Chapter 61: Chapter 63 - An Accident (2)
Determined not to succumb to the darkness, he summoned the frail remnants of strength that lingered within his battered body.
With great effort, he attempted to push himself closer to the footpath just a few centimeters away.
He knew that lying on the asphalt would grant him a semblance of peace, but the weight of acceptance felt heavy on his heart. He couldn't bring himself to face the pain and suffering that would inevitably befall his mother, the only family he had left in this world.
"I—I can't die," he murmured, his resolve igniting a flicker of hope.
Summoning every ounce of adrenaline coursing through him, he somehow managed to roll onto the footpath, landing with his eyes fixed ahead.
He dared to believe that he might just survive this ordeal; someone would surely pass by and call for an ambulance.
All he had to do was wait.
He brought his broken hand—still capable of movement, despite the injury—over his eyes, trying to shield himself from the harsh reality.
Blood soaked his body and face, leaving him drenched in misery, feeling as if he couldn't even grasp death peacefully.
VROOOOOOM
'!?!'
Suddenly, as he lay on the footpath, the roar of a loud engine pierced the air, prompting him to glance in its direction.
His eyes, barely under his control, widened in disbelief as he saw a sleek black Onyx car barreling toward him at a terrifying speed, sending shivers down his spine.
It felt as though today was meant to be his last. Even after having crawled onto the footpath, he was seconds away from meeting his end.
Memories of his ailing mother flashed through his mind, and in a desperate bid for survival, he screamed, "STOOOOPPP!!!"
Screeeech!
Miraculously, his words seemed to have the desired effect. The car screeched to a halt, its tires screeching against the pavement and leaving a trail of rubber marks before stopping just inches from his face.
His body trembled, first from the fear of the accident and now again from the close brush with death.
"He seems strong enough," Aecilia remarked, stepping out of the car. Her eyes quickly assessed the chaotic scene where the two roads converged: a truck had come to a halt following a collision, and in the aftermath, fragments of a motorbike lay scattered alongside pools of blood, a grim reminder of the severity of the accident.
The debris stretched for a distance of twenty meters, revealing just how violent the incident had been and illustrating how far the man had crawled in his desperate attempt to escape.
"Can you move?" Avendial asked as he stepped forward, looking down at Leo, who lay helplessly on the ground. Several other individuals, witnessing Avendial and Aecilia taking the initiative to help, also approached.
"I-I think my thigh bone is crushed," Leo replied, his voice shaking. Glancing at the both individuals emerging from the car, he felt their presence served as a stark reminder of their status as popular actors.
This made him hesitate; he knew well the harsh realities of the world they lived in, and he wanted to avoid any hint of anger or resentment.
Initially, no one had come to his aid except for the two of them. The car they arrived in, coupled with their refined appearances, suggested they belonged to a wealthy family—likely someone of higher standing.
Leo understood that offending them would be the last thing he could afford, even in the wake of his accident.
"I see," Avendial said reassuringly before extending his hand toward Leo. The gesture left Leo feeling slightly confused; however, after a moment of hesitation, he took Avendial's hand, and Avendial helped pull him up.
Thanks to his regular exercise and commitment to a healthy lifestyle, Avendial had maintained a well-built physique. While he may not have had the sculpted abs of a fitness model, he was undeniably strong enough to support Leo with an arm around his shoulder.
"Kughh... Urghh... I-I am fine," Leo stammered, irritated by the pain coursing through his body. He cast a quick glance at the white shirt of the man helping him, which was now stained with his blood, feeling awkward about how his condition must appear. He was determined not to become overly dependent on this unknown man's assistance.
While he appreciated the kindness of these two rich people, he couldn't shake the understanding that such kindness was a luxury not everyone could afford.
He observed the others who had approached; despite stepping out of their cars, they merely made phone calls, offering no hands to aid him.
Their actions clearly conveyed a reluctance to engage with someone of his status, likely influenced by his disheveled appearance as a construction worker.
Yet the man who was supporting him stood apart from the rest—he seemed indifferent to status and focused solely on helping.
'What a hassle' Avendial thought as he supported the injured man, he sensed a clear awareness in the man's eyes, despite the pain and the grim state he was in.
It was as if, even in that particular state, he was thinking about both of their statuses. This realization made Avendial understand that this man was at least smart enough but not of any significant help to him.
Avendial couldn't recall ever seeing this man achieve anything noteworthy in past life; this fleeting encounter felt purely random, devoid of any significance. However, driven by a sense of duty and spurred on by Aecilia's wish to help, he resolved to take action.
"Try to stay alive," he instructed, turning toward his car.
"Huh?" Leo replied, surprised. He watched as Avendial opened the back door of his sports car, revealing that there was indeed a backseat despite its sleek design. With little regard for Leo's injuries, Avendial lifted him and unceremoniously threw him into the backseat.
The jarring motion aggravated Leo's wounds, and he winced as pain coursed through his body.
'?!'
Just when he thought it couldn't get worse, he felt a hard shove against his back.
"Get in," Avendial commanded, using his foot to forcefully push the man into the car. He gave one last shove before slamming the door shut, sealing Leo inside.
"How ruthless of you," Aecilia remarked as she observed Avendial's expression. He looked irritated, almost disappointed in the situation.
Yet, despite his annoyance, Aecilia felt differently. An instinctual sense told her that helping that man was the right thing to do, as if some unseen fortune was guiding her choices. Her gut feelings had never led her astray before.
"Let's go," Avendial announced, shifting his focus back to the road ahead as he entered the car and took his seat.
"Of course, why not, boss," Aecilia said, scoffing at how she was treated as just a driver. Without wasting any more time, she slipped into the car and accelerated toward the nearby hospital.
---
"Is that the one mentioned by the young master?" a man in the front seat asked, peering through the window as they watched the sleek black Onyx sports car drift away. Stuck in the slow crawl of traffic, they felt outclassed and outpaced.
What caught their attention even more was when the car unexpectedly veered onto the footpath, breaking traffic rules with audacity. The woman behind the wheel displayed impressive skill as she maneuvered the sports car, effortlessly climbing onto the raised platform.
One of the men, clearly impressed, pulled out a diary to make a note.
They prided themselves on their meticulous work, committed to observing even the smallest details.
They had already deduced that the man was kind-hearted and that the woman who accompanied him was an exceptionally skilled driver.
"Stay close behind them, but don't let ourselves be seen," a woman in the back seat instructed the driver.
The driver nodded, and along with the two men in the car, accelerated to follow the trail of the sports car that had sped off just moments earlier.