But Marco was in his forties, a man who had never found himself in such a precarious situation before, and the nerves were still dancing wildly in his stomach.
Klein stepped out of the vehicle with an air of calm, striding towards Carter’s car as if he were on a leisurely stroll. He raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Carter? Is that really you?”
Marco lingered behind, a smirk threatening to break free. *Good grief, Mr. Harris deserves an award for that performance,* he mused.
Just moments before, Carter had been on the verge of exploding with rage, but now, it seemed the fire had been doused. Yet, a hint of annoyance still lingered in his voice. “Uncle Klein, did your driver forget his glasses today? The road is this wide, and he still managed to hit me?”
“I sincerely apologize; my eyesight isn’t what it used to be. Please, don’t be upset-are you hurt anywhere?” Marco hurriedly interjected, desperate to smooth things over.
Klein shot Marco a disapproving glare. “What on earth is wrong with you? Your pay is getting docked for today.”
Marco’s stomach sank at the thought.
Klein then turned back to Carter, his expression shifting to one of genuine concern. “Carter, let me call 911 for you. Don’t worry about the medical bills; I’ll take care of everything. You need a thorough examination, and we can’t take any chances.”
He continued with a serious tone, “Car accidents are no joke. If something is wrong and I don’t get you checked out, George would have my head.”
Carter chuckled awkwardly, trying to dismiss the concern. “Uncle Klein, I’m fine. The car just has a little dent, that’s all. We don’t need to call 911, do we?”
“Of course we do,” Klein insisted, pulling out his authoritative elder card. “You young people need to take your health seriously. You’re going to the hospital.”
He turned to Marco, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Marco, call 911. Now.”
Still grappling with the sting of his pay being docked, Marco nodded, his mind racing. “Yes, Mr. Harris. Right away.”
*Mr. Harris is utterly relentless,* he thought, shaking his head internally.
*****
Ten minutes later, the ambulance arrived, its sirens blaring, and swiftly whisked Carter away. Klein followed closely behind, worry etched on his face, as if he couldn’t shake off the anxiety.
**20:11 Thu, Dec 18**
Lying on the stretcher in the ambulance, Carter felt an unexpected warmth swell in his chest. Klein had always been the cold, distant type, but this level of concern was something he had never anticipated. Perhaps he had judged Klein too harshly in the past.
The ER doctor glanced at the incoming patient, his brow furrowing. “What’s the situation with this one?”
The paramedic quickly relayed the details. “Car accident victim. Vitals are normal, blood pressure is fine, no visible injuries, and all bones are intact. No fractures.”
The doctor blinked, taken aback. “Then what am I supposed to do with this?”
*Did he just want a free ride in an ambulance for fun?*
Carter felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. He couldn’t fathom why Klein was so insistent on bringing him here. The doctor’s scrutinizing gaze only made him feel more self-conscious.
The paramedic remained silent, uncertain about the unfolding drama, but he knew one thing for sure: Klein had called and paid for the ambulance.
Klein stepped forward, an air of authority surrounding him. “Doctor, my car accidentally hit my nephew. Could you order a brain MRI for him? I think it’s prudent to conduct a full checkup, just to be safe.”
The ER doctor raised an eyebrow, glancing skeptically at Carter. “Did it hit your head?”
Carter pressed his lips together, feeling a wave of awkwardness wash over him. “No, it didn’t.”
“Even if it didn’t hit him directly, he might not have noticed something wrong,” Klein argued, his voice firm. “Doctor, I’m his uncle. Please just do the scan. I won’t feel at ease unless I’m certain his head is fine.”
The ER doctor couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
*These two must both have something wrong with their heads,* he thought, exasperated.
With barely concealed irritation, he printed out the order form and thrust it toward them. “Fine. Go left out the door and pay for it.”
And thus, thanks to Klein’s insistence, Carter found himself compelled to undergo a head scan.
“Uncle Klein, isn’t this a bit excessive?” Carter couldn’t help but voice his confusion, overwhelmed by the fuss being made over him.
Klein maintained his stern demeanor. “How is this excessive? You’re George’s only son; how could taking care of you be too much?”
He added, “Alright, Carter, don’t worry about anything else. Just go get in line.”
Carter had no choice but to accept the form and join the queue. He had intended to visit Whitney, but after this whirlwind of chaos, he found himself lacking the energy or desire to do so.
Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he turned back, curiosity etched on his face. “Uncle Klein, what were you doing on Pine Street earlier? Were you there for business?”
Klein allowed a slight smile to break through. “I had a dinner meeting today, and when it wrapped up, I was heading home. Marco wasn’t paying attention to the GPS and took a wrong turn. I called him out on it, and he got flustered and accidentally hit your car.”
*So that’s what happened.* Carter’s suspicions dissipated in an instant.
Klein urged him forward. “Go on now, before the doctor’s shift ends.”
As Klein watched Carter move away, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
A soft, surprised voice answered. “Uncle Klein?”
“Emily, do you have time to come to Sunrise Hospital Emergency? Carter was just in a car accident, and if you’re free, you should come look after him.”
“A car accident?” Emily gasped, her concern palpable. “Is Carter okay?”
“Nothing serious. He’s waiting in line for a brain MRI right now. My driver wasn’t paying attention and ended up on Pine Street by mistake, then turned without looking and hit Carter’s car. Don’t worry too much, and just take a cab when you come.”
*Pine Street?* Emily’s expression darkened. *But when I called Carter earlier, didn’t he say he was working late at the office?*
She was certain of it. Pine Street was close to Whitney’s place. “Alright, Uncle Klein, I understand. I’ll be right there.”
After hanging up, Klein allowed himself a satisfied smile. *Where else would you find an uncle as thoughtful as me?*
Emily arrived swiftly, just as Carter was finishing up his MRI.
“Carter, I was worried about you, so I asked Milly to come,” Klein said, his tone lightening. “I figured you’d find me annoying if I hung around the hospital, so I called her to take care of you instead. Let me know when the results come in, okay? Don’t leave me worrying.”
Marco stood off to the side, pinching his thigh to suppress a laugh.
Emily turned to Klein, her expression reassuring. “Uncle Klein, don’t worry. I’m here at the hospital, and I’ll make sure Carter’s taken care of.”
Klein finally departed, satisfied with his orchestrated performance.
The moment he stepped outside the hospital, he shot Marco an approving glance. “You did good work today. I’m tripling your salary this month as a bonus. Nice job.”
Marco exhaled a long breath, relief washing over him. “Thank you, Mr. Harris. I’m glad you’re pleased.”
“Oh, and you can head out now. I’ve got something else to handle.” Klein waved Marco off, then turned back toward the emergency department.
*****
Half an hour later, Whitney had just stepped out of the shower, feeling refreshed.
She opened her phone, her eyes widening in surprise at a rare Instagram post from Klein.
Curiosity piqued, she tapped on it, and her heart plummeted.
One photo depicted a chaotic car accident scene, while another showed the stark, sterile environment of the emergency room.
Klein’s caption read: *[Got into an accident. That was close.]*
*Did he crash on his way home from my place?* Panic surged within her.
Whitney hurriedly pressed the voice call button, her heart racing.
The ringtone echoed, stretching on until it was finally answered.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.