Chapter 19
When help arrived, the place was a wreck. Everyone had shielded Gigi with their bodies.
She was buried underneath them, barely injured. Next were Rylan and the Harts. Anthony, Julia, and Wesley took the worst of it, having thrown themselves over Gigi.
With the Carsons in her arms, she broke down in tears. “Wake up, Dad, Mom, Wesley.”
They were quickly taken to the hospital. Anthony, Julia, and Wesley were losing blood fast and needed transfusions. Gigi immediately volunteered, but her blood type wasn’t compatible.
Seeing the agony on Gigi’s face, Rylan finally stepped forward with a wry grin. “I have the same blood type as Wesley.”
Moments later, Donovan, Meredith, and Kenny also volunteered themselves. “Our blood type matches Mr. and Mrs. Carson.”
Rylan and the Harts arrived at the transfusion ward. Watching their blood slowly drip into the blood bag, they felt a swirl of emotions they couldn’t quite name.
Gigi stood just a short distance away, anxiously watching the emergency room doors through which the Carsons had disappeared. She didn’t so much as glance at Rylan and the Harts.
All she cared about was the Carsons‘ survival. She didn’t even seem to notice what Rylan and the Harts were doing.
Donovan stared at Gigi’s back. The sting in his arm was nothing compared to the ache in his heart:
It brought him back to the time Catherine was hospitalized. He had watched over her day and night, while Gigi quietly cried in the corner. He hadn’t even spared her a single comforting glance.
Now that the tables had turned, he finally understood what it felt like to be ignored.
Inside the ward, Gigi stayed by the Carsons‘ side, tending to them with care.
Wesley opened his eyes
to find Gigi’s face puffy from crying. His heart ached, and he gently pulled her into his embrace. She melted into his arms, and the worry in her heart slowly faded away.
Outside the ward, Rylan and the Harts saw how close Gigi was with the Carson family. All they felt was a deep sense of loss.
Meredith couldn’t help but start sobbing. “What will it take for Gigi to forgive us?”
Donovan and Kenny didn’t say anything. They both knew winning Gigi’s forgiveness wouldn’t be easy. But they couldn’t afford to wallow in guilt. They still had something far more important to take care of.
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