Chapter 438 An Accident?

Chapter 438: Chapter 438 An Accident?

The crash of the chandelier hitting the floor drowned out several of the screams.

For a few seconds, the entire reception hall descended into chaos.

Grace barely had time to react before James rushed forward and shielded her, catching her before the elderly woman could lose her balance and fall.

The massive crystal chandelier lay shattered across the floor.

Alicia was unconscious nearby.

Blood was already running down the side of her head.

James’s expression darkened.

“Get a car. Take her to the hospital.”

Grace looked at Alicia.

The shock of what had just happened still hadn’t worn off, but she forced herself to stay composed.

“Bring me my first-aid kit. I’m going with her. We need to control the bleeding before we get there.”

“Grandma, you just went through a shock yourself.”

Grace raised a hand.

“I’m fine.”

Her brow remained deeply furrowed.

“It’s nothing.”

Meanwhile, Rose ignored the pain in her shoulder and the bruises she’d picked up when Alicia shoved her aside.

She scrambled to her feet, grabbed the first-aid kit, and hurried over.

“I’ll do it.”

She knelt beside Alicia and immediately began applying pressure to the wound.

“Grandma, take your blood pressure medication. We need to make sure you’re stable.”

Grace gave Rose a long look.

Then she glanced at the unconscious Alicia.

Finally, she turned to James.

“Keep the guests in the front rooms away from this. Calm everyone down and find an excuse to send them home for now.”

James nodded.

“Got it.”

Everything had happened too quickly.

No one had been prepared for it.

Derick rushed over, scooped Alicia carefully into his arms, and carried her toward the waiting car.

A moment later, Victoria came running in.

She stopped dead.

Her eyes widened.

Then she looked across the room.

Morgan was still sitting safely in her wheelchair.

Completely unharmed.

And beside her stood Ryan.

He had positioned himself between Morgan and the fallen chandelier like a shield.

Morgan didn’t have so much as a scratch.

Victoria froze.

Her gaze lingered on Morgan.

Then she looked toward Rose.

Rose had already noticed Ryan standing beside her mother.

Their eyes met across the room.

“Are you okay?”

Before Rose could answer, Diana came running over.

She immediately looked Rose up and down.

“Are you hurt?”

Rose took a slow breath.

Blood from Alicia’s head wound still stained both of her palms.

Her expression was unusually serious.

“I need to go to the hospital with her.”

She looked directly at Diana.

“Diana, take care of my mom. Don’t let her out of your sight for even a second.”

Diana’s expression became solemn.

“Don’t worry. I won’t.”

Rose held her gaze.

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

Diana moved behind Morgan’s wheelchair.

There were only a few clear paths through the reception room, so as she pushed Morgan toward the exit, they passed directly by Victoria.

Morgan suddenly lifted her head.

Her eyes locked onto Victoria. ℯℯ𝑙.

She stared at her.

Then Diana pushed the wheelchair past.

Victoria felt a chill run down her spine.

She had seen that look.

Morgan had looked at her as though she recognized something.

That single glance brought every buried fear rushing back.

Victoria’s hands went cold.

As Derick hurried past, he noticed her standing there in a daze.

He assumed she was shaken because Alicia had been injured.

Despite everything that had happened between Rose and the Robinson family, Derick still knew Victoria well enough to understand that seeing Alicia covered in blood would devastate her.

He slowed.

“Don’t worry too much. It’s not life-threatening.”

Victoria looked at him.

Derick didn’t wait for a response.

He hurried after Alicia.

Victoria remained frozen for another few seconds.

Then she looked in the direction Morgan had gone.

Her face was ashen.

Without another word, she turned and got into another car headed for the hospital.

*****

Rose had worked in an emergency department before.

She knew exactly how quickly a situation like this could deteriorate.

So, she got into the car with Alicia.

She had barely settled into the seat when the door opened again.

Someone climbed inside.

The door shut.

A faint, cool fragrance filled the car.

Rose looked up.

Ryan was sitting across from her.

His eyes immediately went to her.

“Did you fall?”

