Chapter 1578
“Thank you, doctor,” Lucas said with a nod.
The doctor gave a courteous smile. “Just doing my job, Mr. Clark.” With that, he turned and strode off.
Moments later, Belinda was wheeled out of the emergency room and into her ward.
Now dressed in a hospital gown, she looked pale under the harsh hospital lighting.
Her forehead was wrapped with gauze, and the tiny scratches on her face and neck made her appear fragile and pitiable.
Lucas followed silently, then took the seat beside her bed and reached for her hand. He held it tight, not wanting to let go.
“It’s getting late,” Vincent said gently, glancing around the room. “We should head back. Lucas will stay here with Belinda. We can return first thing in the morning.”
With Belinda now stable, there was little reason for the rest of them to linger.
Bethany nodded in agreement. “All right, then. Lucas, take good care of Belinda.”
But Lucas didn’t react. His gaze remained fixed on Belinda.
“I want to stay!” Faye suddenly said. She looked determined. “I can help Lucas take care of Belinda.”
Vincent said, “Faye, you’re injured too. You need to rest.”
“I’m fine! Really, I am!” Faye said. “Belinda got hurt because of me. I won’t feel at ease until I see her wake up.”
“All of you, go home,” Lucas finally spoke in a low, firm voice.
“But—” Faye hesitated, wanting to say something, but Vincent gently took her arm and led her toward the door.
A moment later, the room fell quiet. Only Lucas and Belinda remained.
Lucas gazed at her face, every second imprinting itself into his memory. His grip on her hand never loosened, though it trembled faintly with the weight of emotion he could no longer contain.
No one—not even those closest to him—could understand the storm churning inside his chest right now.
Even with the doctor’s reassurance echoing in his mind, his heart refused to settle.
He dared not recall the moment when he found her in the bushes.
He couldn’t bring himself to think of what he would do if anything serious were to happen to Belinda.
At that moment, he realized once again just how much he loved Belinda.
He couldn’t live without her.
He brought Belinda’s hand to his lips and kissed it gently, his movement tender.
On the ride back, Faye sat quietly in the passenger seat of Vincent’s car, her fingers twisting in her lap.
Unable to keep the worry bottled any longer, she turned to Vincent and said, “Do you think Lucas is mad at me?”