Chapter 428 Francis Is in Trouble
Elissa narrowly avoided a bullet, another shot whizzing past her ear.
She was pulled into a familiar, warm embrace.
But the smell of gunpowder and blood filled her nose.
"Francis!" Elissa called out.
Francis patted her head, trying to calm her down. "It's okay."
His voice was raspy; it was anything but okay.
Elissa dropped what she was holding and hugged him tightly.
Ahead, Simon and his team had already pinned down Aiden, Jessa, and the others.
In the chaos, no one expected Aiden to fire a shot with his left hand.
Francis took the hit.
Jerry arrived shortly after, saw the situation, and called for a doctor, pushing a stretcher over.
He contacted Willard, "Get in touch with the Armstrong Group's hospital, preferably Louis Armstrong."
Willard had good connections with the Armstrong family.
Upon hearing Francis was shot, he personally went to ask for help.
He also arranged for a private jet to fly them over.
At the airport, he ran into Anne.
Anne had a shoot scheduled and had been at the Larson family's place for the past few days, not expecting to see him.
She thought about taking the time to persuade him, but decided to work and earn money first.
Who would have thought they'd run into each other at such a big airport?
She wanted to say something, but Willard was in a hurry, only glancing at her before heading to the VIP lounge.
There were few things that could make Willard this anxious.
If she remembered correctly, the doctor who came with him when her grandfather was sick was very skilled.
"Willard!" She caught up to him, "What happened?"
Willard checked his watch, "Francis is in trouble. I don't have time to explain. If you want to know, you can come along."
Anne shook her head, "I have things to do. I'll come by later. Give me the address."
She remembered she had blocked him.
"Just contact me later," she then said.
Willard didn't say anything and left.
Anne called Elissa.
Her phone was off.
She called Hope.
Hope was with Elissa outside the emergency room and didn't have time to answer, so she handed the phone to Jerry.
Hope held Elissa's hand tightly, "It's going to be okay. Willard is bringing a doctor soon. I heard Mr. Armstrong is very skilled."
Elissa's face was covered in tears. She didn't want to cry.
Francis was in surgery; crying felt like bad luck.
But she couldn't control it, wiping her tears over and over, yet they kept falling.
Hope saw her eyes were swollen from crying and quickly took out a wet wipe, gently cleaning around her eyes and cheeks.
Then she hugged her tightly, gently stroking her back.
Elissa choked out, "He's such an idiot. I think I could have dodged it. Why did he have to block it?"
She raised her hands, covered in drying blood.
Francis had reassured her, then passed out.
She couldn't understand the doctors, but it looked serious.
Elissa's eyes were teary. "He's never had peace since being with me."
"Don't say that…" Hope stroked her head, "It's the bad guys' fault, not yours. Don't blame yourself."
Jerry briefly explained to Anne and hung up, his phone vibrating.
He answered, his usually laid-back voice now cold, "Keep Aiden alive. He and Francis need to settle this face-to-face."
He hung up and bought two hot drinks.
Hope shook her head, not taking one.
Jerry handed one to a nearby bodyguard, pointing at Elissa's wrist.
Elissa was covered in injuries and had been through a lot. She was on the verge of breaking down.
If Francis wasn't okay, she might fall apart.
Then Francis would lose it.
Jerry said, "Get some medicine."
Hope looked at Elissa and said to Jerry, "Call a nurse."
Jerry sent someone to get a nurse.
Soon, a nurse arrived.
She didn't say much, almost nothing.
She carefully treated Elissa's wounds.
Finally, she said, "She can't stay in wet clothes. Her skin feels hot; she might get a fever."
Jerry nodded slightly.
He knew Hope heard too. He turned to Hope. "Elissa can change clothes nearby. You should change too."
Hope had brought clothes for her business trip to Seaside City. When she heard Elissa was kidnapped, she rushed over.
She brought her suitcase.
Elissa was about the same size, so her clothes would fit.
But given the situation, Elissa might not want to change.
"You can't fall ill. You want to take care of Francis, right?"
Elissa looked at Hope, her voice still tearful, "What if something happens while I'm changing?"
"It won't. I promise," Jerry said.
Hope half-coaxed, half-pushed Elissa to change clothes.
When she took off her clothes, they saw she had many small blisters, some broken and stuck to her clothes.
