Chapter 58 Elsa, We Need to Talk
"Ah!"
"Noah!"
Brakes screamed.
Serena's shriek mixed with Elsa shouting at her brother.
A car struck Serena and threw her several feet before she hit the pavement.
The driver jumped out, saw her on the ground, and immediately reached for his phone.
Serena caught his trouser leg.
"Please don't call the police. The boy who kicked me is still in high school. He's a minor. If the police get involved, it could leave a record and ruin his future."
The driver repeatedly praised her kindness and called an ambulance instead.
Elsa had no argument to make.
Noah had struck first. If Serena insisted on pressing charges, there really could be consequences for him.
Elsa sent Noah home to explain things to their parents, then rode with Serena to the hospital and stayed while she underwent a full examination.
After Serena was admitted, Noah became worried and came to the hospital too.
He had barely entered the room when Alexander arrived behind him.
Alexander walked straight past Elsa and Noah and went directly to Serena's bedside.
The moment Serena saw him, she struggled upright and threw herself into his arms, crying.
Alexander instinctively looked toward Elsa.
Elsa turned away.
He quietly pushed Serena back from his chest.
"Tell me slowly. What happened?"
Serena glanced at the Winters siblings and stopped crying.
"Alexander, I'm sorry. I heard your wife was back, so I wanted to apologize to her. I wanted to persuade her to go home and live properly with you again."
Noah stormed toward her.
"That's bullshit!"
Elsa caught him.
"Noah, go home."
His eyes were red with fury.
"Sis, this woman deserved it!"
Elsa tightened her grip and tried to keep him from doing anything else.
Serena hurriedly said, "Alexander, I'm telling the truth. I even brought your wife fruit and pumpkin pie. The driver can prove it."
Alexander looked toward the man near the door.
The driver nodded emphatically.
"She's right. If this lady hadn't begged me not to call the police because she was worried about the boy's record, I would've reported him already."
Before Elsa or Noah could respond, Serena pointed at Noah.
"He attacked me for no reason. He kicked me into traffic. He wanted a car to kill me!"
Noah was young and hot-tempered. Serena's accusation instantly set him off.
He tore himself out of Elsa's hold.
"I'll kill you myself!"
Alexander rose and caught Noah's swinging fist with ease.
Serena screamed and hid behind him.
Alexander twisted Noah's arm under control.
"Noah. Apologize."
Pain bulged the veins at Noah's temple.
"Horton, let go of me, you bastard!"
Elsa rushed forward and tried to pry Alexander's hand away.
"Alexander, let go of my brother!"
The room fell into chaos.
Serena lowered her head, hiding the hint of satisfaction in her eyes.
When she looked up again, she hurried to play peacemaker.
"Alexander, don't get so angry because of me. It's only bruising and soft-tissue injuries. I'm fine. Let the boy go."
Alexander kept one hand on Noah's wrist and used the other to pull Elsa toward him by the shoulder.
"Elsa, protecting your brother has limits. He did something wrong. He has to apologize."
Elsa struggled violently.
"Your precious woman provoked me first. That's why Noah hit her!"
"She brought you fruit and pumpkin pie and tried to make peace. That's provoking you?"
Elsa stared at him in disbelief.
"Your mistress comes to 'make peace' with your wife and I'm supposed to accept it? Listen to yourself."
"At least she stopped the driver from calling the police for Noah's sake. Was that wrong too?"
Elsa looked straight into his eyes.
"If I tell you Serena planned all of this, would you believe me?"
Alexander answered without hesitation.
"Serena wouldn't do that."
Elsa's eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall.
"Then if you've already chosen to believe her, why bother asking me anything?"
Their eyes met.
Alexander looked away first.
He pushed Elsa back.
"If you have nothing else to say, then be quiet."
The force sent Elsa stumbling several steps.
Noah saw him push his sister and went completely red with rage.
Ignoring the pain in his wrist, he wrenched his arm free with all his strength.
There was a sickening sound from the joint.
Alexander's eyes widened and he immediately released him.
Noah clutched one arm with the other, his face twisting in pain as he nearly collapsed.
"Noah!"
Alexander and Elsa moved toward him at the same time.
Elsa shoved Alexander away, crying.
She supported her brother's injured arm, tears trembling in her eyes.
"Don't be afraid. I'll take you to a doctor."
Noah's face was white from the pain, but his eyes were burning.
"Sis, when I'm older, I'll make him pay for everything he's done to you."
Elsa could no longer hold herself together.
She began to cry.
Watching her, Alexander felt a suffocating pressure in his chest.
He stepped closer, his voice softening without thought.
"Elsa, don't cry. I used too much force. That's my fault. I'll get Noah the best doctor right now."
Elsa looked up at him while supporting Noah.
Her tears would not stop.
Her lips trembled.
Then, suddenly, she laughed at herself.
The more she laughed, the harder she cried.
Something twisted violently in Alexander's chest.
Elsa said nothing. She helped Noah out of the room.
Alexander had chosen Serena.
He had told Elsa to shut up.
So she would say nothing more.
Alexander followed them to the doorway.
"Elsa, I'll take you to Dr. Harvey. He's in the emergency department."
Behind him, Serena suddenly held her stomach.
"Alexander, my stomach hurts so much..."
The hand Alexander had extended toward Elsa stopped.
He turned back to the bed and helped Serena sit up.
Then he looked toward Elsa.
"Serena is physically weak. I'll have a doctor examine her first. Noah's wrist is probably only dislocated. Take him to emergency, and I'll come find you afterward."
Noah kicked the door in fury.
"Horton, my sister and I never want to see you again!"
Elsa kept walking without looking back.
Half an hour later, she and Noah came out of the emergency department.
Their parents had rushed to the hospital.
Elsa handed Noah over to them.
"Dad, Mom, take Noah home. I'll pay the bill and get his medication."
Margaret shook her head.
"We'll wait for you at the entrance."
After collecting Noah's medicine, Elsa went to Serena's room before leaving.
She stood at the doorway and watched Alexander carefully question the doctor about Serena's injuries.
She waited quietly.
Alexander happened to look up and saw her.
He immediately came outside.
"What did the doctor say about Noah's hand?"
Elsa lowered her head and walked past him.
Alexander stared after her.
Elsa entered the room and placed a stack of medical receipts and reports in front of Serena.
"My brother hurt you. Your man hurt my brother. We're even."
Alexander stood at the door.
The phrase your man struck him with unexpected force.
Serena glanced secretly toward him and hurried to say, "Mrs. Horton, don't say that. Alexander and I aren't what you think."
Elsa looked at her once, then turned to leave.
In the hospital corridor, Alexander caught her wrist.
"Elsa. We need to talk."