CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 183 MIRACLE

The doctor went on gently, "Additionally, his legs were crushed during the vehicle’s collapse. Both femurs were fractured in multiple places, and the nerves around his lower spine sustained trauma during impact. As of now... his legs are not responding to movement."

A sharp cry escaped from someone in the back..

Jay lowered his head, fists clenched tightly at his sides, jaw stiff as he stared at the floor. No one spoke. The air felt heavier.

The doctor gave a soft sigh. "We can’t say it’s permanent at this stage. But for now... he’s temporarily paralyzed from the waist down."

Silence.

A thick, quiet hush spread through the corridor like a cloud. There were only soft, muffled sobs. One of the aunts buried her face into her husband’s shoulder. An older uncle sank slowly into a seat, covering his face with both hands. Another wiped his eyes without a word.

Bella stood to the side, heart aching. She hadn’t cried, not outwardly but something inside her squeezed tightly at the thought. Reyna and Emilio were not her parents or relatives.. And yet... to hear such news about someone’s body breaking like that..it hurt. It hurt more than she expected.

She felt pity. Sadness. A weight in her throat that made it hard to breathe.

The doctor lifted his hand again, as if to gently carry them back from the edge. "However... both of them are officially out of critical danger."

A soft, collective exhale swept through the group like a breeze after a storm.

"They’re alive," the doctor said, this time with more strength in his tone. "And that... is because of the little girl who brought them in on time."

Several people turned—some already looking toward Bella.

She froze under the sudden attention, fingers tightening around the bottle she still held. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

"I only... I just..." she stammered.

But the doctor gave her a small, tired smile. "You did more than most people ever could." He glanced toward the hallway, then back at her. "The driver told us everything when they were brought in. He said you pulled them out of the car just before it could explode. If it weren’t for you... they wouldn’t have made it." He paused for a moment, then gave a slow, meaningful nod. "To them, you were nothing less than a miracle."

When the patients were brought in, the driver had already told the emergency team everything—how she had pulled them out of the wreck just moments before the car caught fire. That information helped them act quickly, to start treatment without delay.

Bella blinked, caught off guard by the sudden praise. Her cheeks turned pink, and her fingers fidgeted with the water bottle still in her hand. She tried to speak, to brush it off somehow, but all she could manage was a soft, breathless, "I... I just did what anyone would do..."

The doctor gave a faint smile—gentle, but knowing. He shook his head slightly.

"No," he replied. "You did what most wouldn’t."

He paused, then looked at her with quiet sincerity. "That’s the difference."

Jay stepped forward and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. His touch was quiet, comforting. Bella glanced up at him and smiled faintly through her blush.

Just a few feet away, Leonardo stood silent.

He didn’t speak. But his eyes were locked on her the entire time, unmoving.

Then—

A sudden burst of loud footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Everyone turned.

Alexa came running toward them, still in her wedding dress. Her face was red and wet with tears. She looked panicked, her hair messy and veil tangled behind her. She didn’t look at anyone—just ran straight to Leonardo.

Without asking, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest.

Bella’s gaze dropped instantly. Her grip on the water bottle tightened. She didn’t like seeing Alexa hug Leo—not at all—but she reminded herself, Her parents were in no condition for her to react now. Let it go, she whispered inwardly, breathing through the knot in her chest. Just let it go.

So she said nothing. Her throat tightened, but she looked away, forcing herself to stay calm.

Leonardo didn’t return the hug. Instead, he looked past Alexa... and saw Bella.

She was standing quietly, still wearing her torn peach dress. Her hands and knees were wrapped in white bandages. Her eyes looked tired, her face was slightly pale, but she stood without saying a word.

And without hesitation, Leonardo placed both hands on Alexa’s shoulders and pushed her away firmly. His eyes were serious. He didn’t want her close.

Alexa stumbled back in confusion, blinking.

"What—?" she began, but stopped short when she saw his expression.

Then she turned her head—eyes sharp and burning and saw Bella.

And in the blink of an eye, she stormed toward her.

Before anyone could stop her—smack!

The sound cracked through the air like lightning.’’

Bella’s head turned sharply with the force of the slap. Her face stung instantly, and a thin line of blood appeared at the corner of her lip where the skin had split.

Gasps echoed through the hallway.

"ALEXA!!" Jay shouted.

Lina stood up from her seat, hand on her chest. "What are you doing?!"

"Have you lost your mind?!" Alessandro barked, his voice heavy with disbelief.

Even Leonardo stepped forward, voice sharp. "Enough, Alexa!"

Bella stood still.

Her hand slowly came up, fingers brushing against her cheek. She could feel the blood. The sharp burn. The slight ring in her ear. Her pulse was loud in her head—steady, thudding. But she didn’t cry. She didn’t fall. She stayed there, standing.

Alexa was breathing hard, tears still rolling down her face. "It’s your fault!!" she screamed. "I got a call—I heard the doctor! My dad can’t walk anymore because of you! If you had taken him earlier—if you had done it sooner—he would’ve been fine!"

Bella’s eyes widened at the words.

Her lips parted slightly. Her fingers were still trembling against her cheek, but her expression began to change.

Slowly, the softness disappeared. Her eyes cleared.

She looked at Alexa—not with fear, not even with shock but with calmness.

And then she finally spoke, her voice was gentle... but slightly cold.

"I used to think," she began softly, "that maybe you acted this way because someone hurt you. That maybe something in your life made you angry. Made you bitter."

She wiped the blood from her lip with the back of her hand.

"But now... I don’t think that’s true."