Chapter 362

Jefferson was desperate to save his son.

He had confirmed with Edmund over the phone that he and Evangeline were at home. So, the next day, he would visit the Ashbourne family in Skyrim, along with Adrian.

"Edmund! Edmund! You have to help your nephew this time!"

Jefferson burst through the entrance, his voice thick with urgency, his usual composed demeanor shattered in front of his longtime friend.

Edmund and Sylvia rushed out to greet them.

Seeing Jefferson’s disheveled appearance and the deep lines of stress etched into his face, Edmund couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.

Finally, this man, who had spent years competing with him in looks, was showing his age.

"Mr. Chambers, what in the world happened?" Sylvia asked, startled by his frantic state.

Jefferson, in his haste, tripped over a loose stone and tumbled right at Edmund and Sylvia’s feet.

They could only watch in stunned silence as he groaned, clutching his ankle.

"Dad! Are you all right?" Adrian rushed to help him up, barely suppressing a laugh.

Jefferson’s devotion to his son was undeniable.

Without bothering to regain his dignity, Jefferson grabbed Edmund’s arm. "Edmund, Brandon was in a terrible car accident a few days ago!"

Edmund and Sylvia gasped. "What happened?"

"It was a rainy night. He was driving home. The roads were slippery, visibility was low. A massive truck was speeding and slammed into his car."

Adrian, steadying his father, added grimly, "His legs were crushed. The bones are shattered. The doctors say they might have to amputate."

"Amputate?!" Edmund was stunned.

"You’ve watched Brandon grow up. You can’t just let him become a cripple, can you?"

Jefferson’s eyes burned with desperation. "Adrian told me Evangeline is a brilliant surgeon. Can she help Brandon?"

"Mr. Chambers."

Just then, Evangeline’s elegant figure appeared in the doorway.

Bathed in the morning light, her flawless face was breathtaking. She had clearly just woken up, her eyes still slightly drowsy. Her freshly washed hair glistened with droplets of water, her makeup-free skin glowing with a natural flush.

Adrian’s gaze locked onto her, his throat tightening.

It was dangerous to meet someone so beautiful when you were young. For fifteen years, he had carried nothing but longing for her—an unfulfilled ache.

"Evangeline, please! You have to save Brandon!" Jefferson rushed forward, seizing her hands, his voice breaking.

"I heard most of what you said earlier."

Evangeline’s tone was gentle but firm. "I’m a doctor. Saving lives is my duty. Since Brandon is your son, I won’t refuse."

She didn’t know Brandon well, but given her father’s friendship with Jefferson, she couldn’t turn away.

"Thank you. Thank you, Evangeline!" Jefferson’s shoulders sagged in relief.

"But, Mr. Chambers, I need to be clear. I’m just a surgeon, not a miracle worker. I’ll need to examine Brandon myself before giving you an answer."

"Evangeline, if anyone can save him, it’s you! Adrian told me about the brain surgery you performed on Thaddeus!" Jefferson insisted.

Evangeline sighed. "That was neurosurgery."

"If you can operate on a brain, then fixing Brandon’s legs should be nothing for you!"

Evangeline pressed her lips together, her eyes flickering to Adrian’s.

He gave her a soft smile, warmth in his gaze.

"Fine. I’ll do my best."

That afternoon, Evangeline, Jefferson, and Adrian returned to Elmsworth.

To the Chambers family, Evangeline was a godsend. They treated her with the utmost respect and hospitality.

But Evangeline, focused solely on saving Brandon, brushed aside all formalities and went straight to his hospital room.

At that moment, Brandon was still unconscious. He should have woken by now, but the doctors had increased his sedation—afraid he wouldn’t be able to handle the truth about his condition.

An hour later, Evangeline emerged with the hospital’s chief surgeon and two professors, their expressions grave.

"Evangeline, how is Brandon?" Jefferson rushed to her.

The rest of the Chambers family, along with secretaries and bodyguards, crowded around.

Evangeline’s delicate brows furrowed. After a long pause, she spoke quietly. "Mr. Chambers, Brandon’s condition is severe. The fractures are extensive. Even with metal pins, reconstruction is unlikely. The damage is too great. The chance of him ever walking again is less than twenty percent."

