Chapter 380

"Mrs. Kingsley, stay awake. We're almost at the hospital." Evelyn gripped Eleanor's shoulder tightly, her voice trembling with urgency.

Eleanor's eyelids fluttered weakly, threatening to close. Evelyn kept talking, desperate to keep her conscious.

Her pulse raced, anxiety clawing at her chest. Tears blurred her vision, spilling over her lashes.

"Vic—"

Eleanor's whisper cut through the tension.

Evelyn's heart twisted painfully. This was the worst possible moment.

Then, Eleanor's weak plea came, barely audible.

"You're a mother too, Miss Prescott. Please... understand. The hearing is tomorrow. Let my daughter go. She was wrong, but the fault is ours. We failed to raise her right. Please... have mercy."

Evelyn bit her lip, tears streaming down her face.

"Mrs. Kingsley, she doesn’t deserve your sacrifice."

"She does. She's my only child."

Evelyn swallowed hard. "She isn’t. Not by blood."

Eleanor’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "I knew you’d say that. But she is my daughter. My flesh and blood."

The car screeched to a halt.

William rushed Eleanor into the hospital, his face ashen.

Evelyn’s white blouse was soaked in crimson, her hands sticky with blood. She followed numbly, her mind reeling.

Eleanor was rushed into emergency surgery—too much blood lost, too little time.

In the elevator, Evelyn’s phone buzzed. Alexander.

When he heard where she was, he canceled everything and raced to the hospital.

The sight of her covered in blood sent his heart into a frenzy.

"Vivian!"

He grabbed her shoulders, his grip almost painful.

"I’m fine," she whispered. "It’s Eleanor’s blood."

Alexander exhaled sharply, then noticed William standing nearby.

After a hushed explanation, Alexander’s grip loosened. His pulse steadied, but the fear lingered.

He never wanted to feel that terror again.

The emergency doors burst open. A nurse hurried out, and William intercepted her.

"How is she?"

"The wound is deep. She’s lost too much blood. We don’t have her type in stock—it’s rare. We’ll need to get some from another branch. It’ll take hours."

William paled.

Evelyn stepped forward. "I can donate."

William’s head snapped toward her, stunned.

Alexander’s eyes darkened with realization.

"No time to waste," Evelyn said firmly, already moving.

Alexander and William followed as she was prepped. Within minutes, 500ml of her blood was drawn.

Alexander draped his coat over her shoulders, his touch lingering protectively.

William stared at Evelyn, speechless.

As she turned to leave, a nurse gasped in recognition.

"Oh! It’s you!"

Evelyn frowned. The face was familiar.

"You—?"

"Don’t you remember? Last time Mrs. Kingsley needed blood, her daughter refused. You saved her then, too."

The memory rushed back.

Before Evelyn could respond, the nurse turned to Alexander.

"Mr. Blackwood, three years ago, when your son was injured—the woman who donated blood for him? It was her. I never forgot her face."

Alexander froze.

Evelyn’s breath caught.

The past had just collided with the present.