Chapter 7
Bruce, who had totally lost it, was dragged away by the cops.
As he was being taken away, he gave me a frantic look. "Zoe, don't go with them. Promise me."
The crowd slowly dispersed.
Nathan's voice was still gentle, though you could hear the helplessness in his tone. "Leon, go talk to Ms. Turner.
"Let's drop it. We'll tell the police we're not pressing charges, and Bruce will be out soon."
Chris got the news and came rushing over.
He tried to calm me down. "Zoe, take it easy. We'll find a way to help Bruce."
Leon snorted, like he'd heard the most ridiculous joke ever. "Seriously? You think you could actually come up with a plan?
"Chris, you can barely keep yourself out of trouble, and you still have time to show up here?"
I looked at Chris, who'd rushed over looking like he'd been through a war.
Suddenly, I understood what Leon meant.
Chris had only come back to the country with me a few days ago. The company here was still processing his paperwork, so he shouldn't have been this busy.
It was the Hart family making things difficult for him, leaving him completely overwhelmed and exhausted these past few days.
Chris shot Leon a furious glare. "You're such a scumbag. Dirty tricks, that's all you know."
Nathan was taken to the hospital.
Leon didn't rush after him. Instead, he walked right up to me.
He let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Is that all you losers ever say?"
Chris clenched his fists, about to take a swing at him.
I hurried to hold him back, knowing Chris wouldn't come out ahead if he actually started a fight.
Leon looked a little disappointed as he watched Chris pull his hand back.
Then he fixed me with a cold, hard stare. "The contract's signed. I might do what Nathan says and let you slide this time."
I couldn't help but feel torn inside.
With Bruce in this shape, the doctors wouldn't even let him take a step outside the hospital.
The thought of him stuck in a police station or jail, even for one day, would eat me up inside.
No matter what, Bruce mattered most to me, always.
He got so worked up he actually coughed up blood.
I braced myself and was about to speak.
Chris caught on to what I was about to say and jumped in, sounding urgent. "Zoe, you're looking at this the wrong way. If you keep backing down, they'll keep taking advantage of you.
"If Bruce knew you were letting the Hart family push you around again to help him, he'd probably rather die—"
My heart skipped a beat, and I blurted out, "He'll never know."
Chris's voice was low and serious. "The truth always comes out, Zoe. Bruce's going to find out sooner or later. Remember three years ago? You tried to keep that from him, too. How did that work out?"
Back then, Nathan hurt me, and I was too scared to tell Bruce, not even a single word.
But Bruce found out anyway, and without saying a word, he almost killed Nathan.
He nearly lost his own life in the process.
Whenever I thought back on it, it chilled me to the bone.
I followed Chris out of the mall.
Behind me, Leon's voice was thick with anger. "Zoe, you'll regret this. You'll come crawling back to me, begging for help."
Maybe he was right.
No matter what I did, it always felt like I couldn't win.
Ever since that night three years ago, my life has gone to hell.
*****
I went home.
Late at night, my phone suddenly rang, and it was the cops. "Ms. Turner, Bruce's condition has gotten worse at the detention center.
"He's been sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. Please come as soon as you can."
*****
I rushed to the hospital in a panic.
Outside the ER, the doctor shoved a critical condition form at me, urging me to sign right away.
My hand was shaking so badly I could barely hold the pen.
After what felt like forever, I finally managed to scribble my name down.
Bruce had been all over the place emotionally during the day, and stuck in the detention center, he was worried sick that the Hart family would threaten or pressure me.
His restless mind and constant anxiety only made his condition deteriorate even further.
They fought to save him all night long.
I sat outside the ER, not daring to close my eyes for a single moment, too worried to even try to sleep.
It wasn't until the next morning that they finally wheeled him out of the ER and into a hospital room.
The officer told me, "Once his condition stabilizes, he'll have to go back to the detention center. The assault case will be going to court soon."
With my voice shaking, I pleaded, "Isn't there any way Bruce can be released for medical treatment?"
The officer said, all official and distant, "I'm afraid that's not really possible. Medical parole is only for prisoners with major health issues, and the approval process is extremely strict.
"Honestly, Bruce's situation probably doesn't meet the requirements.
"If things get really bad, we'll take him to the hospital. That's all we can do."
In the hospital room, Bruce was lying on the bed, looking so pale he barely seemed alive.
My eyes were burning with tears as I choked out, "But what if you don't make it in time? What if it's already too late?"
The officer's face grew stern. "Ms. Turner, we're doing our job and following the law.
"If Bruce knew his health couldn't handle the price of committing a crime, why would he risk it?
"Why did he lose control like that at the mall today?"
I had nothing to say.
So, the only way Bruce could stay out of jail was if the Hart family was willing to drop the charges.