Rory Linden’s attention was entirely focused on the unconscious man, so when the driver suddenly kicked her, she was caught completely off guard and fell sideways to the ground.
The man was strong, and the kick to her arm hurt.
Rory Linden paid it no mind. She knelt back down, crossed her hands, and prepared to perform CPR.
To stop the man from interfering, she said, "Listen to . You might not be responsible since you didn’t actually hit him, but if you stop from saving him, you will be!"
"Ooh, I’m so scared," the man said mockingly before his tone turned cold. "Cut the damn act. Even if I had run him over and killed him today, I can afford it."
"It doesn’t matter who you are. You don’t have the right to decide if soone lives or dies." With that, Rory Linden began compressions, counting out loud, "One, two, three..."
"Well, I’m deciding today. What are you going to do about it? Stop posturing." The man opened the driver’s side door. "I’m warning you, get out of the way, or I’ll run you both over!"
Rory Linden didn’t even think about looking up, determined not to break her rhythm...
The man put one foot in the car and was about to get in when...
"Kyle Sheffield, if she is injured in any way because of you today, the Sheffield Group can prepare for liquidation by year’s end."
Sean Harrison’s voice cut through the crowd.
Rory Linden heard him clearly but didn’t have ti to look up.
Hearing his na, Kyle Sheffield turned around impatiently and sized up Sean Harrison. "Who the hell are you? Running your mouth like that."
Kyle Sheffield was the third child of the Sheffield Family and also considered the most useless.
His father had handed over most of the company’s business to his older sister and second-oldest brother. Kyle held a nominal position and only had to show up at the company once a week.
He never attended major business banquets with his father, so he wasn’t important enough to have ever t Sean Harrison.
Sean Harrison only knew of him because he was one of Henry Lancaster’s lackeys.
Before Sean Harrison could speak, an older man in the crowd, clearly enjoying the drama, piped up, "He just kicked that young doctor. Kicked her right to the ground."
Sean Harrison’s brow furrowed as his gaze fell on Kyle Sheffield.
Kyle Sheffield’s mouth twitched. He stuck his neck out defiantly. "Yeah, I kicked her. So what? You want to see it again? I can..."
BANG!
Sean Harrison slamd the driver’s side door shut, catching Kyle Sheffield’s arm in it.
"Fuck! Shit! You... you son of a..."
Kyle Sheffield panicked instantly.
He pushed desperately against the car door with his free hand, his expression finally turning to terror as he looked at Sean Harrison.
’This man’s eyes are terrifying.’
’He looks like he wants to snap my arm off, or even crush half my body!’
After a brief standoff, Sean Harrison suddenly released his grip. He took a step back, straightened his shirt, and with an expression of utter indifference, said word by word, "Even if you were to die by my hand today, I can afford it."
He was repeating Kyle’s own words back to him.
Kyle Sheffield’s heart pounded. His arm throbbed with a mixture of pain and numbness, and for a mont, he was utterly speechless.
Just then, the wail of police sirens grew closer, followed shortly by an ambulance.
Rory Linden quickly explained the situation.
The police asked both Rory Linden and Kyle Sheffield to accompany them to the hospital to give their statents.
"Why do I have to go?" Kyle Sheffield protested. "I didn’t hit him! I haven’t been drinking! I even stopped to let him cross the street! He just collapsed in front of my car! I have a dashcam!"
Rory Linden added, "I just examined him. The patient likely went into shock from overexertion. It has nothing to do with this gentleman."
Kyle Sheffield froze. ’I just kicked her, and now she’s defending ?’
"Oh, fine, fine! I’ll go! Just my damn luck, okay?"
Kyle Sheffield was furious.
The group followed the ambulance to the hospital.
The patient was taken directly to the ergency room for examination. A nurse ca out with a bill and asked who could cover the dical expenses.
Rory Linden looked at Kyle Sheffield.
