When Lionel arrived at the hospital, Sandra was in the middle of an examination. The moment she saw him rushing toward her, she ignored the doctor treating her wound, jumped up, and ran straight into his arms.


    "Lionel, I was so scared!" Sandra sobbed into his chest, her body trembling. "I thought I''d never see you again!"


    Startled by her sudden embrace, Lionel stood frozen, his hands hovering awkwardly in mid-air. Sandra''s tears soaked through the front of his shirt as she clung to him, terrified that if she let go, he would vanish.


    Passersby shot them curious nces, and even the doctor cleared his throat pointedly.


    "The patient''s wound isn''t fully treated yet," the doctor said with a hint of awkwardness. "We should finish up."


    "Sandra," Lionel said, trying to gently pull her hands away.


    She only hugged him tighter, whimpering.


    "Let''s get your arm cleaned and bandaged first," he said, his voice softening into a gentle, cating tone. "I''ll sit right here with you. I won''t leave, I promise. You''re going to be okay."


    Sandra peered up at him from his embrace, her eyes red and brimming with tears. "You can''t go,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I''m really, really scared."


    "I won''t. I''ll stay right here. Let''s go get you treated."


    Lionel finally managed to unsp her hands, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to guide her back to the treatment room. Only then did he notice she was shaking uncontrobly.


    When he''d gotten the call, all he could hear was Sandra crying hysterically. It was Owen who had taken the phone and given him the address, promising to exin when he arrived.


    Inside the treatment room, Sandra gripped Lionel''s arm, leaning her entire body against him.


    "Ow, it hurts... it hurts so much," she cried softly.


    "Doctor, please be gentle," Lionel said, his brow furrowed with concern as he looked at therge scrape on her arm.


    After the wound was dressed, the doctor rmended she stay overnight for observation.


    They moved to a private room, and Lionel was about to step outside to find Owen and get the full story when Sandra lunged for him again.


    "Lionel, where are you going? Please don''t leave me, I''m so scared. I''m afraid those men wille back."


    She clutched his arm, her eyes wide with desperation.


    Lionel sighed internally. He needed to know what had happened to make her this terrified.


    "I''m not leaving. I''m just going to


    step into the hall to ask a few


    questions. You get some rest.


    need anything just caout you


    "and


    be right back.”


    Sandra bit her lip. "Okay. But you can''t lie to me."


    Lionel nodded and stepped outside.


    "What the hell happened?" he demanded, his voice low and seething with anger.


    "Ms. Woods was followed on her way home," Owen exined. "A group of men dragged her into an alley They they almost raped her. Luckily, someone passed by and saved her in time."


    "Raped her?” Lionel ground out the words. "Who did it? Have they been caught?"


    "The men said someone named Zack hired them. We''ve already sent people to find him.” Owen paused, then looked at Lionel hesitantly.


    "Spit it out!" Lionel snapped.


    "This afternoon, Mrs. Rosenberg..


    "


    Owen swallowed hard. "After sheet


    went to the police station, she


    visited as family that mam


    Zack... he''s Xenia''s younger brother.”