Chapter 238 Red Light

Chapter 238 Red Light
Diana POV

It had been three days since the incident at Adventure World, and I still couldn't shake the image of that Ferris wheel tilting dangerously with my children trapped inside.

"You're thinking about it again," Bradley said, appearing behind me with two steaming mugs. He handed me one—chamomile tea, my recent pregnancy craving.

"How can I not?" I accepted the mug, letting its warmth seep into my palms. "Our children could have died, Bradley."

He set his coffee down and wrapped his arms around me, his chin resting on my shoulder. "But they didn't. Everyone is safe because of the quick response."

I nodded, leaning into him. "Did Parker call with updates about the investigation?"

"Just before dinner," Bradley confirmed. "Severe maintenance negligence. The manager falsified safety inspection documents for months to cut costs."

"And the consequences?"

"Three staff members fired, and the manager faces criminal charges." His voice hardened. "But I'm not leaving it at that."

Bradley had been unusually quiet since bringing us home that day, making phone calls behind closed doors. Only this morning, I'd discovered why when I opened the newspaper to find his name mentioned in connection with a substantial anonymous donation.

"The paper says you're funding renovations not just for Adventure World, but for all public recreation facilities in Bayville." I turned to face him. "That's incredibly generous."

He shrugged, as if donating millions were nothing extraordinary. "Children deserve safe places to play. I don't want any parent to experience what we did." His eyes darkened. "And speaking of safety, no more amusement parks for the kids until all those facilities have been properly inspected and upgraded."

"Jacob and Joanne won't be happy," I sighed, thinking of their disappointed faces.

"Two weeks, minimum," he stated firmly. "Their safety isn't negotiable."

The time passed slowly, filled with dramatic sighs and elaborate complaints from our children. Jacob compared their situation to unjust imprisonment, while Joanne took to trailing behind me with puppy-dog eyes, asking daily when their sentence would be over.

By Friday morning, even Bradley's patience was wearing thin. Over breakfast, while Joanne dramatically narrated the sad tale of children deprived of fun, he cleared his throat.

"I've been thinking," he announced, setting down his coffee mug. "Let's visit Grandmother Martha tomorrow. She's been asking to see everyone, and the estate grounds are plenty entertaining."

The children's faces lit up instantly.

"Can we swim in the lake?" Jacob asked eagerly.

"If the weather permits," Bradley nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"And can I show Grandma my new dress?" Joanne bounced in her seat.

"I'm sure she'd love that," I assured her.

Later that night, as I was folding laundry in our bedroom, Bradley approached with that expression I recognized—the one that meant he'd been contemplating something significant.

"I've decided to hand over my current projects to Parker," he said, watching my reaction carefully. "I want to be home with you until the baby comes."

I paused, a half-folded shirt in my hands. "Bradley, that's sweet, but unnecessary. My due date is still two months away."

"I missed too much last time," he insisted, taking my hands. "The doctor mentioned potential complications—"

"Which haven't materialized," I reminded him gently. "Everything is progressing normally."

His brow furrowed with concern. "Still, I don't want to take chances."

I set the laundry aside and cupped his face in my hands. "Finish your current contracts first," I suggested. "Then come home to me. We'll have plenty of time together before the baby arrives."

Bradley sighed, relenting. "Always so practical," he murmured, pressing his forehead against mine. "Alright. I'll wrap up the ongoing deal quickly, then I'm all yours."

The next day, we drove to the Booth estate. Martha was waiting on the front steps as our car pulled up the long driveway.

"Grandma!" Jacob and Joanne called in unison, rushing toward her the moment Bradley parked.

Martha beamed, opening her arms wide. "My darlings! Look how tall you've both grown!"

"Three inches since Christmas," Jacob announced proudly.

"And I can do cartwheels now!" Joanne demonstrated immediately, nearly toppling into a rosebush before Bradley steadied her.

Martha laughed, embracing me next. "Diana, you're glowing," she said warmly, her eyes dropping to my stomach. "How are you feeling?"

"Wonderful, actually," I replied truthfully. "Much better than with the twins."

Inside, Martha had prepared a magnificent lunch. The afternoon passed pleasantly with the children regaling her with school stories while Bradley noticeably relaxed, the tension in his shoulders easing for the first time in days.

After dinner, we gathered in Martha's elegant sitting room. Jacob and Joanne played chess on the plush carpet while the adults enjoyed coffee near the fireplace.

"I've been thinking about my birthday next month," Martha mentioned, stirring her tea. "Nothing extravagant—just family."

"Your sixtieth deserves a proper celebration," Bradley countered, and I nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps a garden party?" I suggested. "The roses will be in full bloom by then."

"With a chocolate fountain!" Joanne interjected without looking up from the chessboard.

"And those little sandwiches from last time," Jacob added seriously.

We all laughed, and I found myself describing potential decorations—fairy lights woven through the garden trellises, perhaps a string quartet for dancing.

"We could set up a tent just in case of—" I stopped mid-sentence, distracted by a strange sensation.

Looking down at my coffee cup, I noticed a small red dot of light dancing across the surface. Puzzled, I glanced at my chest, where the same red dot now rested directly over my heart.

Time seemed to slow. I raised my eyes to Bradley, who was watching me with a questioning look.

"Diana? What's wrong?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice.

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could form words, Bradley's expression suddenly changed. His eyes widened as he spotted the red dot on my chest.

"EVERYBODY DOWN!" he shouted, lunging across the space between us.

The force of his body knocked me backward as the window exploded in a shower of glass. Bradley covered me completely, his weight pressing me into the carpet as more glass shattered around us.

In the chaos, I heard Martha's voice. "Kids! Here, behind the sofa!"

Bradley lifted his head slightly. "Martha? The kids?"

"They're safe," she called back.

Bradley nodded, visibly relieved. He started to move, presumably to check on them himself, when suddenly his expression changed. A grimace of pain crossed his face, and he looked down between us with confusion.

That's when I saw a growing dark stain on his shirt, just above his abdomen.

"Bradley?" My voice sounded strange to my own ears, high and panicked.

He met my eyes, his face pale. "I think... I've been hit."

I watched in horror as blood—his blood—continued to spread across the fabric of his shirt.