NovelGoldA ringing filled Charlotte's ears, drowning out every other sound. Disoriented, she drifted back to consciousness, feeling as if she were suspended in midair, the world spinning upside down.
The car had flipped, landing wheels-up, and a sharp, chemical scent filled the air as fuel leaked steadily from the tank.
Her senses snapped into focus. The first thing she saw was Evander's face-blood streaked across his brow. "...Evander." Her voice barely registered in her own ears, muffled by the persistent ringing. She reached out, fingers fumbling over Evander's still form, ignoring the pain shooting through her own arm as she unlatched her seatbelt.
Once she freed herself and steadied her body, Charlotte slapped his cheek, desperate. "Evander, wake up. Con, stay with me-" Suddenly, her gaze froze. A jagged shard of glass was embedded in his chest, dark blood soaking through his shirt, spreading across the fabric.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe stench of gasoline grew stronger, acrid and overwhelming. Charlotte forced herself not to panic and hurriedly undid his seatbelt.
But the impact had crumpled the driver's side; Evander's legs were pinned beneath the seat. She couldn't move him.
Gritting her teeth, Charlotte grabbed the emergency hammer, shattered the side window, and clawed her way out of the wreck.
At that moment, a car screeched to a halt nearby. A couple jumped out-the woman immediately dialing for an ambulance, while her husband rushed forward to help Charlotte.
"There's a fuel leak! We need to get away from the car-now!" "There's someone else inside-I have to get him out!" Charlotte kept her composure, turning to the man. "Do you have a jack in your car?" 1/3 13:01 Chapter 344 "Yes, we do!" "Thank you!" Without hesitation, Charlotte took the jack and crawled back to the wreck. She wedged it between the crumpled dashboard and the driver's seat, forcing enough space to reach Evander. Hooking her arms under his, she carefully pulled him free, doing her best not to disturb the glass lodged in his chest.
The couple hesitated only a moment before joining in to help.
They had just dragged Evander a safe distance away when the car erupted in flames.
Sirens wailed in the distance. Police and paramedics arrived within minutes. Charlotte knelt at Evander's side, pressing her hands to his wound, desperate to slow the bleeding. One of the EMTs recognized her immediately. "...Dr. Sterling?" No tfor formalities. "He's got a foreign object in his chest, massive blood loss-he needs surgery now!" With a police escort, the ambulance sped through downtown, reaching Capital Central Hospital's ER in just ten minutes. Evander was fitted with an oxygen mask; monitors showed his blood pressure and pulse dropping fast. Nurses rushed him through a priority trauma corridor, straight to the operating room..
Charlotte stopped outside, trembling uncontrollably, barely aware of her surroundings.
"Lottie!" Dean Chase burst through the doors, breathless and anxious at the sight of her battered and bloodstained. "Are you hurt?" "It's nothing, just a scratch." Charlotte's lips were cracked, her face pale. "He's much worse. I don't know if the glass pierced his heart..." They were only on their way to city hall to sign divorce papers. It was supposed to be a simple, uneventful morning.
She'd never imagined something like this could happen.
2/3 13:01 Chapter 344 If she hadn't regained consciousness in time, or if that couple hadn't stopped to help, they might both have died in the wreck.
Dean steadied her. "I've already called the best trauma surgeon at Capital Central. He's en route. Right now, we need to get a clear picture of Evander's injuries." Charlotte nodded, dazed.
The doors swung open. The attending chief strode out, eyes grave. "Dean Chase." "How is he?"
"It's critical. The patient needs an emergency pericardiotomy to relieve tamponade and stop thebleeding+plus rapid transfusion, or he could go into shock at any moment. But we still need to run the full trauma protocol; the surgeon can't operate without it-" Charlotte's brows drew together. "We don't have that kind of time. And if he's moved again, his injuries could get worse-"
"No more delays," Dean interrupted, voice resolute. "If there are consequences, I'll take responsibility myself. Even if lose my job as hospital administrator-saving his life comes first." He turned to Charlotte. "I've already spoken to Dr. Hale, the director here. He's a top cardiac surgeon-he'll handle the operation."
Minutes later, Dr. Hale strode in, scrubbing in without hesitation. Dean whispered a quick update: Dr. Hale gave a reassuring nod. "Don't worry. I'll do everything I can." 2.00
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
