At this moment… Ding!
The elevator finally arrived. An old lady walked out of the elevator as the doors slid open, a giant bag hanging from her shoulder. Peter’s eyebrow jumped. He just informed the security department to clear the elevator.
How come there was still a rider?
“I’ll fucking k-” Before the attacker could finish the sentence, the old lady suddenly dashed forward and smashed her handbag on the man’s face.
The man wavered on his feet and collapsed against the floor. Tanya ran off, screaming.
The old lady huffed as she stood there. Her handbag went loose, and an iron rolled out of it, clacking against the floor and making a big sound.
Peter’s mouth dropped open.
****
Cristelle didn’t pay too much attention to the drama. She went into the ward instantly, sobbing and lightheaded.
Drew caught her, so she didn’t fall to her knees, “It’s okay, Cristelle. I got you. Candace’s fine, okay? Pop’s with her.”
Candace started to cry the moment Cristelle stumbled into the room. That was so scary.
Cristelle’s eyes were tearful, but she was smiling. But her breath hitched. She felt like she couldn’t breathe.
Her face was getting visibly pale. Drew went to grab her meds on the nightstand and fed her a couple of pills. Cristelle swallowed the pills with difficulty, and she could finally breathe properly.
It took Cristelle 20 minutes to be able to stand up finally. She went to her daughter’s bed, touching her hair, “Don’t be scared, baby. Mommy’s back.”
Candace was still curling up under her blanket. She couldn’t stop shivering. Cristelle pulled her daughter in and pressed her head against her chest, kissing her hair, “Don’t be scared, honey. Mommy’s back. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have left you alone in the ward.”
Franco was sent to the doctor as well. That attacker just pushed him, and he got injuries on his back.
The dean of the hospital arrived soon, bringing a group of his best experts. Some went to Franco’s ward to check on him. Some stayed in Candace’s room to ensure other people’s conditions were stable.
Luckily, no one got hurt. Or the hospital would probably be torn down by Linford Bradley soon.
“We’ve got the attacker. He’s seriously injured and in the ICU. We’re fortunate that Lily showed up. Or we wouldn’t know what would have happened. Cristelle and Candace are both okay. Franco fell, and the doctors are checking on him right now,” Drew reported what happened to Linford on the phone.
“I know. I’m on my way now. You can take a break and handle other businesses now,” Linford’s voice was calm as usual on the phone. But Drew knew his best friend was on the edge of breaking out.
“Cristelle and Candace are both okay,” Drew repeated, “Don’t do anything silly, okay?”
“I know,” Linford said calmly.
Drew sighed as he hung up the phone. He wished Linford wouldn’t get hysterical as he had gone the last time. Now that he had a wife and two babies, things would surely be different, wouldn’t they?
He went downstairs to check on Cindy and Giselle, who had been locked in a secret ward and watched. He knew he couldn’t be away for too long. However, when he got to the ward, only one person was left. That person was lying in bed, facing the door with her back.
“What is happening now?” Drew asked his men.
One of the men answered, “Oh… Cindy went to the toilet. She will be back soon.”
Drew gave Cindy more freedom. She could leave the hospital if she wanted, but she still insisted on staying with her sister.
Drew’s eyebrow jumped as he marched forward, opening the sheet and making “Giselle” face him. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the girl’s face.
“How long has Cindy left?” He asked his men harshly.
His men went a bit panicked, knowing they’d made a mistake, “Well… About 5 or 6 minutes.”
“Go get her! Now!” Drew hissed, throwing the cover of the bed away. His men went out of the room instantly.
“Giselle”, however, grabbed Drew’s hand, her eyes full of tears as she begged him, “Drew… Please… Please let my sister go… She was just being silly… She…”
“Cindy, do you think you’re helping your sister by doing this?” Drew’s face was cold and harsh, “You’re killing her!”
The door was kicked open, and Linford walked in, pulling a face. The blood on the floor had been cleaned, but one could still smell blood if he paid enough attention.
Cristelle was sitting by Candace’s bed. Lily was accompanying the mother and the daughter the whole time.
They were the only people in the ward.
“Linford!” Lily went forth as she noticed Linford’s presence, noticing the look on Linford’s face, “Don’t get worried, son. Candace’s okay.”
Linford nodded, eyes darting toward Cristelle. Cristelle looked like she was gonna faint. The dark anger in his eyes instantly stirred more violently.
Daddy! Candace stretched her arms at Linford the moment she saw him. Her eyes were still tearful, but she managed to hold back her tears.
It broke Linford’s heart to see his daughter acting like this. He leaned forward and left a kiss on Candace’s forehead, “I’m sorry. I should’ve been here earlier.”
Candace shook her head.
Lily was smiling, “I’ve never seen such a beautiful and sweet little girl before.”
Candace’s eyes widened as she shyly observed the old lady from under Linford’s arms.
“Thank you, Lily, for everything,” Linford rasped.
Lily shook her head, “Why are you saying that to me, silly? You know I’ll do anything for you.”
“It’s not what I’m trying to say,” Linford explained and suddenly stopped, “Cristelle, can we talk?” His voice was cold.
Cristelle’s heart hitched, but she knew she had to go. So she left a kiss on Candace’s cheek, “Mommy needs to go out a bit. I’ll be back soon.”
Candace nodded.
Cristelle and Linford went to the balcony. Cristelle lowered her head. She felt like an errant child, “I’m sorry.”
“Why weren’t you there when Candace was in danger?” Linford asked coldly.
Cristelle looked up at him, going silent for a pause. And then, she took a deep breath and told him the truth, “I went to the restroom. Jasper came to find me. He came here to our studio. We…”