Bang!
Audrey crumpled to the ground, a pool of blood forming around her.
Crystal couldnât stop trembling as she gripped the steering wheel. It was not that she did not. have any mental barriers; she did not have time to consider her options. All she could think. of was whatâd happen to Skyler if Audrey escaped.
The kindergarten security restrained Audrey while someone else called the police. Skyler, on the other hand, was so frightened that she burst into tears. Needless to say, the scene was absolute chaos.
Crystal was still shaking when she finally stepped out of the car.
I need to send Audrey to the hospital, but how can I explain it to the others? Will they even allow me to take her?
Just then, her hand was taken in a warm, firm grasp. âDonât be afraid, Crystal!â
The woman stiffened as she turned her head around, only to find herself staring at Henry.
At that moment, she felt her strength drain away, and all she could manage was a feeble reply. âH-Henry?â
Henry squeezed her hand reassuringly. âLeave this to me.â
He hurried toward Skyler and fed her, her blood-clotting medication.
It pained Henry to see the blood on his daughterâs legs, and as he pulled her into an embrace, she buried her tear-stained face in his arms.
âDaddy... it hurts!â
Henry kissed the little girl. âIâll take you to the hospital.â
Knowing that time was of the essence, he quickly handed Skyler to Crystal and ordered them to get into the car.
After hauling Audrey up from the ground, Henry fished his phone out and made a call. âCaptain Jones, itâs me, Henry! Thereâs been a murder outside Whittleberry Kindergarten, my wife subdued the murderer. However, the latterâs in bad shape, so weâll send her to the hospital first. Yes... Everything will be fine!â
and A while later, Henry finally hung up the phone.
Having seemingly realized something was amiss, Audrey muttered weakly, âNo! That canât be! Henry... y-you wonât do that to me!â
âI will!â Henry spat before shoving her into another car.
The two black sedans sped off one after another and pulled into a high-end private hospital in just ten minutes.
Crystal held Skyler tightly and comforted her while Henry shielded them from Audrey.
âDonât be scared,â the man comforted as he caressed Skylerâs head. âIâm here for you!â
Skyler merely hugged Crystal, her eyes still brimming with tears.
âTake her to the emergency room. Iâll be with you guys shortly,â Henry gently instructed. Crystal before turning around and walking away.
Crystal, however, couldnât shake off her feeling of unease. âHenry!â
Henry instantly stopped in his tracks and gave her an encouraging smile. âDonât worry. Everything will be fine!â
Crystal hugged Skyler and looked at the manâs retreating figure, a determined look in her eyes.
Yes. I have faith in him.
With the driver leading the way, Crystal hastily followed behind until they arrived at the emergency room. Fortunately, the doctors had been on standby for almost twenty minutes, and it didnât take long before the nurses rushed in with a blood bag.
âBegin the blood transfusion immediately! The kid has hemophilia!â
Skyler lay quietly on the bed, her face pale as a sheet.
The hundred-millimeter blood bag was emptied within minutes, but thankfully, fresh packets of blood were delivered in succession, ensuring a steady supply. Knowing full well who the blood donor was, Crystal shuddered.
Just like that, eight hundred millimeters of blood was successfully transfused.
By then, Skyler was so tired from all the crying that she fell asleep on the small bed, her lashes wet from the tears. It was, without a doubt, a pitiful sight to behold.
Crystal clutched the little girlâs hand, her body still trembling from fear.
She instantly turned around when she felt a hand on her shoulder, only to come face to face with Henry.
Like her, the man looked exhausted.
Henry promptly sat beside Crystal and pulled her into his arms. Before the latter could ask her question, the manâs deep, husky voice rang out. âAfter you called me last night, I dreamed that Skyler got injured... I was worried sick, so I returned on a private jet this morning.â He gently pressed his forehead against hers. âYou did well, Crystal!â
Just as Crystal was about to say something, Henry interrupted her again, âLeave everything to me! All you need to know is that nothing will happen to Skyler.â
Even though Crystal didnât ask any further, there was still a lingering fear in her heart as she leaned against his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist.
A while later, Henry left Crystal with Skyler while he walked out to have a smoke, desperate for some time alone to clear his head.
After he finished one cigarette, his phone rang.
As it turned out, Wilson Jones was on the other end of the call, and his tone was stern. âHenry, weâve zeroed in on Audrey being the unhinged murderer! Sheâs responsible for the deaths of four people!â he exclaimed before pausing. âIs she still alive?â
âYes. Sheâs still in the hospital. Iâll fully cooperate with what you need me to do! As for my wife... she was only doing what was right, so itâd be better to keep her out of the public eye.â
Once the call ended, Henry strode into a standalone cold room.
