Chapter 112

"Ow! He's hitting me! Someone help-he's going to kill me!" Marian screamed as she bolted down the hallway. Mr. Anderson tried to chase after her, but after just a few steps he stopped, clutching his chest with anger.

Rose rushed over. "Sir, please, calm down. It's bad for your health."

Steven looked devastated. "Grandpa, I'm sorry. If anything happens to Lucie, I swear I'll make it right, even if it costs me my life."

Mr. Anderson took a shaky breath and sank down on a bench.

"Here, take your blood pressure meds," Rose said, quickly digging out the pills she always carried and handing one to him.

Meanwhile, Miranda was anxiously checking Steven over. "Let me see, are you hurt?"

"Ow-Mom, I'm fine. Really, it's nothing," Steven said, trying to tough it out, though his whole body throbbed with pain. Some of the hits had been so hard, he was pretty sure they'd nearly cracked a bone.

Still, he'd always been good at handling pain. He'd gotten used to it over the years, and no matter how bad things got, he never let anyone see him break.

This was nothing he couldn't handle.

"Why aren't the doctors out yet? How long has Lucie been in there?" someone asked anxiously.

"It shouldn't be much longer."

Right then, the hospital room door swung open.

A doctor walked out, pulling off his surgical mask.

Everyone rushed over at once. Mr. Anderson, hands trembling, grabbed the doctor's sleeve. "How's my granddaughter?"

"She's out of danger for now," the doctor said. "But the emotional shock severely damaged her heart. She'll need long-term care and plenty of rest.

"When she wakes up, she may have PTSD. She needs therapy right away, and she can't go through any more stress."

Steven staggered back, pressing against the wall, his throat tight with guilt and fear.

Mr. Anderson finally let out a breath. "Thank God... as long as she's alive."

"How long until she wakes up?" someone asked.

"She'll be awake within the hour, once the anesthesia wears off."

"Thank you, doctor."

Mr. Anderson's expression turned serious "What could have upset Lucie so much? She's always been she never loses control

so strong, she never

like this. What exactly happened?"

Steven's jaw clenched, his face shadowed. He stayed silent.

It had only taken a few words from him to set off Lucie's heart attack J Grandpa knew

De full story,

he

probably couldn't take it, either.

“Sir, let's wait until Miss Lucie wakes

up before we talk about all this,"

Rose said get

"Right r

now

doesn't help to point fingers."

"Yeah... I just hope she'll be okay."

Steven closed his eyes, guilt twisting in his chest.

Maybe he really had messed up.

But regret wouldn't change anything now. All he could do was try to fix things-try

to make up for the hurt he'd caused.

Lucie, I'll make this right...

His phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen. The call was from Switzerland.

Steven frowned and walked away down the corridor, instinctively putting more distance between himself and the waiting room.

Mr. Anderson noticed and snapped, "Lucie's not even awake yet! You should be here by her side! Where are you going?"

Steven didn't answer. He just picked up his pace, stepped out into a quieter part of the hallway, and answered the call. "Hello?"