Chapter 194: The Accident

Chapter 194: The Accident

Diana slammed on the brakes and threw open her door, running back.

Charles crawled out of the mangled vehicle, blood streaming down his forehead. But he didn't care about his own injuries—his first instinct was to rush to Diana.

"Diana, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. What about you?" Diana's hand trembled as she reached toward the wound on his forehead.

"I'm fine." Charles caught her hand. "Diana, don't be afraid. I'm here."

Just then, the van door swung open.

Julia was helped down, seated in a wheelchair, gripping a fruit knife. Her eyes were wild with madness.

"Diana! Charles! You both have to die!"

She suddenly pushed herself up from the wheelchair and lunged toward Diana.

Without a second thought, Charles threw himself in front of her.

"Diana, run!"

The blade glinted coldly in the sunlight.

Julia's face twisted with pure hatred. Despite her paralyzed legs, she seemed fueled by some vengeful force, stumbling forward toward Charles.

"This is all your fault! All of you!"

Charles shielded Diana with his body as the knife came toward them.

At that critical moment, a small figure suddenly charged in from the side.

"Don't you dare hurt my mom!"

Jason appeared out of nowhere, wielding a fire extinguisher, and blasted Julia with white foam.

The spray engulfed Julia instantly. She choked violently, and the knife clattered to the ground.

Nathan seized the opportunity to rush forward, kicking the blade away and pinning Julia down.

"Jason!" Diana clutched her son in terror. "What are you doing here?"

"I was worried about you both, so I had Uncle Lucas follow you."

Diana looked up to see Lucas arriving behind them, his forehead beaded with sweat, also carrying a fire extinguisher.

Charles looked at Jason, a complex wave of emotion rising in his chest.

If only he could have been there for them as they grew up.

"Jason, thank you." Charles knelt down, wanting to ruffle Jason's hair.

But Jason stepped back, his face expressionless. "I didn't do it to save you. I did it to protect Mom. If you really want to thank me, stay away from her and stop bringing trouble into her life."

Charles's hand froze in mid-air.

Diana looked at her son's cold demeanor, her heart aching.

"Jason, don't talk like that."

"Mom, I'm just stating facts." Jason turned to Diana. "Ever since he showed up, the danger around you hasn't stopped, has it?"

Diana opened her mouth but couldn't find the words.

Charles watched the mother and son, his heart twisting.

Jason was right. All this danger had indeed been because of him.

"Jason, you're right." Charles took a deep breath. "It's my fault you've been dragged into this, but I will handle everything. I won't let anyone hurt you again."

"Empty words," Jason said coldly. "You've made too many promises already."

Just then, police cars and ambulances arrived simultaneously.

Julia was taken away by the police, while Charles and Diana were transported to the hospital for examination.

At the hospital, Diana sat on a bench in the corridor with Jason nestled close beside her.

"Mom, are we really going to give him a chance?" Jason asked quietly.

Diana was silent for a long time before finally sighing.

"Jason, Mom doesn't know either." She stroked his head. "But Mom wants to try. If he really has changed, maybe..."

"Maybe what?" Jason looked up.

"Maybe we could have a complete family." Diana's voice was soft. "Jason, Mom knows you and Daisy have always wanted a father."

Jason bit his lip, his eyes reddening.

"But Mom, I don't want to see you get hurt more."

Diana pulled him into her arms, tears sliding silently down her cheeks.

At that moment, Charles emerged from the emergency room.

His forehead was bandaged, his face somewhat pale, but when he saw Diana and Jason, his eyes immediately lit up.

"Diana, Jason, are you both alright?"

"We're fine." Diana stood. "How's your injury?"

"Minor. Nothing serious." Charles walked over, looking at Jason. "Jason, about today... I'm sorry."

Jason turned his head away without responding.

Charles gave a bitter smile and turned to Diana.

"Diana, I'll handle Julia's situation. As for the Smith family, I'll deal with them completely. They won't have another chance to hurt you."

"Charles." Diana suddenly spoke. "What more do you want from me?"

Charles froze.

Diana looked at him, her expression complicated.

"You've done so much for me. You nearly got stabbed by Julia just now. Charles, are you doing all this to make me forgive you out of guilt?"

"No." Charles shook his head. "Diana, I never wanted to force your forgiveness this way. I just... I just can't bear to lose you again."

"But this only makes me feel more burdened, Charles. I don't want to owe you."

Charles looked at her, then suddenly smiled.

That smile carried a trace of bitterness, yet also determination.

"Diana, you don't owe me anything. It's me who owes you—five years' worth, a lifetime's worth." He stepped closer. "I'm not doing this to make you feel guilty. I'm doing it because I love you. I want to protect you, to make you happy. That's all."

Diana bit her lip and said nothing more.

Jason stood nearby watching these two adults, his feelings conflicted.

He hated Charles for having once hurt his mother.

But he had to admit, the man was genuinely trying now.

Jason suddenly spoke. "You say you love my mom. Then let me ask you—if one day you had to choose between Windsor Group and my mom, who would you pick?"

Charles answered without hesitation. "Your mom."

"What if it was the Windsor family and my mom?"

"Still your mom."

"What if it was your life and my mom?"

Charles knelt down, looking at Jason seriously.

"Jason, if one day my life could buy your mother's happiness, I'd die without hesitation."

Jason was stunned.

Seeing the sincerity in Charles's eyes, he suddenly didn't know what to say.

Diana was stunned too.

She hadn't expected Charles to say something like that.

"Charles, are you insane?" Diana's voice shook. "Do you think saying that will move me?"

"I'm not insane. I'm just telling the truth." Charles stood, looking at Diana. "Diana, I know you don't believe me yet, but that's okay. I have time to prove it to you."

He paused, then continued. "There are three months left in the probation period. I'll use those three months to show you a brand-new Charles."