Half an hour later, just one crossroads before the premiereās venue, Jane Sampson was muttering with James Carter about their good luck, marveling that they hadnāt hit any traffic jams during rush hour.
No sooner had she finished speaking than the mobile phone in her purse rang.
Coco Edwards, who was holding her purse, took out the phone and handed it to her. Jane asked casually, "Is that James Black? I guess he must have arrived a while ago."
Coco glanced at the incoming call, then nodded. "Itās Mr. Black."
Janeās smile brightened noticeably as she quickly answered, "Hey! James, Iāll be there in no time. Just wait for me a little longer!"
However, instead of James Blackās voice, another unfamiliar female voice came through the phone.
"Hello, are you Mr. James Blackās wife? This is First Hospital of Smytheton City. Mr. Black has had an incident and needs to be taken for surgery immediately. He doesnāt have any relatives by his side right now. Can you come to the hospital as soon as possible?"
"What?" If it hadnāt been for the fact that they were using James Blackās phone, Jane almost suspected it was a scam.
Before she could question anything, an angry whisper from James came from the other side of the phone.
"Iāve told you not to call her. Give me the surgery consent, Iāll sign it myself. If anything happens, Iāll take responsibility for it!"
James Blackās voice from the phone wasnāt very clear because he wasnāt speaking directly into it but yelling at the doctors beside him while his voice transmitted through.
Jane panicked immediately, "Iām on my way right now!"
Without even hanging up the phone, her voice trembling and urgent, Jane turned to James Carter and said, "Mr. Carter, somethingās happened to James. I have to go to the cityās First Hospital right now. You go ahead into the conference venue; I need to check on James first then I will rush over later."
James Carter was stunned for a few seconds, seeing Janeās eyes redden nearly to the point of tears, then told the driver, "Turn to the First Hospital immediately."
The driver acknowledged with an āayeā and immediately made a U-turn to head in the direction of the hospital.
"Little Jane, what happened to Mr. Black? Was it a car accident?" Coco asked, seeing Jane in such a state she could only be described as utterly distraught and panicked.
"I donāt know. The hospital called me with his phone saying he needs urgent surgery and asked me to come over," Jane said, suppressing her voice. "I even heard him on the phone, scolding someone, telling them not to call me."
"Itās okay, if he can still shout at people that means itās probably nothing serious. Donāt worry too much," James Carter comforted Jane and then made a call to John Young to explain his and Janeās situation, telling John he and Jane would be late to the venue.
John Young briefly inquired about James Blackās condition and then agreed, "No worries, your show is after the movie screening ends, so as long as you get back before the movie finishes, it should be fine."
The driver, without instruction from James Carter, gradually increased the speed of the car.
Luckily, the good fortune continued, and the road was clear of any traffic jams.
The car sped into the hospital parking lot, and Jane, holding up her dress and wearing 10-centimeter-high high heels, bolted toward the emergency building.
"Mr. Black, ah! Mr. Black is up ahead; follow me." The doctor who saw a family member in a formal dress suddenly rushing out was genuinely startled.