Chapter 44
Charlotte followed the rescue team out of the field.
Lena and Mia had just arrived, jogging over with anxious expressions.
Mia rushed to Charlotte’s side. “What happened?”
Charlotte’s mind was still spinning. Her expression was dazed as she muttered, “I don’t know… Vivian asked me to teach her how to ride. Everything was fine and then suddenly, Snowbell just went wild. She got thrown off and it looked pretty bad.”
Lena frowned, deep in thought. “Snowbell gets a full vet check every month, and we even ran a quick one before bringing her out today. Everything came back normal. There’s no reason she should’ve freaked out.”
Mia clenched her fists. “You don’t think Vivian did something, do you? I mean, didn’t she insist on having Sean teach her in the first place? She clearly didn’t like you. Why the sudden change of heart?”
Lena added, “The stable team’s sedated Snowbell and brought her back for another checkup. Charlotte, don’t blame yourself. This wasn’t your fault.”
Charlotte nodded faintly, but her gaze drifted toward the direction the rescue team had disappeared.
She kept thinking about that strange little smile on Vivian’s face right before the accident.
Something about it didn’t sit right.
Her gut told her Vivian had something to do with what just happened.
But why?
And if that really was the case, wasn’t she worried she could actually get seriously hurt?
Then she thought of Sean’s expression when he arrived and how he looked at her with suspicion.
And suddenly, it made sense. Vivian wanted to drive a wedge between them.
She was willing to risk her life just to make Charlotte look bad.
They had only met twice and she was already willing to pull a stunt this extreme?
Charlotte’s heart sank.
Vivian wasn’t just manipulative–she was dangerous.
In the ambulance, Vivian lay pale and tearful, looking small and pitiful on the stretcher
She clutched Sean’s hand and whimpered, “It hurts, Sean. It really hurts…”
Sean’s voice was gentle as he tried to calm her. “We’re almost at the hospital. The doctors will take care of it.”
Tears streamed down her face. “I was so scared, When I fell, I really thought I wouldn’t see you again.”
Her grip on his hand tightened. She sobbed softly, “I must’ve ruined the whole day. Everyone was having fun and then I went and I’m just a burden, aren’t I?”
got hurt.
“Don’t say that,” Sean said, his eyes full of concern. She wasn’t his blood sister, but he had watched her grow up. In many ways, she was
family.
“Alright, stop crying,” he coaxed. “We’ll be at the hospital soon.”
Vivian sniffled, still whimpering. “It doesn’t hurt when you comfort me…”
Sean reached over and gently patted her head. “You’re just like when you were little.”
After an X–ray and full evaluation at the hospital, the doctor confirmed Vivian’s injuries weren’t life–threatening. She had a fractured tailbone, same soft tissue bruising, a mild dislocation in her elbow, and several scrapes and bruises. Thankfully, there was no internal trauma.
They cast her arm, gave her a painkiller, and said she would recover in about a month with proper care.
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Chapter 44
Once she was settled in her hospital bed, and the pain meds kicked in
,
finally quieted down.
Charlotte had followed them to the hospital and had just reached the room when she heard Vivian’s syrupy voice from inside.
“Sean, my arm’s in a cast. I can’t eat by myself. Can you feed me?”
Charlotte stopped in her tracks.
Was this really the right time to
in? go
Then Sean’s voice came, calm but distant. “I’ll call a nurse.”
Vivian pouted, still whining, “Nooo, I want you to do it. Why won’t you,
Sean?”
