A ringing filled Charlotte’s ears, drowning out every other sound. Disoriented, she drifted back to consciousness, feeling as if she were suspended in midair, the world spinning upside down.

The car had flipped,nding wheels–up, and a sharp, chemical scent filled the air as fuel leaked steadily from the tank.

Her senses snapped into focus. The first thing she saw was Evander’s face–blood streaked across his brow.

“…Evander.” Her voice barely registered in her own ears, muffled by the persistent ringing. She reached out, fingers fumbling over Evander’s still form, ignoring the pain shooting through her own arm as she utched

her seatbelt.

Once she freed herself and steadied her body, Charlotte pped his cheek, desperate. “Evander, wake up. Come on, stay with me-”

Suddenly, her gaze froze. A jagged shard of ss was embedded in his chest, dark blood soaking through his shirt, spreading across the fabric.

The stench of gasoline grew stronger, acrid and overwhelming. Charlotte forced herself not to panic and hurriedly undid his seatbelt.

But the impact had crumpled the driver’s side; Evander’s legs were pinned beneath the seat. She couldn’t move him.

Gritting her teeth, Charlotte grabbed the emergency hammer, shattered the side window, and wed her way out of the wreck.

At that moment, a car screeched to a halt nearby. A couple jumped out–the woman immediately dialing for an ambnce, while her husband rushed forward to help Charlotte.

“There’s a fuel leak! We need to get away from the car–now!”

“There’s someone else inside–I have to get him out!” Charlotte kept herposure, turning to the man. “Do you have a jack in your car?”

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b13:01 /b

“Yes, we do!”

“Thank you!”

Without hesitation, Charlotte took the jack and crawled back to the wreck. She wedged it between the crumpled dashboard and the driver’s seat, forcing enough space to reach Evander. Hooking her arms under his, she carefully pulled him free, doing her best not to disturb the ss lodged in his chest.

The couple hesitated only a moment before joining in to help.

They had just dragged Evander a safe distance away when the car erupted in mes.

Sirens wailed in the distance. Police and paramedics arrived within minutes. Charlotte knelt at Evander’s side, pressing her hands to his wound, desperate to slow the bleeding. One of the EMTs recognized her immediately. “…Dr. Sterling?”

No time for formalities. “He’s got a foreign object in his chest, massive blood loss–he needs surgery now!”

With a police escort, the ambnce sped through downtown, reaching Capital Central Hospital’s ER in just ten minutes. Evander was fitted with an oxygen mask; monitors showed his blood pressure and pulse dropping fast. Nurses rushed him through a priority trauma corridor, straight to the operating room..

Charlotte stopped outside, trembling uncontrobly, barely aware of her surroundings.

“Lottie!” Dean Chase burst through the doors, breathless and anxious at the sight of her battered and bloodstained. “Are you hurt?”

“It’s nothing, just a scratch.” Charlotte’s lips were cracked, her face pale. “He’s much worse. I don’t know if the ss pierced his heart…”

They were only on their way to city hall to sign divorce papers. It was supposed to be a simple, uneventful morning.

She’d never imagined something like this could happen.

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If she hadn’t regained consciousness in time, or if that couple hadn’t stopped to help, they might both have died in the wreck.

Dean steadied her. “I’ve already called the best trauma surgeon at Capital

Central. He’s en route. Right now, we need to get a clear picture of

Evander’s injuries.”

Charlotte nodded, dazed.

The doors swung open. The attending chief strode out, eyes grave. “Dean

Chase.”

“How is he?”

“It’s critical. The patient needs an emergency pericardiotomy to relieve tamponade and stop the bleeding–plus rapid transfusion, or he could go into shock at any moment. But we still need to run the full trauma protocol; the surgeon can’t operate without it—”

Charlotte’s brows drew together. “We don’t have that kind of time. And if he’s moved again, his injuries could get worse-”

“No more dys,” Dean interrupted, voice resolute. “If there are consequences, I’ll take responsibility myself. Even if I lose my job as hospital administrator–saving his lifees first.” He turned to Charlotte. “I’ve already spoken to Dr. Hale, the director here. He’s a top cardiac surgeon–he’ll handle the operation.”

Minutester, Dr. Hale strode in, scrubbing in without hesitation. Dean whispered a quick update. Dr. Hale gave a reassuring nod. “Don’t worry. I’ll do everything I can.”

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