She seemed unfazed, putting on clean clothes.
Hope cried out, "Don't move!"
Hope rarely cursed.
She mentally cursed Aiden a thousand times.
She had seen the live stream.
When Elissa screamed, her heart ached.
The steam suggested the water was boiling.
But things were too chaotic earlier, and Elissa kept crying. Hope was busy comforting her, afraid she'd break down.
Hope said, "You need medicine. If it gets infected and you get a fever, you'll feel worse."
She then cracked the door and told Jerry.
Jerry called the nurse back.
The nurse applied medicine and said, "Wear a hospital gown. You need an IV."
Hope helped Elissa change into a hospital gown.
The nurse set up the IV, "Call me when it's done."
"Okay, thank you."
"It's my job."
Elissa couldn't lie down for the IV, so Hope got a stand and helped her to the emergency room door.
Hope said, "Sit here and wait. It's the same. And keep your hand flat to avoid blood backflow."
Elissa didn't sit, so Hope forced her down.
She sat beside her, watching.
Elissa started shaking, asking Jerry, "Why hasn't Willard brought the doctor yet? The medical skills here aren't good. I'm worried…"
"Soon," Jerry interrupted, "Don't worry."
But they didn't expect.
The first to arrive wasn't the doctor, but…
"Elissa!" Rainey stormed in, slapping Elissa.
Hope protected Elissa's IV hand, holding the tube to keep her warm.
She couldn't stop Rainey in time, only blocking her herself.
Jerry grabbed Rainey's hand. "Mrs. Peterson, this is a hospital. No shouting."
Rainey tried to pull her hand back, but Jerry didn't let go, "Why resort to violence? You're a person of status, don't act like a shrew."
Rainey's eyes reddened with anger, "Who's to blame for me being a shrew! You're still protecting her! If it weren't for her, would Francis be going through this!"
Jerry's face was expressionless, his usual laid-back demeanor gone.
His eyes, icy and gem-like, were sharp as knives. "Mrs. Peterson, I respect you as an elder, but my respect depends on you calming down."
Jacob arrived, serious. "This is the Peterson family's business."
Jerry responded with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "Mr. Peterson, not in a meeting now? Plenty of time, huh?"
Jacob never imagined that Francis would grow so powerful.
Powerful enough to force him into early retirement.
But skipping that job was fine; it gave him time to handle Francis and Elissa's situation.
"Jerry, I know you're close to Francis, but family matters are best left alone."
"I'm not interfering." Jerry slipped his hands into his pockets, his tone casual. "Mrs. Peterson hit Elissa, which upset my wife. If my wife is upset, it means I didn't take good care of her. So, how can this be just the Peterson family's business?"
Jerry was always good at arguing, and Jacob didn't want to engage further.
He pulled Rainey aside, signaling her to calm down.
With Jerry and Hope present, they couldn't do much to Elissa.
Rainey, however, was not pleased, glaring at Elissa. "Are you satisfied now? Will you only leave him alone if he dies?"
Elissa shook her head repeatedly, "No, I want him to be okay more than anyone…"
"Is this how you show it?" Rainey pressed on, "I've told you countless times, you're just a stumbling block on Francis's path to success, bringing him nothing but trouble and danger. But you never listen!"
Hope, unusually firm, spoke up, "Mrs. Peterson, if it weren't for you, Elissa and Francis wouldn't be in this mess."
Rainey stiffened, her voice hard, "I don't understand what you're saying."
"You will. Jerry is investigating."
Rainey's goal was to make Elissa disappear from Francis's life forever.
But she didn't expect Francis to be the one fighting for his life.
"How long has he been in there?" she asked Jerry. "The medical care here isn't good enough. We need to take Francis back."
Jerry laughed coldly, "Mrs. Peterson, have some medical knowledge. If Francis flies now, he'll die immediately."
Rainey, already furious, was further provoked.
Her voice turned sharp, "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Jerry nodded, "I'm spouting nonsense."
Rainey's breathing became rapid, and Jacob tried to calm her, "Let's wait until Francis is okay."
Just then, Willard arrived with the doctor.
Louis didn't greet anyone, heading straight into the emergency room.
Elissa had finished her IV and couldn't sit still.
She stood like a statue at the emergency room door.