The room erupted in gasps.

Jefferson swayed, needing Matthew and Bertha to hold him up.

Only Adrian remained in the corner, unnoticed, his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting a cold light, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"Ms. Ashbourne! Even if there’s only a one percent chance, please save my brother!" Matthew begged, desperation in his eyes.

"Of course. Since I’m here, I’ll do everything I can."

Evangeline hesitated, her gaze flickering.

Jefferson noticed. "Evangeline, if there’s something else, just say it!"

"Mr. Chambers… are you sure Brandon’s injuries were from a car accident?"

The question sent a ripple of shock through the room.

Only two people remained unreadable—Matthew and Adrian.

"What do you mean?" Jefferson demanded.

"In my career, I’ve treated countless fractures. Based on the injury patterns, I can usually tell what caused them. This… doesn’t look like a car accident. There are signs of blunt force trauma—possibly from something like an iron rod."

A collective gasp filled the air.

"Ms. Ashbourne, are you saying someone attacked my brother after the accident?"

Matthew shot a glance at Adrian, feigning concern. "Does this mean the accident was staged?"

Staged?!

The room erupted in murmurs.

"Dad! I told you there was something suspicious about this!" Bertha cried.

Jefferson’s face darkened.

"I can’t confirm if it was staged. I’m just stating my medical findings. The amputation surgery will take time, Mr. Chambers. You should rest. Maybe at the Grand Marquis Hotel. I’ll update you when it’s over."

"I’m not leaving! I’ll wait here!"

Jefferson couldn’t help but admire his future daughter-in-law.

He was determined to make her part of the Chambers family.

The surgery dragged on—starting at one in the afternoon and ending at nine at night.

Finally, the operating room lights dimmed.

Evangeline, leaning heavily on an assistant, emerged. Her surgical gown was drenched in sweat, her legs trembling from hours of standing.

"Evangeline!"

Adrian was the first to reach her, his hand steadying her shaking body. "You must be exhausted."

"I’m fine. The surgery was what mattered."

Suddenly, dizziness hit her. She swayed, her vision blurring.

"Evangeline, careful!" Adrian tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her close.

The Chambers family exchanged knowing glances.

The Ashbourne heiress seemed awfully close to Adrian. Maybe there was something between them.

But given Adrian’s standing in the family, he wasn’t exactly a suitable match.

"I’m okay." Evangeline steadied herself, gently pushing him away.

She didn’t want rumors, not under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Adrian’s hands clenched at his sides.

Jefferson rushed over. "Evangeline, how is he?"

"I did everything I could."

She wiped her forehead, breathing deeply. "Brandon’s left leg was too damaged. I managed to save it, but..."

"And his right leg?"

"It had to be amputated."

The word hit Jefferson like a hammer.

"That’s… that’s all right. You saved one leg. That’s more than we hoped for."

"Also, Brandon woke briefly near the end. He said someone deliberately broke his legs."

Jefferson paled. "Who? Who did it?"

"You’ll have to ask him when he’s stable."

Thanks to Evangeline’s skill, the surgery was a success—saving one leg was nothing short of a miracle.

Brandon was moved to recovery, and the Chambers family crowded around him.

Only Adrian stayed behind, sitting with Evangeline on a bench, handing her a steaming cup of coffee.

"Here. You must be exhausted."

"Thanks." She took it, her tired eyes meeting his.

"I should be thanking you. Even if he never walks properly again, it’s better than losing both legs."

"Adrian."

She hesitated, then asked quietly, "Was it you?"

His heart skipped. "What?"

"Never mind."

She didn’t press further, standing slowly. "I need to eat. I’m starving."

"I’ll come with you."

He stood too, not wanting her to go alone.

Suddenly, Evangeline swayed, her vision swimming.

She hadn’t eaten all day. Hypoglycemia hit hard.

Adrian caught her just as she collapsed, his arms locking around her slender frame.

"Evangeline."

"Vanessa?!"

A familiar voice cut through the haze. Evangeline turned weakly.

Her heart stopped.

Hamilton sat in a wheelchair, staring at her in shock.

And behind him, tall and imposing, his gaze icy—

Thaddeus.