The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 102
Leilani stood at the entrance of the mall, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of her newly bought phone. Actually, she had wanted to chase after Callahan and explain her identity as “Ms. Cheney,” but it obviously wasn’t the right time.
“Forget it. Next time.”
The restaurant Dante had chosen was in a prime location. It was connected to the commercial center, which was why Leilani had been able to buy a new phone so quickly and conveniently after Callahan left.
Leilani stood at the mall entrance and looked down at her messy state. Her clothes were covered in dust, there were slight scrapes on her elbows, and her hair was a bit chaotic. She clearly wasn’t dressed for such a high-end venue.
Although she had almost been hit by a car today, her luck wasn’t completely terrible. The sales staff she encountered while buying the phone were professional and didn’t give her a hard time for looking like she’d rolled in the dirt.
Leilani pursed her lips. Just as she was hesitating about whether to head straight home, a surprised voice came from behind her.
“Leilani?”
Leilani turned around. Judie Fulton was staring at her with wide eyes, holding the arm of an elegant middle-aged woman. It was Judie’s mother, Libby Palmer.
“Judie?” Leilani was surprised; she hadn’t expected to run into them here.
Judie looked at Leilani’s disheveled appearance. She walked over quickly, looked her up and down, and frowned deeply. “Leilani, how did you get like this? What happened?”
Leilani explained casually, “Just a small accident on the road. Nothing serious.”
“You call this nothing serious?”
Leilani looked dusty and battered. Dark stains were seeping through the fabric at her elbows and knees-obviously blood. Every time Judie had seen Leilani before, she had been pristine and calm. She had never seen her looking so wrecked.
Judie grabbed her wrist, gently pulling up Leilani’s sleeve. Seeing the large abrasion on her elbow, she felt phantom pain just looking at it. “You’ve broken the skin and you’re bleeding! Don’t you feel pain? The wounds haven’t been treated. What if they scar?”
Leilani chuckled. What was this little injury? If Judie hadn’t mentioned it, she wouldn’t have even felt the scrape.
“It’s just a minor scratch. I’ll put some ointment on it when I get back. I didn’t even notice until you said something.”
18:40
“No way!” Judie refused firmly. Leilani’s attitude toward her own injuries was too dismissive, and Judie wasn’t having it. She turned decisively to Libby. “Mom, Leilani is hurt. Let’s take her to the hospital to get cleaned up, okay?”
Libby nodded, agreeing with Judie. She looked at Leilani with concern, clearly disapproving of Leilani’s casualness.
“Ms. Sloan, although this isn’t a major injury, it still needs to be treated properly. It’s a large abrasion, and you don’t want an infection. You’re a doctor yourself; don’t you know the importance of proper wound care?”
Leilani wanted to decline, but Judie was holding onto her arm with a grip that said, “I won’t let go unless you go.”
Resigned, she compromised. “Alright, I’ll impose on you then.”
Libby smiled slightly and waved for the driver to bring the car around. “Perfect. The driver can take us there.”
It wasn’t until the three of them arrived at the hospital and faced the doctor’s questions that Judie learned Leilani’s injuries were from a car accident.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.