In that instant, only one thought remained in me.
‘Is he going to die?’
Even if we were on the verge of divorce, the moment I saw that familiar car, I knew I couldn’t stay detached.
That was someone I had once loved deeply.
I forced my way through the crowd, stumbled to the car, and dropped to my knees.
“Tucker!”
My voice shook as I grabbed the warped door, trying desperately to pull it open.
Someone tried to stop me. “Verity, calm down! Rescue is already on the way—”
But I couldn’t hear them.
All I saw was the blood smeared across the driver’s seat, terrified it wouldn’t stop.
My knee slammed into the gravel. Pain shot through me.
But I didn’t care.
I worked with several staff members, prying at the door with everything we had.
The metal sliced my fingers. Blood mixed with sweat.
Finally, we heard a click.
The door gave way.
I held my breath and leaned in to take a look.
But my entire body froze in place.
Tucker was slumped in the driver’s seat, barely conscious, his forehead covered in blood.
But his body was twisted protectively to one side.
In his arms, he was shielding someone…
It was Kelsey.
He’d pulled her into the safer position. Her head rested against his shoulder. She looked pale, but there were no obvious injuries.
Tucker’s back, meanwhile, had taken the full force of the impact.
At that moment, it felt like someone had ripped my chest open.
The sound of the ambulance came closer and closer, piercing and irritating.
The medics moved quickly, efficiently, loading them onto stretchers.
I stood there, as if nailed to the spot.
I was unsure whether to follow—or turn around and leave.
In the end, I took a shaky breath, turned around clumsily, got into my car, and followed the ambulance to the hospital.
The doctor gave the update soon after.
“The accident wasn’t severe. Mr. Afton has a mild concussion and some external injuries. It was close, but he was lucky.”
“As for the woman, she also has a mild concussion. Observation will be enough.”
I nodded, my fingers trembling slightly.
As long as he’s okay…
I forced myself not to think further.
At least for now, I didn’t want to question why Tucker and Kelsey were together at the racetrack.
I headed for Tucker’s hospital room.
The nurse had just finished checking him and reminded him not to get out of bed.
Before she finished speaking, he was already pushing himself upright.
“Where is she?”
The nurse blinked. “Who?”
“The one who came in with me.”