Chapter 496 Car Accident
The hospital room smelled like antiseptic, cold and sterile. Lucas gently held Seraphine's hand and whispered, "Don't worry, Seraphine. Great-Grandpa's really nice."
Seraphine peeked out from behind Lucas, curiously eyeing Charles on the bed. When Charles slowly opened his eyes, she timidly said, "Hi, Mr. Russell."
Charles' gaze shifted between Seraphine and Lucas before finally resting on Emma. He reached out a trembling hand, and Emma immediately grasped it, feeling his cold fingertips.
"Emma, the kids are here," he said, his voice so weak it was barely audible, but a faint smile played on his lips.
Seraphine suddenly broke free from Lucas' hand, ran to the bedside, and stood on tiptoe to place a teddy bear next to Charles' pillow. "Mr. Russell, this is my lucky bear. It'll help you feel better!"
Emma's eyes welled up instantly at the innocent gesture. Lucas also ran over and pinned his dinosaur badge onto Charles' hospital gown. "This is my bravery badge, Great-Grandpa. You gotta stay strong!"
Tears glistened in Charles' cloudy eyes as he struggled to lift his hand and gently patted Seraphine and Lucas on their heads.
Night fell, casting long shadows in the hospital corridor under the dim lights.
Emma sat by the bed, holding Charles' hand and speaking softly. Lucas and Seraphine had fallen asleep on her lap, their faces still streaked with tears.
She carefully moved Lucas and Seraphine to an empty cot nearby, then stood by the window, staring out at the gray sky.
Footsteps approached from behind. George stopped beside her, silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "You're not leaving again, are you?"
"In a week."
A week.
"This time, besides seeing Grandpa, I have something else. I need you to do it."
"What is it?"
"Go to court tomorrow."
"Divorce?"
Emma didn't look at him, just nodded slightly.
For a moment, neither spoke, the only sound the mechanical female voice of the hospital intercom announcing precautions.
After a long silence, George spoke again, "Can Lucas stay?"
Emma finally turned to look at him, her eyes complicated. "No."
George gave a bitter smile. "I knew you'd say that."
"It's not that I want to take him," Emma's voice was soft but firm. "He can't be without me."
George fell silent.
He knew how much Lucas depended on Emma, but he still wanted to try—no matter how slim the hope.
"Emma," his voice was hoarse, "if one day you want to come back..."
"There won't be that day," Emma interrupted, her eyes reddening.
She turned to leave, but George suddenly grabbed her wrist, not forcefully, but enough to stop her.
"At least let me hold you one last time."
Emma froze, but didn't push him away.
George gently pulled her into his arms, the familiar warmth making them both feel a moment of disorientation—as if they had returned to the beginning, when they thought they could grow old together.
But in the end, it was just a dream.
Emma was the first to pull away.
George stood there, his fingers still tingling with the feel of her hair. But he knew, this time, it was really over.
Just then, Lucas woke up.
Lucas had heard George and Emma's conversation, and he understood.
"Mom, are we really leaving in a week?"
Emma stroked his hair and whispered, "Yes, to Sunterra. There's the ocean, an amusement park, and..."
"But what about Dad?" Lucas looked up, his eyes red. "Isn't Dad coming with us?"
Emma's throat tightened, unsure how to answer.
Lucas suddenly hugged her neck, his voice choked with tears. "Mom, I don't want to leave Dad."
Lucas clung to Emma's hand, his eyes fixed on George, as if afraid either of them would disappear the next second.
George knelt down, ruffling Lucas' hair, forcing a smile. "Lucas, you have to listen to your mom."
Lucas threw himself into George's arms, crying loudly. "Dad! I don't want to go!"
George held him tightly, his eyes red but holding back tears.
Emma turned away, biting her lip hard.
At that moment, she suddenly wasn't sure if her decision was right.
At that moment, Emma felt as if something was being forcibly torn from her heart.
George whispered, "Take care of yourself and Lucas."
Emma didn't speak, just nodded.
Lucas' tears kept falling.
George didn't look back or stop. He opened the door, left the room, and disappeared around the corner.
From then on, his world no longer included Emma and Lucas.
The next day, Emma woke up early.
Today was the day she and George had agreed to finalize the divorce. She didn't feel like driving, her hands shaking as she pressed the self-driving button, letting the system take over.
"Destination set. Estimated arrival in 15 minutes," the cold mechanical voice announced.
She leaned back in her seat, her chest heaving, the world spinning around her.
Whether from days of exhaustion or some unknown medication, her consciousness began to fade.
"Warning! Driver's vital signs abnormal!"
The car's alarm blared sharply, but Emma had already passed out. The vehicle continued speeding, and worse—the system detected the battery overheating, about to explode!
George had been up even earlier than Emma, having spent the night in the hospital parking lot. He sat in his car, watching the direction of the hospital room, imagining Emma's face.
So when Emma left the hospital, he followed her.
He had only intended to ensure she safely reached the courthouse. But when he saw her car veer off course and speed out of control, he instantly knew—something was wrong!
"Emma!" He floored the gas pedal, chasing after her.
The car began to smoke, flames flickering under the hood. Passing vehicles swerved to avoid it, people screaming and calling 911. George didn't hesitate, accelerating and swerving to stop the car!
The two cars collided violently, airbags deploying. George's forehead bled, but he ignored the pain, jumping out and rushing to Emma's door.
"Warning! Battery about to explode! Evacuate immediately!"
Amid the piercing alarm, he yanked at the door, but it was locked tight!
"Damn it!" He grabbed the fire extinguisher from his car and smashed the window!
Glass shattered, smoke billowing out.
He reached in, fumbling to unbuckle the seatbelt, and pulled the unconscious Emma out!
Just as he rolled away with her, the car exploded into a fireball! The scorching blast knocked them both over, George shielding her, his back burning with pain.
Through the thick smoke, Emma slowly opened her eyes, her blurry vision filled with George's bloodied face.
"Why..." she weakly asked.
He held her tightly, his voice hoarse but resolute. "I can't watch you die."
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