Chapter 443 The Price of Loyalty

Chapter 443 The Price of Loyalty

Stella’s mindwasracing.Herbreathingturnedrapidandshallow.

Ifthiscarcrashhad been meant for Rianne fromthestart…

Then someone close to Tempesthadresorted to the most ruthless means imaginable.

She closed hereyesforasecond. “Go to the hospital first,”she told the driver.

Henodded. “Alright.”

“I’ll drive you.”

She glanced at hisleg–he wasn’t seriously injured, but he was limping badly.

And she needed to check on Rianne’s condition herself.

The

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The driver hesitated. It wasn’t protocol for him to ride in the samecarashis employer, much less have her drive him.

Stellaknew exactly what hewasthinking. “Get in thecar.”

Now wasn’t the time for rules.

The driver nodded nervously. “Thank you, Ms. Stella.”

They had just reached the car when two black vehicles pulled up sharply within two meters of them. One door opened immediately.

Abraham stepped out, his expression ice–cold as he locked eyes with her.

Stella’s heart gaveajolt. “Weren’t you out handling something?”

Abraham took one look at her thin clothing, strode forward, and pulled her firmly into his arms.

His voice was low and reproachful. “Why would you go out like this without a coat?”

Now that he mentioned it, Stella finally realized she was freezing.

As he moved to take off his own coat to wrap around her, the butler stepped out of the other car and quickly brought over the clothes he’d chased her down with. “Mr. Abraham, Ms. Stella’s coat.”

He’d seen her rush out dressed like that, and he’d been worried about both the weather and her dangerously fast driving.

Abraham took the coat and wrapped it around her. “Arms up.”

She obeyed, slipping her arms through the sleeves as he bundled her up.

Thirty minutes later, Stella arrived at the hospital.

Riannewasstill in surgery.

Tempest stood outside the emergency room, burning with rage as he shouted into his phone. “Bring me that damn truck driver. I’ll deal with him myself.”

Even from a distance, Stella could feel the danger radiating from him.

The hospital’s director and chief surgeon were both present, standing awkwardly in the hallway, clearly nervous.

Tempest hung up and turned to Lincoln beside him. “Go through that driver’s entire financial history.”

Lincoln nodded. “Already done.”

He handed Tempest his phone without another word.

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1:27PM

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Chapter 443 The Price of Loyalty

Having worked with Tempest foryears, Lincoln knew exactlywhatto do in times likethis.

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He’d noticed something suspicious about the incident during the ambulance ride, and had starteddiggingimmediately.

Itwasn’tparanoia.

People around Abrahamhadbeen growingincreasingly hostile toward Stellalately–and that hostilitywasbeingactedon.

Tempest scannedthecontents on the phone,and his already dangerous aura became downright terrifying.

Stella had rushed here intending to tell Abraham what the driver had observed.

But now, it seemed therewasno need.

Tempest’s eyes narrowed. “Then… hand Hailey over to the authorities.”

He paused just a beat, then his voice turned cutting. “Immediately.”

Lincoln’s chest tightened.

He nodded, then hesitated. “And Madam?”

Haileywastechnically a distant cousin of Stella’s. Not close, but not a total stranger either–she was the daughter of Stella’s cousin’s sister–in–law’s brother. Complicated, but still family.

Her parents had died in a plane crash two years ago.

Thanks to that connection–and a well–played act–Hailey had managed to win Stella’s affection.

So much so, Stella had even tried to pair her up with Abraham.

With everything that had just happened, there was no doubt how Stella would react–this was going to be explosive.

When Lincoln mentioned his mother, Tempest’s gaze turned glacial. “Does she represent the law?”

Ofcoursenot.

But she did know how to pull strings.

Troublesome.

Still, Tempest wasn’t backing down. Hailey was going behind bars. No exceptions.

“I’ll handle it now,” Lincoln said, then left.

Tempest lit a cigarette, taking two harsh drags. The director and chief still didn’t dare speak.

Stella approached quietly.

Tempest glanced at her, said nothing, and took another long drag. Stella didn’t know what to say either.

Then the doors of the emergency room swung open.

Rianne was wheeled out.

Tempest was at her side in less than a second.