He glanced at her bruised clothes and the marks on her arms.

Rose pressed her lips together.

She continued treating Alicia’s wound.

“It’s nothing serious. I’m fine.”

“Mm.”

Ryan didn’t look away.

Rose focused on Alicia.

Then she asked quietly, “What do you think?”

Ryan waited.

Rose looked at Alicia’s pale face.

“Do you think that chandelier falling was really an accident?”

“No.”

Ryan answered without hesitation.

His certainty made Rose’s heart tighten.

She didn’t respond.

She continued working.

The chandelier had been enormous.

If the entire fixture had landed directly on one person, especially someone as physically fragile as Morgan after years in a coma, the outcome could have been fatal.

Alicia had already suffered a severe head injury from only part of the falling fixture.

Morgan had been sitting directly beneath it.

Grace had been only seconds away from walking underneath it.

One was still recovering from years of unconsciousness.

The other was elderly.

If that chandelier had fallen directly on them—

Rose didn’t want to finish the thought.

Her breathing grew heavier.

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

The hand she used to hold pressure against Alicia’s wound began to tremble.

Then a warm hand covered the back of it.

Rose froze.

She didn’t look up.

Ryan’s voice was calm.

“It’s over.”

His hand remained over hers.

“Everyone you care about is safe.”

Rose stared down at their hands.

Blood stained her skin.

Ryan’s hand was steady against hers.

She didn’t say anything.

Neither did he.

The car sped toward the hospital.

Fortunately, the hospital was only a short drive away.

They arrived in a little over ten minutes.

Several vehicles pulled in almost at once.

Rose and Ryan got out together.

The hospital had already been notified.

The trauma team was waiting.

The moment Alicia was brought inside, she was transferred onto a hospital gurney and rushed toward the operating room.

At the entrance to the surgical area, the group finally came to a stop.

Grace looked pale, but her voice remained steady.

She turned to the surgeon.

“Alicia has a congenital heart condition. Please take that into account during the procedure and be prepared for any complications.”

The surgeon nodded immediately.

He knew exactly who Grace was.

“Of course, Dr. Grace.”

Victoria stood farther away.

She didn’t approach.

Derick turned toward Grace.

“Take your blood pressure medication first. Don’t worry about anything else right now.”

Grace frowned.

She clearly wasn’t in the mood to listen to anyone.

Still, she sat down.

Rose had no choice but to go over to James.

“James, where’s Grandma’s medication?”

James handed it to her.

Rose walked over and held it out to Grace.

“You need to take care of yourself. Otherwise none of us are going to be able to relax.”

Grace glared at her.

Rose didn’t back down.

“Ariel has only just come into your life. You want to spend time with her, don’t you? Then you have to take care of yourself first.”

Grace’s expression tightened.

For a moment, it looked as though she was about to argue.

Then she sighed and took the medication.

James couldn’t help smiling.

He gave Rose a discreet thumbs-up.

His grandmother had always been strong-willed.

She’d spent her entire life making decisions for herself and refusing to let anyone tell her what to do.

Yet Rose somehow managed to get through to her.

James looked at Grace.

“Grandma probably just means...”

He hesitated.

“This was supposed to be a celebration for you and Ariel. Something like this happening today...she’s probably worried you will be upset.”

Rose fell silent.

Her gaze shifted.

Across the waiting area, Victoria stood alone.

Rose’s expression cooled.

“Yes.”

James looked at her.

Rose’s voice remained calm.

“But there’s no point pretending everything is fine.”

A life had nearly been lost.

The celebration didn’t matter anymore.

James straightened.

“Then we’ll hold another one later.”

“No.”

Rose turned toward him.

Her gaze was cold and steady.

“We don’t need another celebration.”

She paused.

“What we need is to find out how this happened.”

James’s expression changed.

His eyes narrowed.

He looked back toward the hospital doors, his face turning serious.

“Everything in the Taylor house is inspected and maintained regularly.”

His voice was low.

“A chandelier that size doesn’t just come crashing down for no reason.”

He looked at Rose.

“Something about this isn’t right.”