"Don’t look at . Don’t even think about it. If I’d actually hit him, I’d pay for more than his dical bills—I’d cover the damn funeral expenses. But I didn’t hit him!"
Kyle Sheffield had a point.
He felt like an innocent victim in this whole ss.
Rory Linden understood his point of view.
But as a doctor who had previously interned at a public hospital like this one, she was well aware of the difficulties they faced.
Patients were often brought in unconscious, and out of respect for life, the hospital would prioritize treatnt.
In most cases, the patient would pay after regaining consciousness, or their family would cover the costs once they arrived.
But plenty of people also snuck out without paying.
Public hospitals had dedicated funds for such situations, but they couldn’t cover everyone.
"I’ll pay."
Rory Linden was thankful she had just gotten paid and had so extra cash on hand.
"I’ll go." Sean Harrison was already walking away as he spoke.
Rory Linden hurried after him.
Kyle Sheffield started to follow but was called away by the police to review the dashcam footage.
About ten minutes later, Kyle Sheffield returned.
"The police saw my dashcam footage. They’ve confird I had nothing to do with this, so I’m free to go." Kyle Sheffield looked at Sean Harrison. "Hey, my arm still hurts. I think we still have a score to settle, don’t we?"
Rory Linden had been so focused on CPR that she hadn’t looked up and had no idea what had happened between them.
"You don’t exactly call the shots for the Sheffield Family, do you?" Sean Harrison pulled up the keypad on his phone. "Use my phone. Call your father or your sister. They know . They can talk to ."
Besides Senior President Sheffield, the person currently running things in the Sheffield Family was Kyle’s older sister.
Kyle Sheffield took the phone, hesitated, then typed in the number for his older sister, Jean Sheffield.
’If I really did offend so big shot, the worst my sister will do is yell at .’
’But if Dad finds out, he’ll cut off my cards.’
The call connected almost imdiately. Jean Sheffield’s respectful voice ca from the other end. "President Harrison, how can I help you?"
Jean Sheffield had a fiery personality and was known for being swift and decisive.
When disciplining him at ho, she was always one to use her hands before her words.
It was the first ti in his life Kyle Sheffield had ever heard his sister speak with such deference. He knew he was in deep trouble.
’I must have pissed off soone important.’
Kyle Sheffield swallowed hard before speaking. "Sis, it’s ."
"Kyle?! What are you doing with President Harrison’s phone? Don’t tell you’ve gotten into trouble again."
The mont Jean Sheffield heard her good-for-nothing brother’s voice, she naturally assud the worst.
"No, Sis, I..." Kyle Sheffield glanced up at Sean Harrison and stamred, "I was just driving, and this guy collapsed in front of my car. I swear I didn’t hit him! Then I happened to run into President Harrison and his girlfriend, who’s a doctor, and she was helping the guy..."
"Bullshit. Since when are you so helpful?" Jean Sheffield couldn’t be bothered with her brother’s nonsense. "Put President Harrison on the phone."
With a pleading look, Kyle Sheffield handed the phone to Sean Harrison.
Jean Sheffield imdiately started with an apology. "President Harrison, did my brother do sothing to upset you? I apologize on his behalf."
"No." Sean Harrison glanced at Kyle Sheffield. "It was more or less as he said. An accident. Our car just happened to be stuck in the traffic behind him."
Jean Sheffield finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good to hear. Still, my brother’s been spoiled rotten his whole life. I’m sure he said sothing he shouldn’t have. I’ll co to your office in a few days to apologize in person."
Sean Harrison said, "That won’t be necessary."
As soon as the call ended, Kyle Sheffield imdiately turned to Rory Linden. "Doctor, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have been suspicious of you. I sincerely apologize. If you’re still angry, you can hit ."
As he spoke, he reached for Rory Linden’s wrist, intending to make her hit him.
Before his hand could touch her, Sean Harrison smacked it away. His eyes held a clear warning as he asked:
"What do you think you’re doing?"
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