Chapter 105
The following morning, Hannah arrived at the office to a charged, expectant buzz.
Nova Tech's latest invention-a hormone-tracking wristband-had just reached the prototype phase, and Hannah was determined to be the first to strap it on. If there was a flaw or a hiccup in the design, she wanted to catch it herself.
Boxes of glossy, futuristic wristbands made their way around the department, and every woman eagerly unboxed one,laughter and speculation swirling through the open-plan workspace.
Felix,riding the wave of excitement, flashed a triumphant smile as he declared lunch was on him for the R&D team.
With a grin, Felix turned to Hannah and asked, "What are you in the mood for?"
Hannah shook her head with a light, apologetic smile. "I'll have to pass-I've got somewhere to be this afternoon."
Felix's grin faltered as he closed the gap between them,dropping his voice in concern. "Is everything alright? Want me to help out with anything?"
She brushed off his worry with an easy shrug.′′No need. I'm just picking up my parents."
With a quick check of the time, she uttered a few parting words to her teammates and slipped out. Vincent had arranged for Derek to fetch her parents, while she asked Derek to meet her at Silvercrest Mall.
Meanwhile, at the Jones Group headquarters, Brinley sat across from Vincent, poring over Polaris Tech's latest product from Vincent, poring over Polaris Tech's latest product proposal.
Her complexion was ashen, her voice barely above a whisper,but Vincent barely registered her discomfort-his gaze flicked repeatedly to his watch, his mind clearly elsewhere.
Δ
Brinley caught every flicker of impatience.
When the clock struck one, Vincent rose from his seat, already half-turned toward the door.
Seizing the moment, Brinley pressed a trembling hand to her chest and gasped, her tone laced with distress,′′Vncent,--don't feel well."
He spun around instantly. Spotting her clutching her chest, his face tightened with alarm-he immediately assumed she was suffering another heart problem. Frantically, he checked her purse and pockets for medication, but came up empty.
Panic overtook him as he swept her into his arms and raced for the hospital, his heart pounding in his throat.
He always believed she'd pull through, just like every other time-but when the medical team wheeled her straight into the ICU,a savage ache twisted deep inside Vincent's chest.
Suddenly,he was transported back to that harrowing afternoon when Brinley's father and brother had been dragged under by the tide. The same bone-deep helplessness threatened to suffocate him.
Vincent hovered outside the ICU doors, mind blank, every muscle locked with tension. Only when the doctor finally emerged did his world snap back into focus. His voice came out rough as he asked, "How is she?"
"She's stable now," the doctor replied, his tone calm but firm."She suffered anaphylactic shock after ingesting a large dose of medication she's severely allergic to. She's out of danger." Relief broke over Vincent in a shaky wave. He closed his eyes,the breath he'd been holding spilling out at last. "Thank you."
From that moment on, Vincent never left Brinley's side.
After some time, Brinley opened her eyes, her skin still deathly pale."Vincent?"
He leaned in, relief flooding his features. "Hey, are you feeling hungry at all?"
She offered a faint shake of her head. "Sorry for making you worried... I'm alright now. Really."
He studied her closely, worry etched into the lines around his eyes. "What happened? How did you end up taking something you're allergic to?"
Her eyes flickering, she winced, searching for words. "|-must've mixed up my heart meds by accident. Maybe I just picked up the wrong bottle without realizing it. I swear, I'll be more careful from now on."
His gaze lingered, searching for any sign she was hiding pain,and then he nodded slowly. "Alright."
He didn't doubt her words. Luckily, it turned out to be no big deal. He finally pulled out his phone to check his messages. A new notification from Derek waited on the screen-he'd already picked up Hannah.
Upon arriving at the mall, Hannah immediately recognized the familiar license plate gleaming in the afternoon sun.
Derek was already waiting there, stepping out of the car with a broad grin as soon as he spotted her. He hurried over and swung open the car door. "Mrs. Jones."
Hannah slipped inside, her fingers moving quickly as she texted Hannah slipped inside, her fingers moving quickly as she texted her parents to let them know she was on the way.
She'd barely set her phone aside when, out of nowhere,another car veered recklessly across their path. It cut them off in a flash of metal and screeching tires. Derek barely had a split second to react. He stomped on the brake, but it was already too late.
A sickening crash echoed inside the vehicle. The impact jolted both of them as the airbags exploded with a deafening pop.Hannah's phone shot from her lap, vanishing into the narrow gap between the seats.
Her seatbelt dug hard into her collarbone, leaving a raw,throbbing welt. Somewhere on her arm, warm blood seeped from a shallow cut. Dazed, she groped blindly for her phone,desperate to call for help.
Suddenly, the car's Bluetooth sprang to life. Vincent's voice cut through the chaos, sharp with worry. "What happened?"
Derek answered, his voice trembling, "Mr. Jones, we were crossing the Bayring Overpass when..."
A burst of static interrupted him. Vincent's panicked shout came through, ragged and frantic, layered over a chorus of distant voices. "Brinley! Doctor, what's going on over there?Why did she faint again?"