sight and immediately snatched her hand back as if burned.
She blinked, a fresh wave of guilt washing over her. She had almost forgotten her right hand was injured, the pain now blooming with a delayed intensity.
But as she looked up at Edward, who had already turned his head away, an unbelievable suspicion began to form in her mind.
Could it be? Was Edward actually angry for her? Because of her hand? She pressed her lips together, instinctively shying away from the thought.
Lost in her own swirling thoughts, she failed to pay attention to her surroundings.
Suddenly, Edward stopped.
Victoria, not noticing, walked straight into his broad back. A sharp sting shot through her nose.
"What's wrong? Did we forget something?" she asked, rubbing her smarting nose to hide the tears welling in her eyes.
Edward didn't answer her question. He simply lowered his gaze, calmly taking her injured right hand and massaging the pale, slender wrist. The unexpected pressure sent a jolt of pain through her, and Victoria sucked in a sharp breath. "What are you trying to do?"
She gasped, her molars clenched as her eyes filled with tears, creating a pitifully beautiful sight.
He stood so close his tall frame nearly enveloped her, the position almost like an embrace, and a strange, intimate tension into the air between them.
"Nothing," Edward said, his lips a thin line as he took a slight step back.
His tone was laced with a new seriousness. "You are not to concern yourself with that matter. I will handle it. You just need to take care of yourself and stop getting involved in things that don't concern you."
The words themselves weren't kind, but the genuine concern beneath them was unmistakable.
Even as she was led into the examination room, Victoria couldn't quite pull her thoughts together. Edward... what did he mean by all this?
"Her hand was injured. What's the situation?" Edward's mere presence in the room seemed to command respect, radiating an oppressive aura. His gaze darkened. "She has an old injury."
The doctor carefully glanced between the two of them, choosing his words with caution. "This young lady's hand had already sustained a severe injury. The recent damage is extremely detrimental to its recovery. If this continues, surgery may become very difficult."
His assessment was, if anything, an understatement.
The injury Victoria had previously suffered was far more complex than a simple sprain.
A comminuted fracture was notoriously difficult to heal completely, let alone with this new complication.
Victoria bit her lip, stealing a cautious look at Edward beside her.
She hadn't realized that a simple grab of her wrist could have such serious consequences. The dull ache was a constant reminder.
The words she had spoken in the car echoed in her mind, and she guiltily averted her gaze. She had truly believed it was nothing serious.
"What are the treatment options?" Edward asked, without looking at her, his expression still cold. "Listen carefully." The last part was clearly directed at Victoria.
She blinked, nodding silently. How could she possibly refuse? He was, after all, her boss. Unless she was actively trying to get fired, defying him now would be tantamount to career suicide.
"My recommendation for this young lady is to temporarily cease all work," the doctor announced, clearing his throat and glancing at her. "The sprain is quite severe. She cannot participate in any work-related activities in the near future, and she should avoid using her right hand for anything, otherwise it could lead to a significant worsening of her condition."
"What? Victoria's injured?" As she was still processing the doctor’s words, a familiar voice boomed behind her. She jump.
"Mrs. Windsor?" She turned, her eyes wide with surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Rhea strode into the room without a hint of reservation, her fine eyebrows knitted in a tight frown.
"I just heard the doctor say your hand is injured and you can't use your right hand for a while, is that right?" She asked, ignoring Victoria's question.
She pondered for a moment, then clapped her hands together. "Why don't you come stay with us for a while, Victoria! It would be perfect. I can help look after Yara, too. I mean, with your hand out of commission, it'll be hard for you to take care of anyone, right?"
Victoria's mouth opened, but the words of refusal wouldn't come.