The Reckless Dive

Unaware of Julian’s piercing scrutiny, Sylvie pushed open the car door the moment the Maybach rolled to a smooth stop. She stepped out and immediately reached back in, gently guiding Hayes onto the pavement.

The trio entered Zenith Galleria, a sprawling, multi-level shopping paradise bathed in the bright glare of overhead chandeliers. The vast space hummed with the constant chatter of shoppers. Every floor offered a dizzying array of luxury boutiques.

Hayes gripped Sylvie’s hand tighter, his small head turning left and right. He had never been to a place so vibrant and loud before.

Sylvie smiled at his wide-eyed wonder and led him straight to the children's clothing section on the second floor. She began meticulously examining the racks. She ran her fingertips across various fabrics, checking the stitching and evaluating the styles with utmost care, making sure everything would suit the excited child perfectly.

As they moved from aisle to aisle, they naturally drew admiring glances from the passing crowds. The sheer presence of Julian made them impossible to ignore. Standing tall with his inherent noble aura, his tailored suit and sharp features commanded attention. Countless women whispered and pointed, throwing eager glances in his direction.

Julian, however, despised the chaotic environment. He checked his watch, his brows knitting together as Sylvie spent another few minutes inspecting the seams of a single tiny sweater.

He stepped closer to her, his tone low and impatient. "Pay attention to your working efficiency."

Sylvie paused and turned her head to meet his cold gaze. She shook her head, refusing to compromise when it came to the boy.

"Children’s skin is delicate," she explained smoothly. "I have to choose pure cotton and avoid any potential safety hazards. Neck ropes like this can easily get tangled and choke a child. I cannot rush this process. If you’re unable to wait, you can go ahead with your schedule, okay? I’ll take good care of Hayes."

Julian tightened his jaw. Irritated by her casual dismissal of his authority, he shot her a dark, freezing glare. Was she actually ordering him to leave? He crossed his arms and coldly ignored her, stubbornly remaining where he was.

Sylvie shrugged off his heavy glare and returned her focus entirely to Hayes. It took her an entire afternoon of careful curation, sifting through endless racks, before she finally gathered thirty satisfactory outfits.

With the massive pile of clothes ready, they headed toward the checkout counter near the center atrium. The glass railing surrounding the edge of the second floor offered a dizzying view of the ground level below.

Just as they prepared to leave, a woman wearing heavy makeup and teetering on high heels rushed past the corner. She didn't look where she was going. She collided directly into them.

Caught off guard, Hayes lost his footing. The excessive force of the sudden impact sent his small body stumbling backward. He hit the glass railing hard.

A sickening shatter echoed through the mall.

The thick glass barrier gave way under the pressure. The panels broke apart. Hayes tumbled outward, his arms flailing in the empty air as he tipped over the ledge from the six-meter-high second floor.

Horrified screams erupted instantly from the surrounding crowd. Shoppers froze in sheer terror.

Hearing the sudden chaos from the checkout counter, Julian spun around. The blood drained from his face as he saw his son slipping over the edge.

"Hayes!" Julian roared. His calm facade shattered instantly. His expression twisted into raw panic as he lunged forward, his long legs eating up the distance.

But he was too far away.

Sylvie, standing just an arm's length from the breaking glass, didn't hesitate for a fraction of a second. She threw herself right over the ledge after him.

The air rushed past her ears. She reached out with desperate speed, grabbing Hayes in mid-air and pulling his small body tightly against her chest. She wrapped him securely in her arms. As gravity dragged them down, she twisted her body, intentionally positioning herself beneath the child so she would absorb the heavy impact of the looming floor.

A chorus of piercing shrieks filled the atrium as the crowd watched them plummet toward the ground level.

They crashed onto the first floor.

A loud, heavy thud echoed through the lower level. Miraculously, they hit a large bouncy castle set up in the center plaza. Sylvie took the brunt of the harsh landing, her back slamming against the inflated surface, while she kept Hayes safely cocooned on top of her.

Up on the second floor, Julian stood frozen for a single, agonizing heartbeat. The sheer shock of her selfless leap paralyzed him. The image of her diving into the abyss without a second thought burned into his retinas.

Snapping back to reality, he spun on his heel and sprinted frantically toward the nearby escalator, bounding down the stairs. He shoved his way through the gathering crowd of onlookers who were already murmuring in awe at the incredible sacrifice.

Julian pushed past a security guard and rushed onto the bouncy castle. He dropped to his knees beside them. His hands trembled slightly as he quickly inspected Hayes to ensure he was safe. Satisfied that the boy had no visible injuries, his darkened gaze immediately fell onto Sylvie.

She lay flat on her back, her face pale and her breathing shallow.

"How are you doing?" Julian asked, his voice tighter and rougher than usual.

Despite the agonizing pain radiating through her internal organs, Sylvie didn't even acknowledge her own condition. Her focus remained entirely on the boy resting against her chest.

"How is Hayes?" she gasped out. "Is he hurt?"

Julian stared at her. *Damn it. She was still asking about the child at this time!*

Something fierce tugged at his heartstrings. He reached down and carefully plucked Hayes from her protective embrace, setting the boy safely to the side.

"He’s fine," Julian blurted out, his eyes locked onto her pale features. "You should lie down first. Don't move."

Without wasting another second, Julian pulled out his phone and dialed Lucian’s number. He ordered the doctor to get to Zenith Galleria immediately.

Since Lucian was already at a nearby hospital, he arrived at the scene mere moments later. He shoved through the perimeter mall security had set up, frantic to treat the precious Sterling family heir. He rushed straight toward the little boy.

"Did you suffer from a fall, our precious Hayes?" Lucian fretted, dropping his medical bag onto the surface. "Hurry up and let uncle give you a checkup."

But Julian’s large hand shot out, intercepting Lucian's arm and stopping him in his tracks.

"Hayes is fine," Julian commanded, pointing down at the pale woman lying on the bouncy surface. "Give her a checkup."

Lucian froze in utter shock. His hand hovered in mid-air. He blinked, staring at Julian’s grim expression, and then looked down at Sylvie. Since when did the boss care about other people?