The room was big, and ten bags of fresh blood were neatly kept inside.
Henry picked one of the bags up and scrutinized it.
Seconds later, Jamie entered the room and approached him. âMr. Miller, Iâve found three. people with Rh-negative blood in Avenport and Tellmoore.â
Henry placed the blood bag down and turned to his secretary. âInvite them to work in Seeas. Corporation.â
Jamie nodded, but there was a moment of hesitation before she spoke again.
âActually.... thereâs another person with Rh-negative blood in Barnwood. The only problem is that heâs pretty young.â
Henry furrowed his brows.
âIt really is quite the coincidence. Heâs Christopher Ziegler, one of Skylerâs kindergarten classmates,â Jamie said as she handed a file to Henry. âHere, Mr. Miller. These are all his information.â
Henry accepted the file and began flipping through the documents. Christopher Ziegler, huh? Letâs see... His family has an established business, but sadly, the first son was stillborn. Because of that, Christoper was accepted into the Ziegler family despite being an illegitimate child. From the looks of it. his life doesnât seem to be all sunshine and rainbows.
As a mother, Jamie couldnât help but said, âThe kid has a pretty rough life!â
Henry said nothing as he continued poring over the documents.
Not only is the boy very handsome, but I can also tell by his eyes that heâs smart as a whip.
Henry closed the file and turned to Jamie. âHelp me ask Cosmos Corporationâs Andy Ziegler out for a game of golf. Tell him I have a project to discuss with him.â
Jamie instantly understood Henryâs intention and nodded.
Henry got everything in order and returned to the ward, only to see that his sister were already there.
Needless to say, Davidâs heart ached for his precious granddaughter.
parents and He cradled Skyler as if she was a baby and kept comforting her until Henry couldnât stand it. any longer. âDad, Skyler has lost a lot of blood. Sheâll feel dizzy if you keep shaking her like that!â
âAre you dizzy, Sky?â David hastily asked.
Skyler loved being coddled, so even if she felt dizzy, she didnât mind being held and kissed. by her grandfather.
Davidâs face fell, and tears suddenly started streaming down his cheeks.
Oh, my poor Skyler. She almost died as a baby, and it wasnât easy for Henry to bring her up, either. I canât believe she has to suffer this much at the hands of that crazy woman...
Despite his seething anger, David suppressed it and looked at his son. âDo what needs to be done, Henry.â
Henry nodded. âI know, Dad.â
Crystal lifted her gaze and locked eyes with the young man, prompting him to give her a gentle squeeze on her shoulders.
âDonât worry. Everythingâs okay,â he reassured.
That afternoon, Henry left for the police station and only returned to the hospital late at night.
Upon entering the dimly lit ward, he saw Crystal lying on the side of the bed. She was fast asleep.
Skyler, however, had woken up from Henryâs footsteps. She whispered, âDaddy.â
Henry removed his jacket and covered Crystal with it.
Then, he sat on the bed and lifted Skyler onto his lap before pulling the blanket over her.
It didnât take long for Skyler to snuggle into Henryâs arms and make herself comfortable. After all, he was the one who had brought her up, so she felt the closest to him.
Henry ruffled his daughterâs brown hair and carefully touched her bandaged legs. âDoes it still hurt?â
âYes!â Skyler whined as she buried her face in the crook of her fatherâs neck.
Henry merely hugged her tighter and showered her with kisses.
Even though he didnât say a word, his heart was undeniably overwhelmed with emotions. Everything that had happened was far too much for him to bear. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that my old flame would hurt Skyler this much! What if Crystal wasnât there? I canât even bring myself to think of the outcome... Itâs all my fault. Iâve let Skyler down!
Having seemingly detected her fatherâs mood change, Skyler leaned in and pecked him on the cheek.
She was so small and soft, and Henry was ready to trade everything he had to keep her safe and healthy.
âTomorrow, your teacher will visit you with some of your kindergarten classmates,â he uttered.
The high-spirited Skyler suddenly looked a little awkward.
âI heard Christopher Ziegler will be here too,â Henry added.
Knowing that her father had seen through her, Skyler bristled with annoyance as she slid under the blanket and yawned.
âDaddy, I want to sleep now!â
Henry ruffled her curls and started on a bedtime story.
âOnce upon a time, there was a young prince named Christopher Ziegler...â
Dumbstruck by what her father was doing, Skyler began snoring. âIâve fallen asleep, Daddy!â
Henry hummed nonchalantly and patted the little girlâs back, soothing her to sleep like he had been doing for countless nights over the past years.
To him, Skyler wasnât just a child.
She was a beacon of hope for rekindling his and Crystalâs relationship.