The Billionaire Heir Fell for the Wrong Girl (Hathaway Whitmore) novel Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Hathaway pushed through the crowd like she’d lost her mind. The ground was littered with crushed, twisted objects. A string of prayer beads had rolled into the rubble, beads cracked and scattered everywhere

And there, on the body, so mangled by the heavy machinery, it was almost unrecognizable, was Avery’s jacket, soaked through with stains. The sight made Hathaway’s heart freeze.

“Avery!” Crawling and stumbling, Hathaway scrambled over, desperate to pull the jacket off the body’s head.

“Don’t look! The ambulance is coming.” The old factory manager, Dane Belmont, held her back, grabbing her right hand.

But Hathaway wasn’t listening to anyone. With her only working hand, she yanked the jacket off, and the crowd collectively sucked in a breath.

Hathaway’s pupils contracted, and in the next instant, a heart–wrenching scream burst from her throat, so piercing and desperate it made everyone’s skin crawl.

The face beneath was so mangled, so unrecognizable, that there wasn’t a trace left of the handsome Avery she once knew.

The crowd turned away, covering their mouths, unable to look any longer. Someone whispered urgently, “Why isn’t the ambulance here? Get them to the hospital!”

Someone else replied, “With injuries like that, if the ambulance comes, it won’t help. The hospital said to call the funeral home directly.”

Hathaway collapsed to the ground, shaking so hard she could barely control herself. She screamed like she was losing her mind, “No way! Avery’s not dead! What are you idiots waiting for? Call an ambulance!”

Her eyes locked onto the mangled body, her hand trembling as she reached out, as if she could touch him. maybe she could somehow fix him, make him whole again.

“Miss Whitmore, that’s not Mr. Whitmore!” Dane called out.

“What?” Hathaway froze, her hand snapping back in terror. She stumbled back a couple of steps, panic all over her face, but Zachary grabbed her shoulders in time, keeping her from falling.

Zachary shot Dane a sharp look. Explain yourself.”

Dane said, “Mr. Whitmore’s not seriously hurt. He injured his arm and was taken to the hospital. We still don’t know who this worker is yet.”

Hathaway stood frozen in front of the stranger’s body, her stomach (wisting in knows

Ignoring the looks from everyone else, she fored herself is her fret, staggered outside, leaned against them wall, and dry–heaved.

Just then, the funeral bone you pulled up.

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12:49 Wed, Jul 22

Chapter 146

A few factory workers, faces grim, helped the staff carefully load the body into the van

Hathaway looked grim. “Who told me Mr. Whitmore was dead?”

Dane’s son, who’d never been much for school and started apprenticing at the factory right after high school shrank back. Tact was never his strong suit. “S–sorry, Miss Whitmore. I–I meant Mr. Whitmore ran into some trouble.”

“You–Hathaway started, but then she took a deep breath and waved it off.

Right now, she couldn’t care less about anything else. She turned to Dane. “What about the worker’s family?

Dane’s face was grim as he shook his head. “We still don’t know who it is, and we haven’t been able to reach the family yet.”

Hathaway watched as the funeral home van disappeared. Soon after, the police cars and news vans left, too, leaving nothing but a mess behind. Her voice was raw as she said, “I’m going to the hospital.”

Zachary was behind the wheel, and Hathaway sat in the passenger seat. On the way, she picked up a call from Sylvia, and they rushed straight to the hospital.

When Hathaway finally saw Avery standing there, alive and breathing, all the tension she’d been holding inside snapped at once.

She couldn’t hold back anymore; her composure shattered. With a choked sob, she rushed into his arms and let herself cry, the tears pouring out like she’d been holding them in forever.

Avery wrapped his uninjured arm around her, gently patting her back, his voice low and soothing. “Hey, what’s with the tears? See? I’m right here, safe and sound.”

Hathaway cried herself out, her legs barely able to hold her up. As she finally calmed down, she realized Jeremiah was there, standing quietly nearby.

Her eyes were red and puffy, her voice rough and shaky as she asked, “Why’s he here?”

“If Jeremiah hadn’t come looking for me and dragged me out in time, I would’ve been crushed,‘ Avery said. Zachary had already exchanged a few words with Jeremiah.

When he turned back, he saw Hathaway finally calming down. Her jacket was covered in a light layer of lust, her hair messily stuck to her cheeks, her eyes still red and swollen, and her nose was still pink and define

She looked so vulnerable that he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her,

Zachary said. Clad it was a scare. I’ll go get you guys some water

Avery was still worried about the wurker at the factory whose family they couldn’t reach. He glanced up st Zachary with a calmi lank and dish) say anything mor

Zanlary turned and walked away, leaving the hallway in silence.

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12:49 Wed, Jul 22

Chapter 146

Jeremiah let out a soft hiss, glancing down at his hand. “Man, my hand’s really starting to hurt now”

Hathaway noticed the shallow cut on his hand. “It’s a hospital. Ask a nurse to take care of it.”

Jeremiah shot her a cold look. “Your brother almost lost his life, and I can’t get a Band–Aid?”

With no other option, Hathaway went to the restroom to wash her hands, then grabbed a band–aid from the nurse’s station. Back with the band–aid, she nodded at him, “Hold your hand up.”

Her lashes were still wet and clumped together, her face streaked with fresh tears from her breakdown. She Tooked like a bedraggled stray cat.

Jeremiah caught sight of her like this, and a barely noticeable smile flickered at the corner of his lips.

Hathaway noticed immediately, her brows furrowing as she gave him a frosty glare. “What are you smiling

She wasn’t in the mood for any of his playful nonsense right now.

“Nothing, Jeremiah said, his smile fading as he held out his hand.

Avery was still on the phone, his brow furrowed, totally wrapped up in the call and barely noticing anything else around him. The worker’s family from the factory still hadn’t answered.

“Why can’t I get through? What’s going on?’ Avery thought.

Before long, Zachary came back with a few bottles of water, handing them out to everyone.

Avery was still on the phone, but when his eyes landed on Zachary, his attention slipped for a moment, and he found himself watching Zachary a bit longer than usual.

Just then, Sylvia and Benson rushed over. As soon as Sylvia saw Avery, she hurried over and grabbed his arm her voice trembling with relief and lingering fear. “Avery, are you alright? Are you hurt?”

“Mom, I’m fine, a few scrapes. Jeremiah pulled me out of the way in time,” Avery said, glancing toward the operating room. “But there’s still a worker inside with a foot injury. He hasn’t come out yet.”

Sylvia let out a sigh of relief and turned to Jeremiah. “Thank you so much, Jeremiah.”

Jeremiah hadn’t said a word yet.

Sylvia, picking up that Jeremiah wasn’t much of a talker, turned to Zachary with a warm, grateful smile. You must be Mr. Sutton, right? Thanks for all your help today.

“Come over for dinner sometime. Hathaway will bring you along

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