“So, we’re just the ssic pawns again?” Alessia picked up her ss of juice.
“Tell me about it.” Queenie raised her own ss, clinking it lightly against Alessia’s. It was only then, hearing their voices, that Justin seemed to notice the two of them sitting there.
“Alessia, what are you still doing here?”
“Guess your Highness just can’t see <i>us</i>, huh? Maybe <i>we’re </i>invisible?<i>” </i>Alessia rolled her eyes, exasperated.
“No, that’s not what I meant. Didn’t your brother get into trouble? What are you doing here?”
Alessia’s expression changed instantly. “What happened?”
“Apparently, he tried to do a good deed but it backfired; he saved someone, and now they’re using him instead. But you don’t need to worry–most people online are actually standing up for him. I figured you already knew…”
“Where is he?”
<i>“</i>Cambridge Medical Center, I think…<i>” </i>Seeing the look on Alessia’s face, Justin’s voice dropped to a near whisper.
“I’m leaving. <i>Now</i>.”
“Wait, I’ve got my car. Let’s go together.” Queenie grabbed her car keys.
“I’lle too-<i>” </i>Ste started to stand, but Justin gently pushed her back down.
“Whoa there, superstar. You reek of booze. Let’s not make things worse, okay? Sober up a bit and I’ll take you over myself.”
“I’ll just go upstairs, take a shower, and change.” Ste could handle her liquor, but the smell lingered heavily.
Justin hovered around her like a worried mother, steadying her as if she might topple over at any moment.
Downstairs, Queenie and Alessia wasted no time. Queenie tossed her the car keys, which Alessia caught without missing a beat.
Queenie stepped on the gas, and they sped off toward the hospital.
<b>09:39 </b>
“Cole’s calling,” Alessia said, rummaging through her bag, which Queenie had grabbed for her in their rush.
“Put him on speaker for me?”
Queenie nodded and hit the speaker button.
“Lessie, did you see what’s blowing up online?”
Nothing goes viral faster than a moral dilemma, especially the age–old ‘should <i>you </i>help or not‘ debate. The online chatter was relentless.
“I’m with Queenie now, we’re heading to the hospital. Are <i>you </iing?”
“I’m actually on my way to pick you up, but I’ll just go straight <i>to </i>the hospital. Don’t panic, I heard Ethan’s already there. He’s awyer, he’ll know how <i>to </i>handle this.”
Cole changed course, making a sharp turn at the next intersection.
“Alright. And drive safe, okay?” Alessia said before Queenie ended the call.
“This sounds like one of those cases where an elderly person gets hurt, and their kids try to squeeze money out of the good Samaritan. We’ll need to gather all the security footage and evidence, then take it straight to court.”
“These cases are tricky, but it shouldn’t be too hard to sort out.”
“So why are you so anxious?” Queenie asked.
“In situations like this, the other side usually actspletely shameless, yelling and hurling insults to put pressure on you–just to make themselves look like the victims. My brother’s not the type to argue; if they start shouting at him, he’ll probably just stand there and say nothing.”
Alessia pressed her fingers to her temples, frustration ring. The Mortons had always preferred to avoid trouble, keeping their heads down unless family or friends were involved. Most of the time, they were as meek asmbs.
Money didn’t matter to her; but someone publicly dragging her family’s name through the mud? That was a different story.
Queenie, meanwhile, just smiled.
<i>“</i>What?” Alessia said, confused by her reaction.
“I just never thought I’d see the day when you’d get this worked up over family.”
Alessia was caught off guard. A year ago, she would’ve scoffed at the very idea. Now, she didn’t even know how to respond.
<i>212 </i>
09:39
“It’s a good thing,” Queenie added quietly.
Queenie’s words seemed abrupt, but Alessia got it.
Her friend was happy for her–because she finally had a family she cared about.
When they reached the hospital, they didn’t even need to ask for
directions–reporters and cameramen with massive telephoto lenses were rushing past them, all heading the same way.