Chapter 55 Lucas Got Hurt
Due to the winter break, there were many children in the amusement area outside the mall.
Lillian said with concern, "Doris, let's stay with Lucas while we shop. With so many people around, what if he gets lost?"
"Don’t worry. The staff in the recreation area keep a close eye on the kids. It's very thorough. Plus, Lucas is big enough not to get lost. Just relax," Doris said dismissively.
Lucas was already impatient and kept saying, "Lillian, I won't get lost. I'll ignore anyone who talks to me and play on my own."
Despite Lucas's promise, kids aren't always the best at looking after themselves—if someone with ill intentions approached him, he might still be lured away by sweet talk.
Lillian still wasn't at ease and told Doris, "Let's not. If something happens to Lucas, Alexander will have my head!"
"It won't come to that! Nothing will happen to me, and Alexander won't skin you alive!" Lucas couldn't wait any longer. He took off his shoes and ran into the play area.
"Hey, Lucas!" Lillian reached out to pull Lucas back, but he had already dashed into the recreation area.
Doris looped her arm through Lillian's and said, "I'll talk to the staff in a bit, ask them to keep an eye on Lucas a little more. We'll also pick up the pace while shopping. Is that okay now?"
That seemed like the only option at the moment.
Lillian rarely visited such a large mall, having tagged along a few times with Angela and Wendy where she never bought anything. Her financial situation didn't allow for shopping at such high-end places. She only bought clothes she liked online.
On the other hand, Doris was a regular here, confidently leading Lillian to several favorite women's clothing stores. The sales associates greeted them with enthusiasm and showcased the latest styles.
"This one, this one, and these here, pack them up," Doris said, not bothering to try anything on before paying.
Lillian had never seen anyone spend money with such abandon. She was not only surprised but also a bit envious.
When they stepped out of the store, Doris handed a few of the bags to Lillian and said, "These clothes are for you. Don't you reject my gift, okay? I think the style suits you perfectly. You'll look classy and definitely stunning."
Lillian was taken aback and tried to hand back the bags, "Doris, thank you, I appreciate it, but I can't accept these clothes."
"Keep them," insisted Doris, sensing Lillian's hesitation. "I know what you're thinking. You're worried about owing me a favor, right? I don't need anything in return. I like you, so I'm giving these to you." She shoved the shopping bags into Lillian's arms and added with a smile, "If you insist on repaying me, you can buy me a cup of coffee, the most expensive one, deal?"
Realizing any further refusal would seem pretentious and that she could always return the favor later, Lillian agreed without hesitation. "That's a deal, I'll get you two!"
They had just bought their coffees when Doris's phone rang with an unfamiliar number. She hesitated before answering.
"What? He fell? From where? Okay, we're heading back now."
Doris hung up and quickly told Lillian, "Let's go, Lucas is hurt!"
"What? He's hurt?" Lillian's hand trembled in shock, spilling the coffee onto the ground.
The thing she was worried about had happened!
"Don't be scared. It might just be a small injury, nothing serious," Doris reassured her.
"Even a small cut is still an injury. Before Mr. Sinclair left, he made me promise to take good care of Lucas, or else I'm in for it!" Lillian shivered at the thought of Alexander's anger, feeling a cold tremble throughout her body.
"Punish you? Why? You're not Alexander's servant!" Doris said, "It's okay, it's all my fault anyway. When he gets back, I'll talk to him. If there has to be punishment, then I should be the one."
Lillian was restless and agitated. Punishing Doris? That was impossible.
"Let's not talk about this now, let's go."
Lillian returned to the recreation area and instantly spotted Lucas sitting to one side, clutching his forearm, his lips pressed tightly together as if he was trying his hardest to endure the pain.
"What happened? How did the kid get hurt?" Doris walked in and asked arrogantly.
"Lucas." Lillian squatted down next to Lucas and asked with a mix of anxiety and concern, "Where are you hurt? Is it your arm? Can you move it?"
"Lillian..." Seeing Lillian seemed to dissolve Lucas’s tough facade as he choked up, calling her name, and then began to cry.
Lillian was heartbroken. She helped Lucas put on his shoes and clothes while observing Doris argue with the staff. She pulled Doris aside and whispered, "Can you handle this?"
"You take Lucas to see a doctor, I'll handle things here, don't worry."
After Doris replied, she turned to Lucas and asked, "Lucas, where did you fall from?"
"The top of that round pillar. I stood on it and then I fell," Lucas explained clearly, pointing to the round pillar.
"Okay, Lillian, you and Lucas go ahead," Doris said, handing Lillian the car keys, "Take my car."
Lillian gave the keys back to Doris, "I've never driven before. We’ll take a taxi."
Lillian took Lucas straight to Turner Hospital. Just a few hours earlier, they had visited Quentin there, and now Lillian was back with the injured Lucas.
Angela had already received a call from Lillian and alerted her father. So when Lillian arrived with Lucas, they went straight to the hospital director's office.
"Mr. Turner, sorry to bother you," Lillian said, "Could you please check this little guy out and see how serious his injury is?"
Aiden approached with a warm smile and joked, "I can tell he’s a handful!"
"Is he a relative of yours?" Aiden asked casually as he lifted Lucas’s arm.
"He's my friend's son. I was looking after him for the day and he took a fall. Is it serious?"
Lucas grimaced but didn’t cry out in pain, despite his distressed expression.
"You're pretty tough," Aiden complimented, "It's nothing major. Apply some ointment, and take some medicine to speed up the healing."
"Is it a liquid medicine?"
"Yes, liquid. It's bitter."
Lillian looked at Lucas and offered a compromise, "The medicine is bitter, but you’ll take it, right? It'll help your injury heal faster, and I'll make sure to add some sugar for you."
Lucas nodded reluctantly, his voice soft and obedient, "Alright, I want to recover quickly too!"
After thanking Aiden, Lillian picked up the prescription to get ointment patches. However, fetching the liquid medicine would take about two hours, so Lucas suggested they wait at Kelly's place.
"Let's not. Kelly will worry if she sees you're hurt," Lillian responded.
"So where do we go? Kelly's place is fine. You two can chat, and I'll play on my phone. Kelly won't notice," Lucas argued.
"Okay, let's hope Kelly doesn't notice," Lillian conceded.
They went to Quentin's hospital room again. Kelly and Quentin were both there, one asleep in bed and the other playing on a cell phone with reading glasses perched on his nose.
"Kelly, we're back," Lillian and Lucas announced cheerfully as they entered.
