Chapter 5
Evelyn's POV
The air in the banquet hall seemed to freeze.
After a few seconds of silence, the guests snapped out of their shock. Whispers rippled continuously through the crowd.
"Oh my God..."
"How could she do that..."
"Poor Miss Prescott..."
Jason's expression darkened terribly in that instant, a frightening storm churning in his eyes.
But he took a deep breath. First, he removed his suit jacket and quickly draped it around the sobbing Amanda, instructing a nearby server,
"Take Miss Prescott to get cleaned up."
After Amanda was escorted away, Jason turned to my expressionless face.
Under the lights, his deep eyes locked onto me, calm without a ripple.
"Your dress is dirty. You must be uncomfortable."
Approaching me, his tone was concerned, as if nothing had just happened.
"Should I have the driver take you home to rest? Your body hasn't fully recovered yet. You should go back and rest early."
I looked up at him, trying to find traces of anger on his face, but saw only unfathomable darkness.
"Alright."
I hadn't wanted to stay at Amanda's party for even another moment anyway.
"Drive safely."
Jason raised his hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear.
"I'll come home after I handle things here."
I said nothing more, nodded, and turned to leave.
The night was heavy. City lights flowed past the car window in blurred halos.
I sat in the back seat, watching the scenery rapidly retreat outside, the oppressive pain in my chest not dissipating despite leaving the party.
I'd seen clearly just how anxious Jason was about Amanda.
It seemed that in these four years of sharing a bed, aside from scheming, deception, and revenge, he truly felt no emotion toward me whatsoever.
How ridiculous that I only realized now the marriage I thought was real had been a conspiracy from start to finish.
My chest ached as if bleeding. As I lost myself in thought, the car passed through a relatively empty intersection when a black sedan that had been driving normally suddenly accelerated without warning.
The other driver turned sharply and rammed straight into the side of my car!
The massive impact shattered my eardrums. The driver's cry rang out simultaneously.
Instantly, the world spun.
The tremendous force made everything go black. Intense pain radiated from all over my body. Warm liquid trickled down from my temple, staining my vision red.
On the edge of consciousness being swallowed by darkness, I vaguely heard the car door being violently pulled open.
Steady footsteps approached.
"Mr. Hunter, I've done exactly as you requested. I'm certain this time she'll be seriously injured if not disabled."
Then a voice familiar to my bones, cold as if from hell:
"This is what happens when you dare to openly provoke and humiliate Amanda."
It was Jason.
He'd actually had someone deliberately crash into me because of Amanda?
This realization pierced my heart more sharply than the physical pain, sending bone-deep cold through my entire body.
The next second, endless darkness completely swallowed me.
The smell of disinfectant filled my senses.
When I finally groggily woke up, my internal organs felt displaced.
I struggled to lift my eyelids and tried to move, triggering violent coughing and intense pain throughout my body.
"Evelyn? You're awake?"
Hearing Jason's voice, I looked toward the man by the hospital bed, instinctively recoiling in fear.
Jason stepped forward and grasped my hand.
"Don't move. The doctor said you have fractured ribs, a concussion, and multiple soft tissue injuries. Fortunately, your life isn't in danger... Do you know how terrified I was when I got the news?"
I watched his flawless performance of devotion and concern.
If not for that bone-chilling sentence still echoing in my mind from before I lost consciousness, I might have been deceived by this face again.
Seeing me silent, Jason assumed I was traumatized.
He continued soothingly,
"Don't be afraid. The hit-and-run driver has been caught. He was drunk driving. I've already had my lawyer follow up. He'll definitely pay the price."