Victoria’s face was contorted in agony.

William knelt down, turning his back to her.

“Hop on. I’ll carry you.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Victoria’s mind. William was always at the gym, strong enough to lift her effortlessly into his arms.

Yet he chose to offer only a piggyback.

Seeing no alternative, she reluctantly leaned against his broad shoulders.

He didn’t even hold her legs securely, letting her arms dangle around his neck.

Worse still, he walked only a short distance before setting her down on a bench.

“I’m calling a helicopter to take you to the hospital,” he stated.

“That’s not necessary,” Victoria protested quickly. “It’s not that bad.”

“I’ll feel better if you go,” William insisted firmly.

Victoria fell silent.

Even now, she couldn’t tell if William was genuinely concerned.

His excessive caution felt more like he was handling a workplace nuisance than showing care.

After teachers and other parents expressed concern and learned Victoria would be hospitalized, they stopped asking questions.

Naturally, the parent-child relay was canceled.

As they waited for the helicopter, Victoria suddenly spoke. “William, please don’t blame Elise.”

William’s gaze remained fixed on the awards ceremony in the distance, which had resumed after Victoria’s accident.

Elise stood there with James. William turned when he heard Victoria’s voice.

“She didn’t do it on purpose,” Victoria added.

“I saw what happened,” William replied flatly. “You crossed into her path and fell.”

Victoria flushed with embarrassment, startled by his bluntness.

Even without emotion in his tone, she sensed the accusation.

What hurt more was his lack of concern after her injury.

Swallowing her frustration, she forced a polite tone. “I was careless. That’s why I wanted to explain, so you wouldn’t misunderstand.”

“Yeah,” William replied, his tone still distant.

The helicopter arrived then, descending smoothly onto the school grounds.

As an elite institution, the students and parents were accustomed to such sights.

The helicopter caused only a brief stir before normalcy returned.

Paramedics emerged, quickly placing Victoria on a stretcher and loading her into the aircraft.

William followed, texting Elise as he left.

[I’ll leave James with you.]

Elise had just taken the stage with James to receive his medal. She glanced at the message and replied: [Okay.]

She briefly looked up as the helicopter departed, her expression unreadable.

After the sports meet concluded, Elise drove home with James.

During the drive, she called Elizabeth. “Are you free tonight? Want to have dinner together?”

“Sorry, I forgot to tell you—I have a commercial shoot tonight. I won’t be back until tomorrow.”

Elizabeth had been traveling frequently lately.

“Oh, alright,” Elise replied.

“Is something wrong?” Elizabeth asked.

“No, but James is staying with me tonight. Weren’t you always complaining you never get to see him?”

“Keep him a few more days. I’ll spend time with him when I get back tomorrow,” Elizabeth said eagerly.

“Okay. Get back to work—I’m driving anyway.”

“Drive safely!”

After hanging up, Elise shifted in her seat and winced at a sharp pain in her hip. She hid her discomfort.

Once home, she ordered takeout while letting James watch television.