Chapter 4

Isabella endured the pain and walked out of the restaurant. The street was completely empty.

Thinking of Michael's words, she angrily rummaged through her bag and pulled out the stack of untouched cash.

She had originally thought it was left by the massage therapist and was planning to verify it with someone, but it turned out to be from Michael!

Isabella spotted a trash can nearby, walked quickly over to it, and raised her hand to throw the money in.

But the moment she was about to let go, she hesitated again and put it back in her bag.

Don't make things hard for yourself over money. She needed money right now, and money wasn't to blame.

Isabella finally convinced herself, but when she turned around, she saw Michael walking out with a woman side by side.

The woman waited by the car. Michael naturally reached over to help open the car door, and when the woman got in, he even put his hand up to shield her head.

That same Michael who, in bed, would practically torture someone to death could actually be so considerate to another woman?

Isabella lowered her eyes, feeling bitter. Perhaps from the very beginning, in Michael's heart, she was the cheapest one, which was why he didn't hesitate to demean and abandon her!

A blinding light suddenly shot toward her. She squinted, and before she could make out what kind of car it was, it came speeding at her.

A violent crash echoed through the air. Isabella's vision went white. She could only vaguely hear the chaotic, panicked voices around her before falling into darkness and losing consciousness.

When Isabella woke up again, she opened her eyes to see a pale white ceiling.

Lyanna leaned over nervously, her voice tearful. "Isabella, you're finally awake! You scared me to death!"

"Lyanna? How did you get here?" With Lyanna's help, Isabella sat up halfway against the headboard and saw her right leg suspended in the air.

"The police notified me. The hit-and-run driver was caught on the spot. He was hired by the client from our last project. The police couldn't reach your family, so they called the firm, and I rushed right over." Lyanna explained.

"Thank you." Isabella thought to herself that since running into Michael, one bad thing after another kept happening.

Lyanna poured her some water while chattering. "Good thing a kind passerby pushed you out of the way, so it's just a fracture. Otherwise you'd still be in the emergency room."

Isabella paused. "A kind person? Did she leave contact information?"

"No, but judging from the scene, she probably ended up in the hospital too."

"What? Help me find out which room exactly. I need to thank her in person." Isabella said urgently.

Lyanna agreed, and a few minutes later came back. "In a VIP room on the eighth floor."

Just as she finished speaking, two doctors hurried past outside, talking. "The patient on the eighth floor has very poor vital signs. If we can't save her this time, we probably won't be able to save her at all."

What?

Isabella and Lyanna exchanged glances. Despite having just woken up, they hurried downstairs with Isabella limping, and she said to Lyanna. "Come on, let's go check it out."

She couldn't let the person die without even saying thank you. At the very least, she needed to know the person's identity so she could help make arrangements if something really happened.

The elevator wouldn't come, no matter how long they waited. Isabella, being impatient, went straight to the stairs and arrived at the eighth floor out of breath. She saw a huge golden VIP sign and hopped over on one foot, pushing the door open.

"Doctor, how is she?" Isabella asked anxiously.

Two people in the room—one standing, one lying down—looked over at the same time.

The standing person seemed to be holding back laughter. "Although I'm not a doctor at this hospital, I am a doctor, and I can answer you. He just has a fractured right hand, nothing serious."

The person lying down had his right hand in a cast, his eyes flickering, and said coldly. "At least you have a conscience, coming to check on me."

Isabella's anxiety turned to displeasure. "Why is it you? Looks like I found the wrong place. I came to find my lifesaver, not you, you disaster."

"I have things to do, I'll leave first. You two take your time." Joseph Miller was struggling hard to hold back his laughter as he waved and prepared to leave.

"No need, I don't want to stay with a disaster." Isabella never expected to run into Michael here.

Hearing her call him a disaster over and over, Michael's face darkened. "Isabella, can't you speak properly?"

"What do I have to say nicely to you? Your hand deserved to be fractured. Even heaven couldn't stand it anymore." Isabella got angry just seeing him and bit her lip as she shot back.

Isabella turned to leave, but forgot about her own fractured leg. Using her injured leg for support, she immediately lost her balance.

She cried out and fell face-first toward the ground.

The expected pain didn't come. Her whole body landed on something soft.

She got up and saw Michael's face full of pain, his lips pale, and the cast seemed to have cracks in it too.

"Doctor! Quick, call a doctor!" Isabella was so scared she forgot everything and shouted nervously.

Half an hour later.

The doctor pushed up his glasses, his face grave.

Isabella sat in a chair by the bed, looking tense. "How is he?"

"Mr. Johnson already had a fracture, and with that pressure just now, it caused a secondary fracture. Recovery time will be at least doubled. His left hand also has a minor crack and needs to avoid heavy use during recovery." The doctor looked troubled, too. "My recommendation is to temporarily stop handling business matters."

"I know what I'm doing. You can leave now." Michael dismissed the doctor with a stern face.

Joseph became serious too, looking worried. "He's not joking. Your injury isn't a simple fracture. At all times for this to happen. Should we postpone the whole plan? Your safety has to come first."

"No need. It's not like I haven't had fractures before. Everything proceeds as normal." Michael calmly responded to his concern and gestured for him to leave. "You should go back."

Joseph knew no one could change Michael's mind. He sighed, and as he was leaving, he looked at Isabella. "Ms. Taylor, when you have time, please try to talk some sense into him. His health is most important. Don't let it be like three years ago."

"Too much talk. Go." Michael frowned and shooed him away.

Isabella sat in place, her emotions complicated.

Her talk sense into Michael? Michael wouldn't listen to her.

What did that person mean by "three years ago"? Did something happen back then that she didn't know about?

Isabella's mind was full of questions that needed answers, but at least she understood one thing. Michael had indeed made his injury worse because of her just now.

Isabella looked at Michael's arm, her heart a jumble of emotions.

Why did he save her?

She had never seen him look so anxious and out of control.

"Thank you," Isabella said quietly.

Michael's expression paused slightly, and he snorted coldly. "I don't need your fake concern."

That one short sentence made her gratitude and guilt vanish into thin air.

Isabella mocked herself. "Right, I'm being fake. Well, you rest and recover."

She had just stood up when the hospital room door opened and an assistant-like person walked in carrying files half as tall as a person.

"Mr. Johnson, these are documents that need signing. They're quite urgent and need to be signed today."

Michael nodded. "Put them there."

Isabella frowned. "The doctor just told you not to overuse your hand."

"Then will you sign them for me?" Michael didn't even look up.