Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Allison trailed behind the rescue team as they left the arena. Olivia and Sabrina rushed over, concern etched on
their faces.
Sabrina reached her first, blurting out, “What happened?”
Allison was still in a fog, her expression blank as she replied, “I’m not sure. Lillian asked me to teach her horse riding. Everything seemed fine until Snow suddenly went wild. Lillian got thrown off and she looks pretty hurt.”
Olivia furrowed her brow, thinking hard. “Snow gets checked every month. We even did a quick check just before bringing him out today. Everything was normal. What could have made him act up like that?”
Sabrina’s fists clenched in suspicion. “Could Lillian be up to something? She only wanted Joshua to teach her at first, didn’t she? She’s never been a fan of yours, so why ask you now?”
Olivia tried to soothe her, “The team has calmed Snow with a sedative. They’ll check him again later. Allie, this isn’t your fault.”
Allison glanced thoughtfully towards where the rescue team had vanished, recalling Lillian’s odd smile just before the accident. Her gut feeling screamed that Lillian had a hand in this mess.
But why would she pull such a stunt?
Remembering the way Joshua had looked at her earlier, Allison thought she might know the answer. Was Lillian really willing to gamble with her life just to drive a wedge between Joshua and her?
They’d only met twice, and Lillian was already risking her safety to set her up!
Allison was taken aback. Lillian was completely unhinged!
In the ambulance, Lillian was a pitiful sight, pale and teary–eyed. She turned to Joshua, her voice a soft whine, “It hurts so much…”
Joshua’s voice was gentle as he reassured her, “We’re almost at the hospital. Let’s wait for the doctor’s take.”
Tears spilled as Lillian whimpered, “It really hurts. When I fell, I was terrified I would never see you again, Joshua…”
She clung to his hand, her sobs breaking intermittently. “Am I a bother to you? Everyone was having such a good time, and now this… Am I just a buzzkill?”
“Don’t say that,” Joshua murmured, his heart aching. She wasn’t his sister by blood, but she might as well have been.
“There, there, don’t cry,” he soothed, “We’ll be at the hospital soon.”
Lillian sniffled, “When you comfort me, it doesn’t hurt as much…”
Joshua gently patted her head, “Still the same as when you were little.”
At the hospital, the doctors took X–rays and examined Lillian. Her injuries weren’t too severe: a fractured tailbone, some soft tissue damage, a slightly dislocated elbow, and various bruises. Luckily, nothing internal was harmed.
The doctor mentioned it was a stable fracture, and with about a month of hospital care, she should be on the mend.
After the exams and medications, a nurse gave her a painkiller, and finally, Lillian’s complaints of pain quieted down.
Allison had followed them to the hospital and paused at the door, hearing Lillian’s sweet, pleading voice inside.
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Chapter 53
“Joshua, my arm’s in a cast, and I’m having trouble getting food. Can you feed me, please?”
Allison hesitated, unsure if she should go in.
Joshua’s voice was firm, “I’ll get a nurse.”
But Lillian persisted, her tone insistent, “Oh, come on, I want you to. Please?”