Lexie hurriedly defended herself. “How can you accuse me based on a mere scratch? I bumped into something earlier.”
Without glancing at her, Olivia continued, “Officer, you can compare the fingerprints on that stick with theirs. You can also check the surveillance footage to see if only these three went to the restroom between when I received the call and when I encountered them.”
If Lexie had any hope left before, it vanished completely now. She was scared and secretly sent a message to Finley.
Meanwhile, the cops had already conducted their investigation. Even without comparing fingerprints, they could establish that she was the one who assaulted Halma inside the cubicle based on the surveillance footage and the injuries on her hand.
With the intentional injury offense being established, the severity of Lexie and her friends’ sentencing would be determined by the extent of Halma’s injuries. Consequently, the cops promptly took them into custody.
Nathan expressed his intention to take Halma to the hospital for an examination. Although concerned about her, Olivia did not follow them to avoid being a third wheel.
Having known Halma’s strong personality, he knew she rarely complained about feeling dizzy or having a headache. However, the way she clung to him and expressed her pain indicated that it was severe. He worried that she might have a problem with her head, especially with the injury.
At the hospital, they prioritized getting a CT scan done for her. While waiting for the results, he noticed her swollen arm and insisted on examining it. She lifted her arm and said, “I think my arm should be fine.”
He did not listen to her and continued his pace, saying, “Let’s get it checked. It’s swollen, and it could be troublesome if it’s fractured.”
She did not insist either, enjoying the rare care and attentiveness from him.
When the results came out, they were shocked to discover it was a bone crack. Although not as severe as a bone fracture, the injury still necessitated the application of a cast and a week-long hospital stay for observation.
Nathan’s heart sank as distress washed over him. He could not help but regret not giving that shameless woman, Lexie, a beating earlier. Halma was taken aback as she looked at her swollen arm and murmured, “So, there is a problem?”
He felt both distressed and angry. “Didn’t it hurt?”
She looked innocent. “Of course, it hurt. I was using my arm to shield my head, and they hit me with that stick. How could it not hurt? I thought it was just normal muscle pain. I didn’t expect it to be this serious.”
Irritated, he glared at her. “How foolish of you!”
Halma did not argue back and sighed instead. “If I had known my arm was injured this badly, I should’ve hit Lexie a few more times earlier.”
Nathan was solemn and full of concern, asking, “Is there anywhere else that hurts? Please be honest, and don’t hesitate to let me know.”
She reassured him. “There’s nothing else, I promise. Don’t worry.”
Even so, how could he not worry? He was both concerned and distressed, feeling responsible for all this unwarranted trouble he brought to her!
Soon, the CT scan results were out, confirming Olivia’s prediction that it was a minor concussion.
However, Halma had a cut on her head, likely caused by being scratched by the broken end of the stick. Although not deep, it was about two inches. The doctor suggested stitching it to prevent infection and speed up the healing, but that required shaving her head.
Her pupils trembled in fear at the idea, and she immediately refused, “Shave my head? No way, I’d rather not get stitches, then.”
Nonsense! As a fashion magazine editor, there’s no way I’ll shave my hair!
