A sharp, stabbing pain shot through her skull like needles digging straight into her brain. She couldn’t even make a sound.
Joel didn’t spare her a glance—his eyes stayed glued to Renee in the black sedan, completely oblivious to Lyra’s injury.
After three more collisions, the black car finally screeched to a stop. The attackers bailed, jumping into the accomplice’s vehicle and speeding off.
Joel shoved his door open and rushed to the back seat, scooping Renee into his arms. For the first time, pure panic flashed in his eyes.
“You okay? Did they hurt you?”
Renee curled into his arms, her face tilted up to show a red slap mark, eyes shimmering with tears.
“It was my dad’s business rivals… They just slapped me once. It’s nothing serious.”
Seeing her like that made Joel’s heart clench. He growled in frustration.
“Nothing serious? Even when you were abroad, I spoiled you and kept you safe from stuff like this. What if something happened to the baby?”
Renee sobbed harder. “It’s your fault for taking so long… I was so scared…”
“Don’t be afraid. It’s my fault. I’ll get you checked out right now.”
He placed her carefully in the back seat, floored it to the hospital in five minutes flat, and carried her straight into the ER.
Not once did he notice Lyra still sitting in the passenger seat—eyes red and swollen, blood soaking through her hair and streaking down her pale face.
