Accident Prone

"Now what?", Hunter asked. "Everything we know points out toward the possibility that Zi pushed Liz, but we have no proof."

Mia agreed with Hunter. "We can"t go and ask her. If she didn"t do it, it will be a slander, and if she did it, we are going to alert her."

Max looked at Liz with a troubled expression. "I am sorry."

"What are you sorry about?"

"All this happened because of me.", Max answered.

Liz sighed. Why is he apologizing when he is the one who got hurt? "You don"t know that. We are only guessing."

"Come on.", Mia rolled her eyes at Liz. How can she be so easygoing? "No one else had a reason to hurt you. And we all saw her glare daggers at you the whole weekend."

Liz knows that Mia is right. Everyone saw that McKenzie is displeased with Liz"s presence.

"Is that enough to push someone off a cliff? I could have died. Max could have died.", Liz reasoned.

Mia shrugged. "No one knew how high that is. Maybe she just wanted to hurt you and didn"t think that it would be serious. I saw her face. She was petrified. She didn"t expect that Max will go down with you."

"It"s not like Zi to want to hurt someone. But in the moment of jealousy… it"s possible.", Hunter added.

Mia continued after Hunter: "People do all kinds of things in a moment of rage. Now that things cooled down, do you think that she feels remorse?"

"That is a strong possibility.", Hunter responded.

"We can use that. Now, while everything is fresh.", Liz shared her thoughts. "Let us a.s.sume that she wanted to hurt me, and she regrets that Max is the one who is hurt… She will not be stupid to admit it to us, but there is one person with whom she might open up. One person who makes her act unreasonably… especially if she thinks that no one is watching or listening."

They all looked at Max. He is the only one who can make McKenzie admit what she did.

Max is feeling dispirited. He is stuck in the bed, and Liz was in danger because of him. Part of him is angry and part of him feels guilty about it. The only things which seem positive in this situation are that Liz is not blaming him and that she is not hurt.

"What do you want me to do?", Max asked Liz.

"Sleep or at least do your best not to move no matter what happens.", Liz told Max and then turned to Hunter and Mia. "Let"s find a way to get McKenzie here with Max, just the two of them… Worst case is that she does not admit anything, but I think it"s worth a shot. If she is remorseful, she will feel the need to admit her wrongdoing as a form or relief. And if she is proud of her act, she will want to boast about it..."

Few minutes later…

Everyone in the waiting area perked up at the sight of Mia supporting Liz while walking toward the ladies" room.

Madeline paled. Liz does not look good. Is something wrong with the baby? But if that is the case, they should call the doctor, and not go to the restroom. Why are they coming here? There is a private bathroom attached to Max"s hospital room.

Madeline stood up and rushed after Liz and Mia. There is only one way to get answers!

Hunter walked out in the waiting area a minute later.

"How is Max?", Lewis asked.

Hunter sighed. "It could have been worse." He turned to Nathan. "Dad, you can schedule a flight back tonight. There is no need for everyone to stay behind. Most of us have work tomorrow morning."

Nathan understood that Hunter is telling him to step away. There is one thing that caught Nathan"s attention…"You are coming to work tomorrow?"

Hunter confirmed. "There is no point in staying here and I"m running out of vacation days."

Hunter spoke to Ashton, Jake, Derek, and Mike: "Sorry guys. I can"t join you for the afternoon. You can go and do something until it"s time to leave. I will let you know if anything changes."

After dealing with the others, it was time for McKenzie, Lewis and Oliver.

"That counts for you as well. Go and enjoy the rest of the day.", Hunter told them. "At this point, Max"s life is not in danger, but he is drifting in and out of consciousness and doctors are concerned about the possibility of a brain damage. Also, his back is hurt but the extent of injury will be known once he is able to stand up…" Hunter sighed and shook his head.

Lewis and Oliver exchanged concerned glances. They know that there is nothing they can do.

"I hope he pulls out of it. Let us know if we can help somehow.", Lewis said and patted Hunter"s shoulder.

McKenzie was staring at Hunter while his words rang in her mind: "Brain damage… injury to the back…" McKenzie panicked internally. Will Max be paralyzed? What does the "brain damage" mean? Is Max going to be in a vegetative state!? Is that why Liz looked on a verge of collapsing when she went to the restroom?

"Can I see him?", McKenzie asked Hunter.

