All they could do was wait-wait for Timothy toe out.


    Herbert, worried Jessica might copse, scooped her up and carried her over to the lounge, gently settling her on a chair.


    Sallie didn''t like seeing Jessica so close to someone else, but she gritted her teeth and said nothing.


    Half an hour crept by. Once Phelps and Naylor had finally recovered a bit, Naylor helped Phelps to the waiting area outside the operating room as well.


    No one spoke.


    Everyone''s thoughts were fixed on Timothy''s injuries.


    Time stretched endlessly.


    To the Lawson family, Timothy was their hope.


    And for Jessica, the thought of Timothy in danger was unbearable.


    Divorce was divorce, but she''d never wished pain or suffering on him-let alone death.


    Especially not now, when he''d gotten hurt saving her and Herbert.


    When she''d first seen hime barreling toward them on his bike, her initial reaction had been anger-she thought he was pulling another reckless stunt, thinking only of himself as always.


    Jessica''s limbs wouldn''t stop trembling.


    Vince was at the hospital that day, too, taking care of Larkin.


    They could have hired a nurse, but he insisted on being there having family around lifted a patient''s spirits, and this was a chance for him to do his part as a


    son.


    During a quiet moment, Vince slipped away to visit Henry''s room. After all, Henry was his nephew.


    He''d met Henry a few times before; to him, the boy had always just been a friend''s son.


    But now, Henry was his blood-his sister''s child.


    On his way out, Vince overheard a pair of nurses talking. "Poor kid-so father''s in surgery. Two of the rtives@ven fainted just now."


    sick already, and now his kide


    rmed, Vince hurried over to ask what had happened. The nurse, busy helping with Naylor and Phelps moments earlier, told him Timothy had been rushed into surgery after an ident.


    Vince took the stairs two at a time to the third-floor operating room.


    There, he immediately saw Herbert beside Jessica in the lounge. Jessica was pale, her body shivering now and then.


    Vince hurried over and crouched in front of her, his voice soft: "Jessy..."


    The moment Jessica saw Vince, the tears she''d held back for so long finally burst free.


    She could be strong in front of everyone else, but never with Vince. He always managed tofort her, no matter what.


    "Big brother..."


    Vince didn''t know why Jessica was there.


    "Who called you about Timothy?" he asked.


    “No one called me. I just.....” Jessica sobbed, her voice catching in her throat, unable to go on.


    Herbert spoke up, "Timothy''s ident happened right in front of us. I was the one who called the ambnce."


    The Lawsons only knew Timothy


    was hurt they didn''t know how


    had happened. As Herbert answered Vince, everyone leaned in, listening intently.


    "What happened?" Vince pressed, worry etched on his face. "I overheard the nurses; it sounded serious."


    He might have been angry at Timothy, but he''d never wished him real harm.


    Herbert didn''t hold back and exined everything.


    When the Lawsons learned that Timothy had been injured saving Jessica and Herbert, their faces fell, shock and guilt rippling through the group.


    Sallie''s chest heaved as she struggled to contain herself. Suddenly, she strode over to Jessica and Vince, unable to hold back any longer.