Chapter 5

I hadn't walked far when a figure ahead caught my attention.

Bianca had suddenly gotten out of the car.

Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and she rushed straight toward me.

"Watch out!" I shouted.

A nearby car screeched to a halt, first hitting Bianca, then skidding directly at me.

Caught off guard, I was thrown back by the impact.

A sharp pain tore through my waist, as if a knife had sliced open my flesh again.

Cold sweat soaked my clothes, and I curled up in agony.

My hands pressed tightly against the wound, blood seeping through my fingers.

Before I could catch my breath, Bianca's tearful voice rang out. "Oh... my leg..."

I gritted my teeth and looked up, seeing Bianca slumped in front of the car.

Her face was pale as she clutched her knee, tears streaming down her cheeks.

A second later, Carl's car pulled up beside us.

He flung the door open and rushed out.

But he didn't spare me a glance, crouching beside Bianca, his voice thick with worry. "Bianca, are you okay?"

He supported her carefully, his touch as gentle as if handling fragile porcelain. "Let me check if you hurt any bones."

Bianca shook her head, her tears falling harder.

Her voice carried deliberate grievance. "I just wanted to explain to Elizabeth, but I didn't expect to get hit..."

She glanced at me, a flicker of triumph in her eyes.

But she quickly lowered her head, feigning fear. "Elizabeth, is she really mad at me?"

"She's tough. Worry about yourself first," Carl said, his tone neutral, but his grip on Bianca steadied.

Seeing her knee was only scraped, his tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

He let out a long breath. "I'll take you to the hospital to get it treated."

Only then did he turn to look at me, sprawled on the ground.

He saw my face, pale from pain and blood loss, my lips colorless.

My hand, pressed against the wound, was stained red with blood, my gaze as cold as ice.

I felt no anger, no grievance, only a dead calm.

The air seemed to freeze.

Carl stayed crouched, staring at me, his throat bobbing.

He said nothing.

The breath he'd just exhaled now seemed lodged in his chest, making him uneasy.

Seeing the light in my eyes completely snuffed out, a wave of intense panic surged within him.

It was as if something vital was slipping through his fingers.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't hold on to it.