Chapter 5
As Alex’s words fell, the entire room plunged into silence.
Suddenly, the sharp crash of shattering glass echoed through the banquet hall. Instinctively, everyone turned toward the noise, only to see that someone had accidentally knocked over the champagne tower.
And unfortunately, Melody was standing directly in its path.
“Mel!”
“Aunt Mel!”
Alex and Lucas cried out at the same time. Gabriella watched as the two of them frantically rushed toward Melody, who was too stunned to move.
Gabriella was standing in their way, and she became nothing more than an obstacle—one they shoved aside without hesitation.
She lost her balance instantly, stumbling backward. The next second, a cascade of champagne, along with broken shards and intact glasses, came crashing down on her.
The cold liquid soaked Gabriella, and her drenched gown clung to her body. Sharp pain flared in her arms and legs, where deep, jagged cuts bleeding profusely.
The stinging pain burned her skin, but the sheer humiliation cut even deeper.
As blood flowed freely from her wounds, Gabriella’s vision blurred for a moment. Her head spun, and she stared blankly ahead.
Across from her, Alex and Lucas were focused on Melody, their faces tense with worry.
“Aunt Mel, your hand is bleeding!”
“Mel, I’m taking you to the hospital!”
Without a second thought, Alex scooped Melody into his arms and hurried toward the exit. Lucas struggled to keep up with his short legs but didn’t complain.
Melody wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck. On her arm, there was only a tiny cut. Yet, to them, it seemed as if she had suffered some catastrophic injury.
As they rushed past Gabriella, Alex glanced at her. It was only then, upon seeing the gashes covering her body, that he vaguely remembered pushing someone aside earlier.
He hesitated for a brief moment before saying to her in a tone utterly devoid of guilt, “I need to take Mel to the hospital first. Call yourself a cab and get your injuries checked out.”
Gabriella parted her lips, but before she could utter a word, Alex and the others had already disappeared through the doors.
Left behind, she lay in a pool of her blood, weakly pulling out her phone and dialing 911.
The ambulance arrived swiftly. When she was being wheeled toward the operating room, Alex and Lucas came rushing in, their faces filled with urgency.
“Mel has a bleeding disorder. The doctors can’t stop the bleeding, and she’s already passed out. The blood bank is running low, but I remember you have her blood type. Come with me to donate now!”
Without waiting for a response, Alex reached out to pull Gabriella up.
The doctor quickly stepped in to stop him, looking troubled.
“Mr. Palmer, Mrs. Palmer’s injuries are far more severe. She’s too weak to donate blood right now—”
But Alex barely seemed to hear him. His brows were furrowed, and his movements unfazed.
Even Lucas pursed his lips and stated, “It’s just a little blood. She’s nothing compared to Aunt Mel!”
A chill ran through Gabriella’s body, freezing her to the core. She turned her head, trembling as she met their gazes. Neither of them looked the least bit ashamed.
She had long grown used to their indifference, but hearing those words was still painful.
For six years, she had poured everything into taking care of them. She had never expected them to love her the way they loved Melody, but how could they say something like that?
Dragged off the stretcher, Gabriella stumbled her way to the blood donation room. The needle pierced her vein, but no physical pain could compare to the ache in her chest.
As more and more blood was drawn, dizziness overtook her as her lips turned pale. When she finally reached her limit, she struggled to sit up and leave.
However, a shadow loomed over her, and a strong grip pinned her arms in place.
She turned to see Alex on one side and Lucas on the other, both pressing down on her arms.
“Just a little more just in case Mel needs it.”
Alex’s words had barely fallen when Lucas immediately echoed him.
“Take more! As much as needed! Aunt Mel has to be okay!”
