Chapter 13 Jessica in a Car Accident?
"What kind of deal?" Jessica asked out of curiosity.
"You want money; I want the bracelet. For the amount of ten million, sell it to me," Diana blurted out without thinking.
"Ten million?" Jessica scoffed. "This bracelet is worth a hundred million. You expect me to take a loss?"
Diana steeled herself and gritted her teeth, "Fine. One hundred million it is."
It was a steep price, but Diana knew if she secured the bracelet, marrying into wealth later would make even a billion seem trivial. Sometimes one has to spend money to make money.
"Am I hearing things? Just the other day, my mother-in-law mentioned you had fallen out of favor. I'm quite curious, where are you going to find a hundred million for me?" she asked mockingly.
"That's none of your business. I'll get you the money," Diana said, growing impatient.
Jessica slid her wrist back into her sleeve, hiding the jade bracelet again, and gave Diana's "divorce agreement" a glance.
"No matter the price, I won't sell the bracelet. Additionally, thanks to your kind warning, Diana, I might need to draft a new divorce settlement. According to our marriage laws, I’m entitled to an equitable division of assets. It looks like I'll need to get my share of Gabriel’s estate sorted out clearly."
"What did you say?" Diana's fists clenched in disbelief at what she had heard.
‘Jessica was pushing her luck, taking advantage of every inch given to her.’ Diana thought enviously. "Jessica, hold it right there. You don't have a penny to your name. On what grounds do you demand a share of Gabriel’s wealth?"
Watching Jessica rise to leave, an agitated Diana wheeled after her in her chair.
Soon, they reached the hospital entrance bustling with activity. The street outside the hospital was in constant motion with throngs of people and traffic. Diana was fixated on chasing Jessica and had frantically pushed her wheelchair faster and faster.
All at once, a car came speeding from the right. By the time Diana realized, it was too late; she and her wheelchair were sprawled across the street. With a loud crash, the wheelchair was sent tumbling, and Diana was thrown to the ground.
When Jessica turned at the sound, what she saw was Diana, the wheelchair overturned, in complete disarray.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she swiftly turned back.
Thankfully, they were right in front of the hospital. Emergency personnel quickly arrived on the scene, rushing Diana into the ER.
By the time Jessica got there, all that was left was Diana's cell phone on the ground, drops of warm blood spattered across it, emanating a pungent metallic scent.
She had barely picked it up when she covered her mouth and began to heave violently. It wasn't until she had nothing left in her stomach, almost vomiting bile, that she finally felt a bit of relief.
Just then, a man got out of his car, cursing under his breath as he looked at Jessica, "Hey, were you with that woman?"
Before Jessica could deny it, the man continued, "Just so you know, I was driving legally, and followed all the rules. She's the one who ran the red light, not my fault."
"No way, the accident was your doing. You must wait for the police to arrive," Jessica insisted, grabbing onto him.
Clearly annoyed, the man shoved Jessica aside, "Enough already, I told you it's her fault. Listen, if you think you can scam me for money or make me pay for medical bills, think again."
"Get lost, I have stuff to deal with." He brushed past her, climbed into his car, and sped off.
Catching a whiff of the strong alcohol in his breath, Jessica frowned deeply.
The nerve of this man who was drunk driving and trying to pin the blame on someone else. She silently took note of the license plate and the man's appearance, then immediately headed to the hospital.
Arguing with this guy was a waste of time; Diana's life was all that mattered now.
If Diana were to die... She couldn't bear to finish the thought. Gabriel would never forgive her.
The bright sign for the "Emergency Room" seemed to mock her as she felt her knees weaken.
She rummaged through her purse for a wet wipe to clean the blood off the phone, but her hands wouldn't stop shaking.
After three futile minutes, she dumped the contents of her bag out and quickly found one, wiping the phone clean.
Clutching the phone, she took a deep breath and dialed that one number she knew all too well.
"Diana." Gabriel's voice was instantly soft and comforting.
"It's Jessica."
"Jessica? Isn't that Diana's phone? Why do you have it?" Gabriel asked.
After a deep breath, she continued, "Diana's been in an accident. She's in surgery now. You better come quickly."
"Where?" he asked anxiously.
"First Hospital." When Jessica hung up the phone, she felt as if all her strength had drained away, and she collapsed onto the floor in a heap of exhausted disarray.
She really couldn't stand Diana.
No wife would feel fond of a woman who not only lived life with loose morals but also had a knack for manipulation, especially one who occupied the cherished "moonlight" of her Hubby's heart.
But she had never wished her dead.
By the time Gabriel rushed in, Jessica was squatting on the floor, her hair in disarray, surrounded by the contents of her spilled bag.
"What happened? How did you two end up in this situation?" he asked, seeking clarification. He appeared slightly disheveled, gasping for breath. He must have sprinted up the stairs.
Jessica looked up at Gabriel with a serious gaze from her dark eyes. "She probably saw the divorce settlement you offered me. Thought I was getting too much and wanted me to sign a new one, leaving me with nothing."
"I refused and left. Unsatisfied, she furiously chased after me and got hit by a car right at the doorstep." After saying this, she bowed her head again, her eyes fixed on the ground.
She didn't have the courage to meet Gabriel's eyes and had no idea what he would say. If Diana were to wake up, it would all be irrelevant to her. But if she were dead, even if Jessica wasn't involved, she feared Gabriel would blame her.
Jessica waited five long minutes for a response but heard nothing. When she looked up again, Gabriel was pacing anxiously in front of the emergency room.
Two hours later, the light went off, and the doctor came out.
Jessica quickly approached, and the doctor removed his mask, looking towards Gabriel, "Are you family?"
"Uh, yes, I'm her fiancé," he responded anxiously.
‘Fiancé?’ Jessica was stunned by those words. Her Hubby, not yet divorced, was now another woman's fiancé… it was like a cruel joke.
"Fortunately, she was brought in on time. We managed to control the bleeding in her head. She has a mild concussion and must rest. We'll need to do a follow-up check in three days," the surgeon said.
"All right, thank you." Gabriel said, relieved.
Upon hearing this, Jessica took a deep breath. She noticed Gabriel's tightly clenched fists finally relax, and the deep furrows in his brows ease.
The difference was clear. He had never shown such concern for her.
Soon, Diana was wheeled into a room.
"Gabriel, I got the license plate of the driver, he..." Jessica began, ready to tell him about the driver.
Jessica turned to see an eerie emptiness where, moments before, there had been commotion. Gabriel, with a determined push, was wheeling Diana’s gurney, tightly gripping her hand in a display of marital solidarity that could make the cynics believe in love.
And then there she was, left behind, an afterthought lingering just outside the emergency room.
