Chapter 187

Lucas's POV

Aunt Clara's face was a mask of fury and pain, while the assembled blood donors shifted uncomfortably, uncertain whether to move forward or retreat.

From my position near the emergency room doors, I could see every subtle detail - the trembling of Maya's hands as she knelt on the cold floor, the way Grant seemed to shrink into himself, and most importantly, the barely noticeable movement of Jace as he quietly slipped closer to the emergency room entrance.

"Lucas." Aunt Clara's voice cut through the tense silence. Her eyes, when they met mine, were filled with a fierce determination that I recognized from countless board meetings. "You and I are the only real family here. Blood is thicker than water. I trust you won't betray me, won't do anything to break my heart."

I understood the weight behind her words. In our world, family loyalty wasn't just about emotion - it was about survival. Still, I couldn't help but think of Eleanor lying in the emergency room, her life hanging by a thread.

Before I could respond, Maya lurched forward, her forehead hitting the floor with a sickening thud. When she raised her head, blood trickled down her face from where she'd split the skin. "Please," she begged, her voice cracking. "Please save Eleanor. She's innocent in all this!"

The sight of her blood-streaked face triggered something in Aunt Clara. She took a step back, her expression twisted with disgust and cold determination. She approached Maeve, who lay there too weak to speak, and addressed the medical staff with an icy command.

"Move her to the best private room. No visitors without my explicit permission."

"Lucas, blood ties are what matter most. Everything else..." Clara glanced meaningfully at Grant, her words trailing off.

The rage and humiliation coursing through her was palpable. In that moment, I could see how desperately she wanted to destroy Grant. "...means nothing."

Clara wheeled Maeve away. I watched as Grant finally stirred from his stupor, taking a halting step toward his wife. "Clara, I-"

"Don't." My voice surprised even me with its coldness. "You brought this on yourself, Grant. If anything happens to Eleanor, it's on your head. Live with that."

He flinched as if I'd struck him, and in that moment, I saw him clearly for what he was - a weak man who had destroyed his family through his own selfishness.

Maya crawled toward me now, leaving smears of blood on the pristine hospital floor. "Young Master Lucas, please, I'm begging you - save Eleanor..."

I looked down at her, remembering the quiet housekeeper who had always had a kind word for me. How many times had she looked at Eleanor and seen her own daughter? How many times had she watched Maeve and known she was denying her the life she deserved?

"You should have thought of this twenty years ago," I said, my voice devoid of emotion.

"It's all my fault, all my fault..." she kept murmuring through her tears. "Why did Eleanor have to suffer for this..."

Eleanor's POV

Pain. That's the first thing I register - a deep, throbbing ache that seems to radiate from every cell in my body. My head feels like it's being squeezed in a vice, and even without opening my eyes, I can tell the world is spinning. The sharp scent of antiseptic burns my nostrils, mixing unpleasantly with the metallic taste in my mouth.

Beeping. Steady, rhythmic beeping somewhere to my left. A hospital then. Memories flash through my mind in disconnected fragments - the film set, a sudden shout from above, then... nothing.

I force my heavy eyelids open, blinking against the harsh lighting. The first thing that comes into focus is Jace Gillard's face, and my stomach twists with immediate displeasure.

"Where..." My voice comes out as a rasp, my throat dry and scratchy. "Where am I?"

"You're at Bellevue Hospital." Jace leans forward, relief evident in his expression. "How are you feeling?"

I take in my surroundings - the peeling wallpaper, the dated medical equipment, the narrow bed with its thin mattress. This isn't the private wing at Lenox Hill Hospital where our family usually goes. This is just some regular hospital ward.

"Why didn't you call my parents?" The words come out sharp despite my weakness. "Why am I in this... place?"

"Eleanor, please stay calm. I wanted to assess the situation first before-"

"Assess the situation?" I try to push myself up, ignoring the wave of dizziness that follows. "You mean cover it up, don't you?"

Jace reaches out to steady me, but I jerk away from his touch. "Don't touch me!"

"Miss Yates," a new voice interrupts - a doctor in a white coat standing at the foot of my bed. "You need to lie still. Your liver was injured in the fall, and any sudden movements could exacerbate the damage. You need complete bed rest."

"My liver?" I sink back against the pillows, not from obedience but from a sudden wave of exhaustion. "What about Maeve? Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Jace answers quickly. "Thanks to you, she only got minor bruises. Eleanor, about what happened-"

"Save it." I cut him off, my voice cold. "I'm telling you right now, Jace - I won't cover up your negligence. The equipment that fell wasn't properly secured, and that's on your production team. I won't hide that from my parents or my grandfather."

His face tightens. "That's not what I'm asking. I just think we should handle this carefully-"

The door opens, and my heart lifts at the sight of my mother and brother. "Mom," I call out, unable to keep the relief from my voice.

But she barely glances at me, her expression distant as she moves to speak with the doctor. The dismissal stings more than my physical injuries.