Chapter 23: The Velvet Hospital

Caroline's POV

I didn’t even think, I just ran to him as he collapsed onto the ground, his knees buckling beneath him.

“Anderson!” My voice tore out of me, as I dropped beside him.

Blood poured from his mouth as he tried to speak, but all that came out was a wet, choking sound.

My hands flew to his chest, pressing down hard, trying to stop the bleeding.

“Come on, Anderson, stay with me,” I begged, my voice shaking as much as my hands.

His eyes locked onto mine, wild and scared, and I could feel his chest heaving under my palms.

People screamed, chairs toppled over, glasses shattered on the ground, and footsteps pounded the ground as everyone ran toward the exits.

I looked up, my head spinning, trying to find someone, anyone, to help. “Help me!” I shouted, but my voice was swallowed by the noise.

My throat burned, already hoarse from yelling, and my eyes stung with tears I didn’t have time to wipe away.

Then I saw Liam, pushing through the crowd, water dripping from his hair. He’d been by the pool just moments ago. Now his face went white as he saw Anderson bleeding out on the ground.

“No, no, no, no,” he muttered, rushing over and dropping to his knees beside me.

His hands hovered over Anderson for a second, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Then his eyes snapped to my bloody hands and his face twisted.

“Get your hands off him,” he hissed, shoving my shoulder hard enough that I almost fell backward. “You’re making it worse.”

“I’m trying to stop the bleeding!” I cried.

“You can’t even swim, Caroline. What makes you think you can save anyone?” He grabbed his brother’s shoulders. “Just move.”

“We need to take him to the hospital,” I said, my voice sharp with urgency. I didn’t recognize it as my own. It sounded too steady for how I felt inside.

“Don’t tell me what we need,” Liam snapped. “I’m his brother.”

Together, we tried to lift Anderson, but he was so heavy, his body limp and slippery with blood. My arms trembled under his weight, and we nearly dropped him, my fingers digging into his shirt as I fought to hold on.

“Are you stupid? Lift his legs, not his arm!” Liam barked at me. “Useless. Completely useless.”

Every second felt like forever, and I kept thinking, We’re hurting him, we’re making it worse.

Out of nowhere, Nial appeared. His face was calm.

“Back away, Caroline,” he said, his voice firm.

I hesitated, not wanting to let go.

“You heard him,” Liam said coldly, not even looking at me. “Back away. Stay out of it for once in your life.”

He and Nial hoisted Anderson up between them, his head falling to the side. I stumbled after them, my legs shaky, my silver heels sinking into the beach sand as we reached the parking lot.

Liam’s Porsche was there. It was fast, but small, too small for all of us.

“I’ll stay,” I said, forcing the words out. “Just go. Get him to the hospital.”

“Like we were going to take you anyway,” Liam sneered, yanking the driver’s door open. “You’d only slow us down. Try not to cry on the way home, if you even find one.”

He jumped into the driver’s seat, his jaw tight. Nial slid in beside him, and the car roared to life.

I stood there, helpless, as they sped off. I didn’t realize I was crying until I tasted salt on my lips.

“Please don’t die,” I whispered, my voice cracking.

The words slipped out, and suddenly I couldn’t stop the tears. They came hard, blurring my vision, and I sank to my knees, my hands still sticky with Anderson’s blood. “Please, Anderson, don’t leave me.”

Behind me, a voice cut through my sobs. “You caused this, bitch.”

I turned, wiping my eyes, and saw Solana standing there, her finger jabbing at me. Her blonde hair was wild, her eyes blazing with hate. “Ever since you walked into his life, you’ve brought a curse on him.”

I stared at her, too stunned to respond at first. My chest tightened, but I shook my head and turned to walk away. I didn’t have time for her.

“Come back here, you fool! I’m talking to you!” she shouted, and before I could take another step, her hand grabbed my hair, yanking me back.

Something snapped inside me. Rage flared up, and I spun around, my bloodstained hand swinging toward her face. The slap landed on her cheek, sending her stumbling back onto the sand.

She gasped, clutching her cheek, and tried to get up again. Before she could, I hit her a second time, harder, my breath coming fast and ragged. This time, she stayed down, her hand pressed to her face, staring up at me in shock.

I didn’t wait to see what she’d do next. My hands were trembling, my pulse pounding in my ears as

I walked away. I spotted Anderson’s SUV. I had picked up his car key while Liam and Nial were carrying him. It had fallen from his pocket.

I snatched the keys up, my fingers fumbling, and climbed into the driver’s seat. I turned the key and drove out of the parking lot.

The road to the hospital was a nightmare. Traffic jammed the streets. I cursed under my breath, slamming my hand against the steering wheel.

“Move, damn it!” My voice was shaky, my frustration boiling over. I couldn’t sit still. Every second stuck here was a second Anderson might not have.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Mr. Alex, Anderson’s Uncle  or so call father,  my fingers trembling as I held it to my ear.

He picked up on the first ring.

“Caroline?”

“Was this you?” I demanded, my voice breaking as tears threatened to choke me. “Did you kill your own son?”

“What? Caroline, calm down. Kill who? What are you talking about?”

“Anderson! He just got shot! We don’t know who fired the gun or where the shot came from.”

I could no longer hold back my tears. My hands trembled against the steering wheel as I struggled to keep myself together.

“Fuck! Is he okay? Is everyone alright? What about you? Are you hurt?” His voice trembled with shock and panic.

“I wouldn’t kill my own son,” he said, his voice unsteady, almost pleading. “I had nothing to do with this. I swear.”

“Then who did?” I snapped, barely able to contain my anger.

“I don’t know, Caroline. I have no idea. But I’ll find out what happened. I promise.”

I didn’t know if I believed him. His voice sounded genuine.

The traffic finally began to clear. Cars moved forward, and I ended the call without another word, tossing my phone onto the passenger seat. I pressed down on the accelerator, sending the SUV speeding down the road as buildings and streetlights blurred past.

Liam had mumbled something about “Velvet” before driving off. When I spotted the sign for Velvet Hospital, I pulled into the parking lot, barely bothering to park properly before jumping out and rushing inside.

The lobby was brightly lit, but I barely noticed. My eyes searched desperately for a familiar face.

Then I saw two men pushing a stretcher past me. A body lay beneath a white sheet.

My heart stopped.

For one terrifying second, I thought it was Anderson. My knees nearly buckled, and I struggled to catch my breath. But as the stretcher came closer, I realised the body was smaller than his.

I released a shaky breath, fighting back another wave of tears, and hurried towards the reception desk.

“I’m looking for a patient named Anderson,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. “He was brought in with a gunshot wound.”

The nurse looked up from her computer, her expression frustratingly calm.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. We don’t have any patient by that name here.”

I stared at her, certain I hadn’t heard correctly.

“What do you mean you don’t have him?” My voice rose. “He was shot! They brought him here. This is Velvet Hospital!”

She turned back to her computer and typed something. After a few seconds, she shook her head.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. No patient matching that name has been admitted.”

My stomach tightened.

“Please, check again. His name is Anderson. He was brought here not long ago. He has a gunshot wound!”

The nurse sighed. “Ma’am, I’ve already checked.”

I grabbed the edge of the counter, struggling to steady myself.