Chapter 286 He Got Shot
She clung to Oscar's clothes, too scared to look back.
Then she heard Oscar's low voice in her ear. "Don't worry, we'll be safe soon."
That gave Pearl some strength.
"It's okay, it's okay!" Pearl blurted out, trying to calm herself.
"Oscar!" Elijah called out nervously.
During the gunfight, they were pinned down and couldn't get through. Only Oscar made it across.
They did their best to cover him but had no idea if he was hurt.
Oscar handed Pearl over to them and said, "Let's get out of here!"
They couldn't stay any longer.
Donald and his men decided to retreat, knowing a prolonged fight would attract more attention. They had to leave.
Several cars sped away, kicking up dust.
Pearl sat in the car, feeling safer but her heart was racing.
Everything happened so fast, she had no time to think. She clutched Oscar's sleeve, asking repeatedly, "Are you okay? Really okay?"
Oscar placed his hand on hers, comforting her, "I'm fine."
Pearl stared at his pale face, uneasy because he wasn't talking much, whose reassurance made her more suspicious.
Then she felt wetness and smelled blood.
Her hand trembled; she didn't want to face this.
What she worried most happened.
She let go of his sleeve and saw her hand covered in blood.
She had never seen so much blood!
He had been enduring it all along.
She was frantic, searching for the wound, which was in his left chest, bleeding heavily!
"How can you say you're fine!" Pearl pressed her hand against his chest to stop the bleeding. "You've been shot, do you know that?"
Oscar didn't want her to worry, so he stayed silent. He gently moved her hand away, saying, "As long as you're okay, I'll be fine once we get to the hospital."
"To the hospital, hurry!" Pearl shouted desperately.
The car sped down the road.
Oscar leaned back, trying to relax, but cold sweat covered his body. He held Pearl's trembling hand, constantly comforting her, "Don't panic, take care of yourself."
He didn't want her to get too emotional because she was pregnant.
Pearl stared at his face, his eyes full of affection, and tears welled up again. "Are you stupid! Why did you do this? You shouldn't have come to save me, they want your life, why don't you listen?"
Pearl thought, 'It would have been fine if he hadn't come.'
Suddenly, she broke down.
She couldn't hold back her tears.
"If I didn't come, what would you do? How could I just watch you fall?" Oscar raised his hand to wipe her tears, but they kept falling. "Stop crying."
Pearl shook her head, unable to believe he risked his life for her. "I don't want this, now I owe you again, how can I ever repay you."
"You don't need to repay me," Oscar said.
"How can I not repay you?" Pearl choked up. "You say it so easily, if something happens to you, I'll feel guilty forever."
"I won't," Oscar panted, wincing in pain. "I can't die. Who'll protect you if I'm gone?"
Pearl couldn't stand hearing that and cried even harder.
Oscar's eyes were gentle as he patted her back, trying to calm her down.
He was scared of dying and leaving her alone.
He thought, 'If this happens again, who'll protect her?'
He worried Magee might come and take her away, deceive her, or make her suffer.
He even feared she might fall for another man.
These fears seemed silly, but they were real to him.
Oscar managed a bitter smile.
Pearl wiped her tears, trying to pull herself together. Now wasn't the time to cry.
Her red eyes locked onto his. "You have to keep your word. I believe you."
She had no other way to comfort herself.
Oscar's eyes stayed on her, and he smiled, this time not bitterly, but contentedly, seeing her so strong.
That was good; he could rest easy.
Oscar struggled to keep his eyes open, doing so only for Pearl's sake.
Ten minutes later, military vehicles arrived at the hospital.
Seeing them, the nurses quickly wheeled out a stretcher.
Soldiers carried Oscar out and placed him on it.
The nurses put an oxygen mask on him.
Pearl got out of the car, running to hold Oscar's hand.
Watching his face grow paler, she was still worried. "Oscar, you have to keep your word. You never break your promises to me. This time is no different!"
At the operating room door, a nurse stopped Pearl. "Miss, please wait here!"
The door closed, and it felt like the world stopped. The hospital was eerily quiet.
Pearl's eyes were glued to the light above the door, her heart in her throat. She even breathed lightly, fearing bad news.
She wished she could take Oscar's place to ease her guilt.
"Pearl, Pearl!"
Janetta rushed over, seeing Pearl standing there, motionless, and called out worriedly.
She hadn't expected this.
Oscar was taken straight to emergency surgery.
"Pearl, are you okay?" Janetta asked anxiously, seeing her heartbroken look.
Pearl stared at the light above the door, barely blinking. "If I hadn't gone to the hospital for a check-up, this wouldn't have happened."
She thought, 'I escaped once. Why wasn't I more cautious? I should've had someone with me.'
Seeing Pearl's self-blame, Janetta exclaimed, "Pearl, what are you talking about? This isn't your fault. Can you stop someone from wanting to harm you forever? The only way to be safe is to make sure they face the consequences. If you're ever in danger, Oscar will protect you!"
She saw how important Pearl's life was to Oscar.
Even though Oscar was in surgery and she didn't know if he was in danger, she wanted to comfort Pearl and help her stay strong.
Pearl finally looked at Janetta and said bleakly, "Janetta, if I could protect myself, this wouldn't have happened."
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