"Okay!" Joanna couldn't quite remember where she saw these numbers, and didn't have the time to think about it. She quickly typed in a number into the keypad and dialed it. The call immediately went through.
"Liam, it's me. Do you have time to pick me up from X cemetery?'
Meanwhile, Liam had been panicking over Joanna's sudden disappearance, and had nearly barged into the Moran manor to look for her. Now that he had received a call from her, he was extremely agitated.
As the two continued making conversation, Ace could no longer listen and snatched the phone, yelling. "Enough! She's hurt, so get over here!"
At that moment, Joanna finally noticed that Ace's hands were covered in blood. This immediately sparked her anxiety, which made her rush over to him. "Moran, you… where is the blood coming from? Are you hurt too?"
"I'm fine." Ace retracted his hand swiftly.
"Stop lying! You've lost so much blood already! Quick, tell me where you're hurt!" Joanna shouted as she used the flashlight on the phone, checking the man's body thoroughly.
She soon found the man's left leg drenched in blood and dislocated, with the wound clearly in quite a terrible state…
"Your leg!" Joanna covered her mouth in disbelief.
His condition was just unimaginably horrible, and she had no idea how he managed to carry her all the way up here with his leg dislocated like this.
'Just how painful was it to take a single step, especially with me on his back?!'
"I said I'm fine! Stop looking at it!" Ace snatched the phone again. He had tried his best to keep it all in, as he didn't wish to let her see him in such a state. However, it was simply inevitable, and he felt… embarrassed.
"I don't think it's just a sprain, I think your leg is dislocated! We have to secure it properly now, or your leg will be as good as gone… Let me help you!" Joanna then took her shirt off, in hopes of treating Ace's wounds with simple first aid.
"Ah!" However, she somehow forgot that she herself was hurt as well. She couldn't move either.
"You should be the one receiving treatment!" Ace stumbled over, holding the woman's injured leg in his hands, then using her shirt to secure it in place.
"Don't mind me, your condition is worse than mine! You-"
"Shut up, will you?!" Ace didn't allow Joanna to move, and treated her wounds according to his limited first aid knowledge. However, as he continued to bandage her leg, he started feeling incredibly nauseous at the sight and smell of blood…
"Hey, Moran! Hey! Don't tell me you've fainted again! Wake up!" Joanna nudged the man with her foot, feeling worried and helpless at the same time.
'Does this guy still have a fear of blood? He's fainted at such a critical moment!'
However, she was rather conflicted, thinking back to how he endured the intense pain to carry her to the main road.
'Why cant he just… act cold and distant like he usually does? Why did he risk his own life, and put so much effort into saving me? What does he want from me?'
Meanwhile, Liam had finally arrived at the area, as he had sped all the way there.
"You two…" Seeing both Joanna and Ace on the ground together, Liam couldn't help but feel his heart drop to his stomach
"Ah, it's a long story. Just send us to the hospital now!" Joanna said, as she knew that they didn't have time for idle chit-chat, especially not with Ace's critical condition.
"Alright!" Liam nodded, suppressing the resentment he held for the man and carrying him into his car. He then drove as quickly as possible to the nearest hospital. Once he got there, he carried Joanna in his arms, yelling at the emergency unit with a panicked expression.
"Doctor, please help!"
Joanna, however, turned to look at Ace, who was still lying in the car. She grabbed Liam by the arm and said, "Don't mind me for now, his condition is worse than mine. He should receive treatment first!"
Liam had always listened to Joanna's every order, but this time was different. He was still dashing through the halls as if he was participating in a marathon.
He then lowered his gaze to speak to the woman in his arms. "Joanna, I love and respect you a lot, but please don't forget that I am only a man. I am not as compassionate as you think I am. I've already done everything I can by bringing him to the hospital. I'm sorry I can't do more than that!"
In the end, Joanna went into surgery right away, as the doctors did their best to stabilize her condition.
She had a concussion and her right leg had a comminuted fracture. Although she wasn't in critical condition, she was still required to be monitored for one whole day, so that they could ensure that she had fully stabilized.
Hence, after a full day, Joanna was finally moved from the ICU to the normal ward, and was able to contact the others. Her leg was currently in a cast, and her entire body was confined to the bed.
Liam, on the other hand, was holding a nutritious meal in his hand, approaching her with a worried expression. "How do you feel, Boss? Are you hungry? You haven't eaten for an entire day. Come on, have some food."
Joanna was definitely starving, but she didn't have the appetite. Instead, she grabbed Liam's arm and asked hurriedly. "How's Ace Moran? Is his leg okay?"
Hearing this, Liam's expression darkened as he tried to avoid the topic. He scooped a spoonful of soup and tried comforting Joanna, as if she was some kind of kid. "Did you know that sea cucumber congee is very nutritious, Boss? I heard it helps with curing wounds too. Have some while it's still warm."
Joanna pushed the spoon away, insisting on knowing Ace's condition. Her tone was demanding and harsh as she said, "How is Ace Moran? I can only eat if I know he's safe."
"It's been four years, and you still haven't moved on from him, huh?" Liam put down the spoon, the cheer on his handsome face replaced by melancholy.
"Even though I've stayed by your side for so many years, even though I'm willing to do anything for you, even though I risked the entire Blackwood family's future for you… I still can't replace him, can I?"
"Liam, don't be like that. You know that's not what I mean, I just…"
"Don't say that… don't treat me like I'm your pet. I'll stop calling you Boss too. Don't you realize we're getting married soon? Do we even look like a couple to you?"
Liam's eyes were filled with his deep love and admiration for her. He had always wanted to ask her these questions, but he knew that he would only be humiliating himself if he did.
He thought that he could touch Joanna's heart in time, and he thought she would forget about Ace Moran. He simply never expected her to get involved with that man again.
He couldn't just pretend that he was fine with this.
"That heartless man was the one who hurt you the most, so why… Why haven't you moved on from him yet? Is he really that great?!" Liam questioned angrily, unable to contain his emotions any longer.
Joanna understood why he was lashing out, so she didn't get mad at him for yelling. Instead, she looked at the man calmly. "Do you know why I'm so concerned about him?" "Why else?' You just can't let him go! You still love him, don't you?!" Liam spat and turned away, his tone furious.