Chapter 1046
Nigel’s men were already heaving his stretcher up into the ambulance.
Nigel’s injuries were dire; they doubted they could do much for him. If Calliope came, though, there was hope.
Meanwhile, the accusations Damien and Calliope had faced a moment ago suddenly made sense to the rest-Nigel’s men now realized the truth. Damien and Calliope had just saved their boss’s life.
“Let’s just leave him,” Damien snapped. “We pull a man back from the brink, and his people treat us like common thugs. Why should we keep helping p>
He turned to Calliope, irritation plain on his face. “Ma’am, let’s go. We’ve done our part just calling emergency services p>
Calliope had no intention of getting in the ambulance. She had meant to say Nigel was stable now, and the hospital would handle the rest. But before she could speak, Nigel’s men without any warning-dropped to their knees all at once.
“We’re so sorry, Ms. Jewell-we misjudged you!” one stammered, his forehead pressed to the pavement.
“We apologize p>
“Please, could you spare just a little more time? Come with us help Mr. Howell.” “You’re a miracle worker! You wouldn’t stand by and let someone die, would you p>
“If you save him, Mr. Howell will be forever in your debt. Whatever you want, we’ll make it happen. Anything at all p>
“Please, we’re begging you!” Their pleas tumbled over one another, voices trembling with desperation.
One after another, they were bowing, and banging their heads on the ground so fervently it startled Calliope.
She let out a resigned sigh, caught halfway between annoyance and amusement. “Alright, enough. Get up, all of you. I’ll go p>
She added, almost as an afterthought, “Honestly, he’s out of immediate danger. I’ve already stabilized him p>
Despite her protests, Calliope climbed into the ambulance. She waved Damien off, telling him to drive himself home-she’d meet him after a quick stop at the hospital. Damien grumbled under his breath, his irritation obvious, but didn’t argue further.
He slanted a look at Nigel’s men. “Amazing. The nerve you have, begging help from her after everything p>
“We’re so sorry, Mr. Sutton! We mixed things up, that’s all!” one man sputtered. “But trust me—Mr. Howell is a man who pays his debts. He’ll remember this p>
Damien gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “Who cares about his gratitude? If he hadn’t helped me once before, I wouldn’t have bothered p>
He got in his car and drove off. Nigel’s men quickly piled into their own vehicle and tailed the ambulance on its way into town.
At the hospital, the emergency team
immediately sized up Nigel’s injuries-and the prognosis was grave. The surgery was risky and deeply complicated. One by one, the hospital’s leading surgeons
gathered, terrsion crackling in the air. If they didn’t try, Nigel would die for sure. If they did… there was no guarantee of success.
Calliope glanced at the indecisive group, her patience running thin. “He’s got no chance if you do nothing Operating is risky, sure, but at least he might make it. Is this really worth debating? Just do the surgery p>
“But the procedure is too complex,” one surgeon protested. “We aren’t confident we can pull it off p>
Another doctor eyed Calliope nervously. He dropped his voice. “You’re the Miracle Doctor, aren’t you? Maybe you’d know how to make it work p>
el.n2
The words hardly left his mouth before Nigel’s man, who’d followed along, dropped to his knees at~ Calliope’s feet. “Please, Ms. Jewell I’m begging you You to do it. We’re relying on you p>