Chapter 88
At Silvergrove Hospital, Rhett sat outside the emergency room, looking down in the dumps.
“Mr. FitzGerald…” York dared not to come any closer because Rhett seemed a bit scary.
York had only seen Rhett like this twice before. Once at his mother’s funeral and the other at
this moment.
York knew Rhett well. They were somewhat related, and he knew since childhood that Rhett was always the genius and the golden boy in everyone’s eyes.
But from the first time York laid eyes on Rhett, he knew Rhett wasn’t living a happy life.
Rhett had the ability, the talent, and the strength, but he never seemed truly happy.
Being born into the FitzGerald family, the responsibilities and pressures on him seemed way heavier than on the average Joe.
“James has landed Mr. Vincent in the hospital. Nicola is already in the loop, and Mr. Holcomb is
on his way. It might blow up a big deal. If your family has to point fingers, they wouldn’t
dare to blame James directly. They’d probably take it out on Kristin.”
York spoke softly, giving Rhett a heads–up.
In Crescendo Town, the Bryce and the FitzGerald families were strong allies. Besides that, Nicola and Vincent wouldn’t dare to cross the Bryce family as they were busy sucking up to them and trying to snag the inheritance rights to the FitzGerald Group.
But they would make a scapegoat out of Kristin.
“Let them try,” Rhett said, his voice deep and his eyes dark and intimidating.
“Mr. FitzGerald, are you sure you don’t need to recuse yourself from this situation?” York gasped.
It seemed best for Rhett to stay out of it. Once Rhett got involved, it would be hard for him to extricate himself later.
Nicola and Vincent had been up to their little shenanigans for years, waiting to catch Rhett in a trap.
“Recuse me? Huh, funny.” Rhett snorted, glancing at York. “Garner’s garage has CCTV. Get Garner to hand the footage to the cops. If he didn’t learn his lesson in Crescendo Town, it’s time he learns it now.”
“And the part where Mr. Bryce hit Mr. Vincent…” York shivered with fear.
Rhett was seriously declaring war on Nicola.
Sending his brother to the police station would be a slap in the face for the FitzGerald family and Holcomb.
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That would put Rhett in a…
Holcomb would be furious, especially with Nicola whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
York took a deep breath and didn’t dare to say more.
“Hand everything to the police. Nicola wouldn’t dare mess with James, Rhett was clear about that. Nicola would give James and the Bryce family that much respect.
“Mr. FitzGerald, are you doing this for Kristin, or are you seizing this chance to have it out with Nicola?” York hesitated before speaking in a low voice. “You’ve been holding back for so many years. There’s no need to wreck your plans over Kristin.”
Rhett fell silent, frowning slightly.
York didn’t press further and turned to take care of things.
“Mr. FitzGerald, iare you outright trying to kill her now?” In the emergency room, Connor came over with the test results, speaking in a low tone and handing the lab report to Rhett. “She’s got a congenital heart condition; and the Turner family is still waiting for her to donate a kidney. At this rate, forget about donating. Surviving will be a problem.”
Rhett’s expression darkened as he looked up at Connor. “What kidney donation?”
“Ruby needs a kidney transplant, and they’re insisting on Kristin’s,” Connor said with his hands in his pockets, his tone sarcastic. “They claim Kristin owes the Turner family.
“Do they have a screw loose?” Rhett rubbed his temples. “How is she doing?”
“She’s not going to die just yet, but next time, who knows? The injury on her neck looks recent, too, and torturing her like this is a bit much,” Connor saw life and death a lot but had never seen someone so alive yet so abused.
“She’s also got severe depression with clear psychosomatic symptoms, and I’ve looked through her records. She’s had many CT treatments. You probably can’t imagine what she’s going through. She’s like a walking corpse.”
Connor checked the time and left.
Rhett stared at Kristin’s lab report for a long while.
That was shocking.
What on earth had this woman been through?
“No, don’t… Get off me. Don’t touch me…” Kristin was restless in her hospital bed.
Excessive blood loss made her constantly dizzy and ringing in her ears.
She was deaf in her left ear, and Kristin felt she was in a glass bottle, cut off from the world.
“Mr. FitzGerald, these are the remaining test results. Take a look. She’s severely
Chapter 88
malnourished,” the nurse was shocked, wondering why one could still starve to death.
With this severe lack of vitamin D2, her bones would start falling apart soon.
Rhett stood by the bed and glanced at Kristin. “I got it.”
“Mr. FitzGerald, she’s pitiful. During the resuscitation earlier, her heart stopped. She was close. to… not making it,” the nurse whispered and left quietly.
Rhett gazed deeply at Kristin.
She was not afraid of death, yet she was too scared to fight back.
If she had nothing to lose, how far would she go?
“Water…” Kristin was incredibly thirsty and wanted some water.
Rhett was caught off guard for a moment, never having looked after a patient before, and he was a bit clueless about where to start.
He pulled out a cotton swab, dampened it, and carefully moistened Kristin’s lips.
“Water…” Kristin was dying of thirst and slowly opened her eyes, wanting a drink.
“You’ve lost too much blood and can’t gulp the water right now. Hang in there,” Rhett’s voice was soothing. At least to Kristin’s ears, it was comforting.
“You again…” Kristin managed a weak smile.
Rhett again, huh? Was this a dream?
5
This time, she was seriously in his debt, as her blood had stained his clothes once more.
Rhett’s heart tightened as he looked at Kristin.
She could still smile in a state like this.
For some reason, Rhett thought she looked pretty when she smiled.
“Get some rest,” Rhett whispered.
Kristin’s eyelids gradually drifted shut, teetering between wakefulness and her.
“Don’t go…” Kristin’s slender, powerless fingers gently clasped Rhett’s wrist, mustering courage from God knows where like a drowning person clutching desperately at a lifebuoy.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Rhett sat by her side, not pulling away from Kristin’s grip.
She held on to Rhett tightly and drifted off into a groggy sleep.
York popped in once, shocked to see Rhett, and quickly mentioned the cops took Vincent away before he stationed himself outside the hospital room.
Later, James arrived, carrying Summer. And Garner followed.
“Kristin’s not in life–threatening danger. No need to worry too much.” York patted Garner on the
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shoulder.
Garner nodded. “Thanks.
York didn’t say much more.
James entered the room and saw Rhett sitting by the bed, with Kristin’s hand gripping his wrist tightly.
“Mommy…” Summer’s eyes reddened, and he choked on calling for his mom.
Rhett instinctively extended his arm to embrace Summer. But he stopped midway, abruptly. reminded that James was his biological father.
“Mr. FitzGerald, you can go home and rest now,” James said with furrowed brows.
James didn’t want Kristin to have a second option besides him.
“It seems that’s not an option right now,” Rhett’s gaze fell on Kristin’s hand, holding onto him, unwilling to let go.
“Rhett…” James‘ face darkened, and he spoke in a lowered voice. “Don’t drag Kristin into your family’s internal strife. She’s already suffered like this. Stop using her.”
James was well aware of Rhett’s agenda.
