Chapter 317
Chapter 317:
“John! How’s Austin? What on earth happened?” he asked, his brows furrowed in supposed worry.
John let out a heavy sigh, his expression full of guilt. “Mr. Barton, it’s all my fault. I should have stopped Austin. He wanted to have lunch in the suburbs, so we went. I never imagined we’d get into an accident on the way back p>
Leonel placed a hand on John’s shoulder, shaking his head solemnly. “It’s not your fault. No one could have predicted this. But tell me, did you see the car that hit you? Has the driver been found p>
John shook his head. “No, the car didn’t have a license plate. After the collision, it sped away. The impact was on Austin’s side of the car, so he took the brunt of it. The rest of us only suffered minor injuries p>
“Who could be so reckless? I just hope Austin pulls through this,” Leonel said, his tone heavy with feigned concern.
“We can only pray for him now,” John replied resolutely, his voice steady. “But rest assured, Mr. Barton, I won’t let this go unanswered. I’ll personally ensure a full investigation is conducted. Whoever’s behind this won’t escape justice p>
A flicker of unease crossed Leonel’s face before he quickly replaced it with a tight, strained smile. “That’s… admirable, John. Your dedication is appreciated. Thank you p>
Inside, however, Leonel’s blood boiled. This meddling idiot! Why couldn’t he just stay out of it?
But as quickly as his frustration flared, Leonel tamped it down. He reminded himself that every detail had been carefully orchestrated. John could dig all he wanted— there was nothing to uncover.
John resisted the overwhelming urge to roll his eyes—or worse, spit—at Leonel’s pretentious display.
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To the uninformed, Leonel might have appeared honorable, but John knew better. Beneath the polished exterior lay a cunning, deceitful soul.
Leonel, ever the actor, suddenly shifted his gaze toward her.
She stood silently to the side, her posture relaxed and her expression unreadable, as though the chaos around her was of no consequence.
Leonel’s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of unease stirring within him. There was something about her composure—calm, measured, and undeniably confident—that set her apart. Who was she? What connection did she have to Austin?
Leonel’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly. Anyone close to Austin warranted scrutiny, but a woman like this—mysterious, poised—was particularly suspicious. Women rarely lingered around Austin unless they held a special significance, and Leonel knew it.
He had never heard of Austin being particularly close to any woman before, which made Yelena’s presence all the more intriguing.
Leonel’s gaze lingered on her, studying her with subtle curiosity.
Yelena, aware of the scrutiny, maintained her composure. She feigned indifference, her eyes fixed firmly on the emergency room doors as though Leonel’s probing didn’t exist.
Sensing no reaction, Leonel finally looked away, masking his thoughts with an expression of feigned worry.
Moments later, the tension in the hallway broke as the doctor emerged from the operating room, removing his mask. His eyes swept the group before he asked, “Is Austin Barton’s family here p>
John and Yelena immediately stepped forward, their concern evident.
“How is he?” John asked, his voice tight with anxiety.
The doctor glanced at them and said, “The patient is still unconscious. We can’t rule out a head injury from the impact, but his condition is stable for now. He’ll need close observation in the ICU p>
“Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate your efforts,” Leonel said smoothly, stepping in before anyone else could respond.
As the doctor turned to leave, Leonel’s carefully composed face shifted for the briefest moment. Perfect! If Austin remained in a coma—or better yet, suffered lasting mental damage—everything would fall into place.