Chapter 882 Charles's Fate Unknown
Hannah was buzzing with excitement, just like Charles. She didn't catch a wink of sleep all night. It wasn't until the crack of dawn that she finally dozed off.
But after barely an hour, she jolted awake, sitting up in bed like she'd been shocked. Her face was slick with sweat. She propped herself up, gasping for air like she'd been underwater too long, desperate for a breath.
What the heck was going on? Why was she suddenly freaking out? Hannah clutched her chest. Her heart was pounding like it was trying to escape. Was she sick or something?
She touched her forehead. No fever, totally normal! So what was this all about? No nightmare, just woke up out of nowhere, heart racing, in a full-blown panic.
Hannah panted for what felt like forever. Eventually, she calmed down a bit but knew sleep was out of the question. She got up and splashed her face with cold water in the bathroom.
The cold water helped. She felt a bit more like herself.
She stared at her reflection, water droplets sliding down her cheeks.
Last night's scenes replayed in her mind.
"Hannah, I like you!"
"Will you be my girlfriend? Like, with marriage in mind!"
"I can give you time to think. No matter what, I'm gonna pursue you."
Thinking about what Charles had said made her heart flutter.
The earlier panic started to fade.
She pulled out her phone, found Charles's number, and hesitated. What should she say when he picked up?
Was he awake yet?
Did he stay up all night too, just as excited?
Lost in thoughts about Charles, a news alert popped up on her phone.
[Multiple car crashes on Queen's Boulevard West. Three people seriously injured, five slightly injured, and several others' conditions unknown.]
Hannah's mind was all about Charles. She swiped past the news and called him.
The call went through, but it just kept ringing.
Hannah was confused.
Was he still sleeping?
She checked the time.
Almost 7:30 a.m. Charles usually got up around now.
So she called again.
Her other hand tapped nervously on the sink, her fingers drumming, palms sweaty.
What should she say first?
A simple "good morning"? Or should she jump right in and ask him to breakfast?
They'd known each other forever but never had breakfast together!
Thinking about spending every day with him, never apart, made her giddy.
Just as she was about to tie her tongue in knots, the call connected.
She was thrilled, "Finally! Are you up? It's still early; wanna grab breakfast?"
Only God knew how nervous she was saying that.
She felt like her tongue was twisted in a knot.
But her happiness was short-lived when a stranger's voice came through the line.
The stranger asked, "Are you a friend of the phone's owner?"
Hannah's smile froze, and a bad feeling crept in. Remembering her earlier panic, the sense of dread grew stronger.
Hannah replied, "Yeah, I am! Who's this?"
The voice on the other end said, "Hi, the phone's owner was in a serious car accident on Queen's Boulevard West and is on the way to Cleveland Clinic. If you're family, please come quickly!"
Hearing those words, Hannah's brain just short-circuited.
She asked again, "Wait, what did you say?"
The person on the other end, sounding like they expected her reaction, patiently repeated, "There was a car crash on Queen's Boulevard West. The phone's owner got seriously hurt and is unconscious, being taken to Cleveland Clinic. If you can, come quickly! If not, let his family know."
Hannah's mind went totally blank, like someone hit the off switch.
"How is he?" It was the only thing she could think to ask.
The person hesitated before saying, "We need to wait for the hospital to do a full check-up to know for sure. But please, come quickly!"
"Okay! I'm on my way!" she said, her voice trembling. She left the bathroom, then realized she hadn't even washed up. She quickly splashed some water on her face.
After getting herself together, she changed into clean clothes, grabbed her phone and bag, and headed out.
She didn't cry; she was eerily calm.
In the taxi, she sat in the back seat, hands folded in her lap, staring blankly ahead.
Her mind was a total void, like she was a statue—no tears, no laughter, no fuss, no words.
At the hospital, she paid the fare and walked calmly to the emergency room. It was packed, doctors and nurses rushing around.
Hannah scanned the room but didn't see Charles. She approached a nurse at the reception desk.
"Hi, can you tell me where the patients from the car accident on Queen's Boulevard West are?" Her voice was so calm it was almost robotic.
The nurse, seeing her so composed, assumed she wasn't family and said anxiously, "Why are you the only one here? Where are the patient's family members? They need someone to sign! Contact his family quickly."
Hannah asked, "Are they all in the emergency room? Is there someone named Charles? Where is he now?"
The nurse shook her head, "We don't know the patients' identities yet; we need family members to identify them! We can't disclose their conditions right now."
Hannah's face finally showed some emotion, a flicker of anger, "If you don't tell me his condition, how can I identify him?"
The nurse was taken aback, realizing she had a point. "Wait a moment, I'll check for you! Can you describe his appearance?"
Hannah responded, "Six feet two inches, very handsome, more handsome than TV stars. You'll know who I'm talking about as soon as you see him."
With Charles's looks, there was no mistaking him.
The nurse immediately knew who she meant and said, "Oh, him! He was just sent to the emergency room! He's being treated now! Are you his girlfriend? If not, you need to get his family to sign."
Charles was just too handsome to forget.
She had only glanced at him when he was brought in and remembered him clearly.
Hannah didn't hesitate, "Yes! I'm his girlfriend! How is he now?"
The nurse said, "His condition is quite serious. He's being treated in the emergency room now. You need to sign quickly!"
Hearing this, Hannah felt a wave of dizziness. Her extreme nervousness finally broke.
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