Lewis and Oliver frowned while hoping that McKenzie will not cause trouble. They are almost going home and if she can stay obedient, that would be the best for everyone.

Hunter nodded after a second of hesitation.

Hunter walked with McKenzie to Max"s room and didn"t enter.

"Zi, I know that you like Max and that is why I agreed to let you in. Don"t disturb him. He should not be moved. I give you five minutes. If Liz returns before that, I will delay her."

McKenzie smiled. "Thank you."

…

McKenzie entered Max"s room and her eyes were immediately drawn to the man on the bed.

She rushed to Max"s bedside and glanced at the door, to make sure it"s shut before turning to observe his face.

His eyes are closed, and he is not moving. She wondered if he is sleeping or if he is unconscious. Well, at this point it does not matter.

McKenzie took a deep breath and appreciated all the curves which make his exquisite face. She never saw a man more handsome than Max. He was always the fastest, strongest, smartest. More than once he helped her up when she fell on the playground. She still remembers those moments. He was like a handsome knight, extending his hand with the sun shining behind him… saving her from danger. And when they were older, he helped her with homework and with science projects. Whenever he helped her, she scored at the top. Because he is that good. And he is tall and strong and… a perfect man.

McKenzie"s heart ached at the reality that this perfect man is now in the bed. Not moving. All because of Elizabeth!

She sighed. "I am sorry… I am so sorry to see you like this. Why did you reach to hold her? Why didn"t you let her fall? If you hesitated only for a fraction, you would be fine. But you always had good reflexes and the need to help others." McKenzie sighed again. "I hope that you get better and you realize that reaching to save Elizabeth was a mistake because she is not worthy of you."

There was a light knock on the door, and McKenzie realized that her five minutes is probably up.

McKenzie"s eyes didn"t leave Max.

"I guess this is goodbye. I would ask you to forgive me, but the only regret I have is that I didn"t push harder so that you don"t get a chance to grab her. Then you would not be here."

McKenzie inched closer. She was a second away from kissing him when the door opened abruptly.

"Your time is up, Zi.", Hunter said to McKenzie who jerked into a straight position.

Hunter narrowed his eyes at her. "Zi! What are you doing? I told you not to disturb him."

McKenzie cleared her throat. "I didn"t disturb him." She walked out and when she pa.s.sed by Hunter, she said: "Thank you for letting me see him."

…

In the restroom next to the waiting area…

Liz and Mia are with Madeline around Liz"s phone, listening to the sounds coming out of the speaker.

Max"s phone is under his cover on the bed and there is ongoing call to Liz, so that Liz and Mia can hear what is going on in his room. Max also has a recording set so that they can listen later, if needed.

Liz and Mia didn"t expect Madeline to come after them, but they didn"t have the time to deal with her, so they prevented Madeline from raining questions by telling her that Liz is fine and that everyone should be quiet.

While McKenzie spoke, Mia and Liz exchanged glances. Every McKenzie"s word confirmed their suspicion, however, that was not conclusive... all up to the point when McKenzie said: "… the only regret I have is that I didn"t push harder so that you don"t get a chance to hold her…"

Madeline clutched her chest while her face showed pure shock. She stood frozen until they ended the call.

"Are you OK?", Liz asked Madeline.

"My poor girl. You went through so much and you are asking me if I am OK?"

"We suspected that someone pushed Liz and needed a proof. Now we have it.", Mia explained.

Mia got a text from Hunter that McKenzie left and told Liz: "She is gone."

Liz pressed her lips into a line before responding. "Let"s go to Max"s room and talk what are we going to do with this."

…

Two minutes later, in Max"s hospital room…

"I wanted to grab her neck and snap it in two.", Max grumbled.

"But you didn"t.", Liz said with an approving smile and held his hand in hers.

"Why are you so calm?", Mia asked Liz.

Liz shrugged. "We know that she is responsible, and she is not going anywhere. The important thing right now is for Max to get better. Everything else can wait."

"Yes, yes.", Madeline agreed. "Liz should not stress too much. Let us handle it. I will talk to her parents and tell them how despicable Zi is."

"No.", Max objected. "We will take care of it."

Madeline nodded in understanding. "Can I tell Nate?"

"Tell me what?", Nathan asked from the door. He got in time to hear Madeline"s question.

"You can tell him as long as he promises not to act on it.", Max told Madeline.

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