Hope draped a coat over her and stood with her.
Rainey wanted to say something but was silently stopped by Jerry.
Willard returned with breakfast and told Jerry, "I spoke with the nurse, and even though Elissa has received anti-inflammatory drugs and nutrient solutions, she has also undergone a pregnancy test and a physical check-up. If she doesn't eat something soon, she'll definitely be unable to cope."
"Wait a minute." Jerry's brow furrowed, "Who's pregnant?"
Willard glanced at Elissa, "Fake pregnancy, probably to buy time. But not eating is real. Have your wife persuade her to eat something."
Jerry didn't have time to respond before the emergency room door opened.
Elissa wanted to rush forward but found her legs rooted to the spot.
She was scared.
Rainey was the first to rush up, asking, "How's my son?"
Louis's eyes, accustomed to life and death, were calm.
His voice was steady, "He's not in immediate danger."
Rainey sighed in relief, but then her anxiety returned.
Louis added," Although the bullet didn't pierce his heart, it passed through his chest. He's lucky to be alive, but we can't predict when he'll wake up."
Rainey was extremely worried. "What do you mean?"
"There's a possibility he could be in a vegetative state. Be prepared."
"How could this…"
Jacob quickly supported Rainey, trying to stay calm, "Is there no other way?"
Louis shook his head and turned to Willard, "If he doesn't wake up in a month, you'll need my family's help."
Willard's eyes flickered, and he told Jerry, "I'll take him to settle in."
Jerry nodded, but before he could speak to Hope, she screamed, "Elissa!"
Elissa had fainted.
Jerry took advantage of Louis examining Elissa to pull Hope aside and whisper something.
Hope was too overwhelmed to think, "What do you mean? Francis is pretending to be unconscious?"
"Not sure."
Jerry recalled Francis's condition, thinking it unlikely he woke during surgery.
Most likely, he woke briefly after surgery, worried about Elissa, and instructed Louis.
Jerry said, "Louis is trustworthy. Trust him."
Hope nodded and continued to watch over Elissa.
Jerry deliberately arranged for Francis and Elissa to share a room.
Nearby, Rainey held Francis's hand, crying incessantly.
Jacob tried to comfort her, unsure what to say, occasionally wiping her tears.
Suddenly, Rainey stood up, wanting to take Francis back to Maple Valley.
Rainey said firmly, "The treatment here isn't good enough. Maple Valley will surely help."
Jerry stepped in. "The one who just treated Francis is Louis, from the Armstrong family. If he can't help, who else can you find?"
Rainey hadn't noticed.
Louis had worn a mask the whole time, so she didn't recognize him.
If that's the case, then Francis…
Rainey was deeply sad. "My poor Francis! If you had listened to me, it wouldn't have come to this."
Jerry rubbed his ears, his voice turning cold, "Mrs. Peterson, as I said, without you, they wouldn't be lying here."
Rainey didn't know how to respond, so she closed the curtains.
She wanted to change rooms but was blocked.
Not wanting Francis to be hurt in the struggle, she had to compromise.
Elissa woke up around noon.
Hope's first task was to feed her.
She said, "You have to eat, even if you don't feel like it."
Elissa finally found a moment to ask, "How's Francis?"
"He's fine."
Hope took the opportunity to spoon warm porridge into her mouth. "Finish this bowl, and you can see him."
Elissa wanted to go now.
Hope's face turned serious. "Elissa, I'll be really angry."
Elissa obediently sat on the bed, letting Hope feed her the porridge.
When Hope turned to put the bowl away, Elissa slipped off the bed.
Hope grabbed her. "He's right next door."
Elissa bypassed the curtain and saw Francis lying there.
She wanted to approach but was blocked by Rainey and Jacob.
Rainey's eyes were full of hatred, "Stay away from my son, you wretch!"
Elissa pursed her lips, about to speak, but Hope beat her to it. "Mrs. Peterson, I don't want to hear that again. Otherwise, none of us will be okay."
Hope was genuinely angry.
She couldn't control the Peterson family's attempts to keep Francis and Elissa apart.
Nor did she have the right to interfere in their family matters.
But Elissa had suffered so much because of Rainey's underhanded tactics, and she couldn't stand it.
Elissa held Hope's hand, whispering, "I'm partly to blame…"
"No, you're not!"
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