Chapter 26
An Accident Happens
Julian Sterling really was a thoughtful, gentlemanly man. Back when she used to go out with Ethan Sterling, Ethan had never done things like this.
...
The next day, Julian Sterling drove Claire Bennett to Sterling International. He pretended to drive away, but in reality he avoided everyone and made a big detour through the back entrance into Sterling International's parking garage.
After taking the elevator upstairs, Julian Sterling could see Claire Bennett below through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She was working intently.
A curve appeared at the corner of his lips, one he didn't even notice himself.
Below, Claire Bennett finished putting on her protective gear and climbed onto the scaffolding.
Most of the jobs she usually took were for private standalone houses, and the usual height was only a little over two meters. Even when she ran into loft-style homes and the scaffolding was set up, it was at most around three meters. But the exterior wall at Sterling International was very wide and very large.
The height was more than double what she was used to. Standing this high up, without a strong enough mindset, it really might have been impossible to handle.
Fortunately, Claire Bennett had plenty of experience. As long as she focused and started painting, she became completely immersed in it and didn't feel afraid at all.
When Claire Bennett stepped onto the plank, it let out a faint creak. Her body froze, and her brows knit slightly.
Something felt a little off...
Crack!
The wooden plank beneath her feet suddenly split in half. Losing its support, Claire Bennett fell straight down from the scaffolding!
The safety harness on her body buffered her fall a little, but it immediately snapped taut and broke. She kept falling downward.
"Claire Bennett!"
Watching Claire Bennett, Julian Sterling's heart suddenly clenched. It felt as though all the blood in his body had frozen. Burning with anxiety, he ran downstairs as fast as he could.
Just as Claire Bennett was about to hit the ground, she reacted quickly and grabbed onto a piece of wood, slowing her fall.
She had been falling too fast, and her hand was violently wrenched. In the end, she still couldn't hold on and crashed heavily to the ground!
Luckily, she had managed to grab something in time. Otherwise, she might have been killed by the fall right there. Even so, she felt as though all her internal organs had been shaken to pieces.
When Claire Bennett came to, she felt herself being picked up. Above her was Julian Sterling's hard, cold jawline. He was carrying her and striding quickly away!
She wanted to ask him—hadn't he left? Why was he still here? But everything in her body hurt, and she couldn't speak. Even breathing hurt.
Julian Sterling's brows were tightly furrowed as he shoved her into the car and sped straight to the hospital.
Someone had just witnessed Claire Bennett's fall. Seeing her carried away in someone's arms, they all began whispering to each other in shock.
"Oh my God, that girl painting fell off the scaffolding."
"That's terrifying. I wonder how she's doing."
"From scaffolding that high, she's probably badly hurt."
Inside the Sterling building, Naomi Pierce walked out. Hearing everyone's whispers, she slowly curled her lips into a smile, one full of malice.
Serves Claire Bennett right for provoking her. Even if she died, she'd have it coming!
At the hospital.
Julian Sterling carried Claire Bennett toward the emergency room. "Doctor!"
Although Claire Bennett couldn't speak, she could still feel. She could sense Julian Sterling's tension. His handsome face was taut, and his expression looked a little grim.
Several doctors in white coats quickly ran over.
"Put the patient on the gurney, quickly."
Julian Sterling carefully placed Claire Bennett on the emergency gurney, and the ER doctor began asking about her condition.
"What's the patient's situation? Where is she injured?"
Julian Sterling answered steadily and calmly, "She fell from scaffolding about six meters high. The scaffolding had wooden planks blocking part of the fall, so she didn't hit the ground in a straight vertical drop."
"The patient needs a full-body CT scan to check whether there's any risk of organ rupture."
Hearing that, Julian Sterling seemed to think of something.
He frowned again and added, "She's pregnant. Won't a CT affect that?"
The doctor paused for a moment and asked, "How many weeks pregnant is she?"
That question stumped Julian Sterling. How would he know when Claire Bennett and Ethan Sterling had started, much less how far along the child in her belly was?
He was afraid only Claire Bennett herself would know the answer to that question.
Lying on the bed, Claire Bennett heard the conversation between Julian Sterling and the doctor. She stared with wide eyes in shock, her gaze full of horror.
Pregnant? Pregnant with what? She wasn't pregnant!
The doctor thought Claire Bennett looked that way because she was physically uncomfortable.
He immediately said, "The patient's condition is serious. She must have a CT scan right away to determine whether there's internal bleeding, but it will affect the baby. There's a possibility the child may have to be terminated."
After saying that, he comforted Julian Sterling again. "You're both still young. You can have another child. The patient comes first in everything."
Julian Sterling nodded. "Mm, do the CT scan."
Claire Bennett reached out and tightly grabbed Julian Sterling's hand. He lowered his eyes to look at her and soothed her, "Your body is more important. Don't be willful."
The doctor urgently called out, "Nurse! Come take the patient for the CT scan."
Very quickly, two nurses came over and wheeled Claire Bennett away. Her hand was still waving in the air, wanting to plead her case.
Damn it, was nobody going to listen to her explain? She was an untouched virgin, completely inexperienced in that area. Pregnant my ass! She wasn't pregnant!
Unfortunately, no one paid Claire Bennett any attention. She was pushed straight into the CT room.
With anger simmering inside him, Julian Sterling took out his phone and dialed Marcus Reed's number.
His voice sounded laced with ice as he coldly ordered, "Investigate this immediately. Find out who tampered with Claire Bennett's safety rope and the scaffolding!"