24. Guilty of Shirley

Within moments of the incident, the ambulance that Ethan Hamilton's operative had called arrived at the scene. The paramedics quickly assessed Emma's condition and, as a precaution, decided to take her to the hospital for a full-body checkup to ensure she hadn't sustained any hidden injuries. Emma, still in shock but physically unharmed, complied with their instructions, feeling a mix of exhaustion and relief as she was wheeled into the ambulance.

When Shirley received the news, her heart nearly stopped. The color drained from her face, leaving her pale and trembling with fear. She barely had time to think as she rushed out of the door, her thoughts consumed with worry. By the time she arrived at the hospital, her mind was racing with all the worst-case scenarios. The moment she was directed to Emma's room, she burst through the door, her eyes wide with panic.

"Emma!" Shirley cried out, tears already streaming down her cheeks. She hurried over to Emma's bedside and, without hesitation, wrapped her arms around her in a tight, trembling hug. "I'm so sorry! I'm so, so sorry!" she sobbed, her voice choked with guilt. "I should have walked home with you. If I had been there, maybe this wouldn't have happened. This is all my fault!"

Emma, who was still lying on the hospital bed, was startled by the intensity of Shirley's reaction. She quickly raised her arms to hug Shirley back, trying to comfort her friend. "Shirley, please, it's okay," she said softly, her voice steady despite the emotional whirlwind of the past few hours. "I'm fine, really. You didn't do anything wrong. No one could have predicted something like this."

Shirley pulled back slightly, her face still wet with tears, and looked at Emma with wide, sorrowful eyes. "But I didn't even bring you anything, not even a fruit basket or flowers. I came rushing here empty-handed... I just—" Her voice broke again as she struggled with the overwhelming guilt she felt.

Emma reached out and gently took Shirley's hands in hers, giving them a reassuring squeeze. "Shirley, stop," she said firmly, her tone gentle but insistent. "You being here is more than enough. I don't need a fruit basket or flowers. What matters is that you came as soon as you heard. That's all I could ever ask for."

Shirley sniffled, trying to regain control of her emotions. "But... but what if something had happened to you? I don't know what I would have done," she whispered, her voice still shaky.

Emma gave her a small, comforting smile. "Nothing happened, though," she reminded her. "I'm okay, and that's what's important. You can't blame yourself for something that wasn't your fault. It was just a freak accident—no one wanted this to happen."

Shirley nodded slowly, though the guilt still lingered in her eyes. "I know... I know you're right. I just... I just care about you so much, Emma. I don't want anything bad to happen to you," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.

Emma's smile grew a little wider, touched by Shirley's concern. "And I care about you too, Shirley," she replied warmly. "We've been through a lot together already, and we'll get through this too. Just... let's not dwell on it, okay? I'm fine, you're here, and that's all that matters right now."

Shirley took a deep breath, finally starting to calm down. She wiped away the remaining tears from her cheeks and gave Emma a weak but genuine smile. "Okay," she agreed, her voice a little steadier now. "I'll try not to worry too much. But you have to promise me you'll be careful, okay? I don't want to lose my best friend."

Emma nodded, her expression serious. "I promise," she said, her voice firm. "I'll be more careful. And we'll stick together, no more walking home alone."

Shirley's smile grew a little stronger at that. "Deal," she said softly, finally feeling some of the tension leave her body.

The two friends sat together in silence for a few moments, just holding hands and taking comfort in each other's presence. The fear and guilt that had weighed so heavily on Shirley's heart slowly began to lift, replaced by a renewed sense of determination. She would make sure that Emma stayed safe, no matter what.

Outside the room, Ethan's operative stood discreetly in the hallway, keeping watch. He had already sent a detailed report to Ethan, and now he was waiting for further instructions. He knew Ethan would want to tighten security around Emma, especially after this close call. As he stood there, vigilant and ready, he couldn't help but admire the bond between the two women. It was clear that they would do anything for each other—a fact that made his job all the more important.