New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex)
Chapter 267 Severe Accident

The rainy night weather stopped people from their activity as they spotted an accident. All the attention was on Abigail's unconscious body lying in the middle of the road. People were gathered around her, whispering in concerned tones, their faces twisted in worry. Some

of them had already contacted an ambulance, and the tension in the air was thick.

"Is she breathing?" someone asked from the back of the crowd.

"I think so," a man near her murmured, squinting down at her still form. "But it looks bad."

Before long, the sound of an ambulance's siren pierced through the anxious murmurs, and the crowd parted as the paramedics rushed over. One of them, a woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense attitude, crouched down beside Abigail and checked her pulse, pressing two fingers against her neck. She leaned in, listening carefully to her breathing.

"Her breath's slowing down," the paramedic called to her colleague, worry lining her face. "Her pulse is weak, too. We need to move fast."

Without wasting any time, they carefully lifted Abigail onto a spinal board, securing her before carrying her to the waiting ambulance. As the doors closed, the ambulance sped away, leaving the crowd behind, buzzing with speculation and concern.

Meanwhile, Alexander was driving home, his thoughts still on Mateo and Claire's incident, when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and sighed when he saw his mother's name flash across it. For a moment, he considered not answering. After all, it was probably just her calling to check in or remind him of some family event. But something tugged at him, urging him to pick up.

"Hello?" Alexander answered, his tone casual.

Before he could even greet her properly, his mother, Joan, spoke in a voice laced with panic. "Alexander! You need to go to the hospital."

His grip on the steering wheel tightened as alarm spread through him. "What? Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine," Joan said, but her voice was shaky. "It's Abigail."

"Abigail?" Alexander's heart skipped a beat. "What's going on? What happened to her?"

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, followed by the sound of his mother's soft sobbing. Alexander's chest tightened. "Mum, tell me what's going on," he urged, his voice rising with worry.

"She... She was in an accident," Joan finally said, her voice breaking. "She's at the hospital, and I'm on my way there now. Please, meet me there."

His pulse quickened, and without hesitation, Alexander pressed down harder on the gas pedal, his car speeding up as he headed straight for the hospital. His mind raced, trying to piece together what could've happened. Just yesterday, Abigail had been fine laughing, talking. How could things change so fast?

As he neared the hospital, his heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears. Parking the car in a rush, he jumped out and nearly sprinted to the entrance. The sterile smell of the hospital hit him as he walked up to the receptionist, his breath slightly ragged. "Abigail Hastings," he said, his voice strained. "Where is she?"

The nurse at the desk gave him a sympathetic look before pointing down the hall. "Operation room. Just down that way."

Alexander nodded, muttering a quick "Thanks" before heading in the direction she pointed. As he approached the operation room, he spotted two familiar figures his mother and Abigail's mother, both holding onto each other, their faces wet with tears. His throat tightened as he approached them, his heart sinking at the sight of their grief. "Mum," he said quietly, trying to keep his voice steady, "what happened?"

Joan stood up, pulling him aside. She wiped at her eyes before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was a car crash, Alex. They hadn't elaborate further. We both don't know what actually happened and how severe her wounds are. Mary received a phone call from the hospital telling her that Abigail was at the hospital."

Alexander felt the ground shift beneath him as his mother's words sank in. Abigail, his childhood friend, the girl who had always been so full of life, was now lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life. He ran a hand through his hair, his mind struggling to process the news. "God..." he muttered; his voice full of disbelief. "How did this happen?"

Joan shook her head, her eyes filled with tears again. "We don't know the full details yet. The doctors are doing everything they can."

Alexander turned to glance through

the small window into the operation room, his heart aching as he caught a glimpse of Abigail on the hospital bed, hooked up to machines. She looked so fragile, so unlike the girl he knew. His chest tightened with a mix offear and helplessness.

"Was she... was she awake at all?" he asked.

Abigail's mother, who had been crying quietly beside Joan, shook her head. "No, she's been unconscious since they brought her in. They're not sure when or if she'll wake up."

Alexander's fists clenched at his

sides, his knuckles turning white as he stared down the hospital hallway. The sterile smell of disinfectant filled the air, and the fluorescent lights buzzed softly above him. He wanted to do something-anything-to help. But right now, all he could do was stand there, feeling useless, waiting for news about Abigail.

"Alex, sit down," Joan said gently, placing a hand on his arm and guiding him to a nearby chair. "The doctors are hopeful," she continued as he slumped into the seat, "but it's going to take time." Time.

The ticking of the clock on the wall seemed louder with every minute, and it only added to the tension in the room.

Alexander glanced over at Abigail's

mom, who was sitting in the corner,

wiping her tear-streaked face with tissues that were already soaked through She'd been crying nonstop, her sobs barely contained by her shaking hands. His heart broke for her. It wasn't just her daughter lying on that operating table; it was her whole world.

The sound of a footsteps alert Alexander. Abigail's father had arrived, his face pale and drawn with worry. He gave a tight-lipped nod to everyone, and Alexander immediately stood up, extending his hand. "Mr. Hasting," Alexander said, his voice low but steady.

"Alexander," Mr. Hastings replied, shaking his hand firmly. There was no need for words between them. They both knew why they were here, and neither of them could change the situation.

He walked over to his wife and gently wrapped his arms around her. "How is she?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly as he pulled her close.

"She's still in there," Mrs. Turner whispered, her tears soaking into his jacket. "They haven't told us anything yet." Her sobs grew louder as her husband held her tighter, trying to offer whatever comfort he could. Then, finally, the door to the operating room opened with a quiet creak, and a doctor in scrubs stepped out. His face was calm but serious, and everyone's breath caught in their throats as they waited for him to speak. Abigail's mother was the first to approach him, practically running up to the doctor. "How is she? Please, how's my daughter?" she asked, her voice trembling with desperation.

The doctor sighed softly, his expression sympathetic. "Abigail's heartbeat is stable now, though still weak. We've managed to stop the internal bleeding, and she's out of immediate danger."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the room, though it was short-lived as the doctor continued.

"However," he said, "her left leg is broken. It's going to require surgery to set the bones properly, and she's going to need a lot of physical therapy afterward. She also needed nine stitches on the back of her head, where she hit it during the accident." Abigail's mom gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. Alexander felt his stomach twist as the doctor went on.

"And," the doctor added gravely, "she's lost a significant amount of blood. Right now, we need a blood donor. She's stable for now, but without a transfusion, she'll remain at risk."