A Life Debt Repaid

Lindsay’s face fell, fueling the imagination of the journalists, who had been watching them all so closely.
“What happened, Mrs. Saunders? Is it something serious?!” one of them promptly asked, keen for it to be some incredible
headline.
Their reaction prompted the rest of the Saunders to turn toward Lindsay, and they realized something was wrong as well.
“What’s wrong, dear?” Marvin promptly asked, but Lindsay’s eyes were red with tears and she could not say a word.
“What’s wrong? You’re scaring me,” Marvin repeated, starting to get nervous as well.
Sam was staring straight at Lindsay as well. “What is it, Mom?”
Lindsay’s lips were trembling, but she still could not say a word as her tears kept rolling down her cheeks.
Sam’s eyes narrowed, just as he noticed that her phone screen was still lit.
He promptly took it and read the text, and his face fell as well.
“Mr. Saunders? What happened here? What does the message say?” the journalists asked.
Sam, however, completely ignored them and got to his feet, leaving the press conference.
“Where are you going, Mr. Saunders? What happened?”
The journalists were relentless, with many rising from their seats intent on following Sam but were stopped by security.
Quinn could tell from Sam’s reaction that it was something serious. Gritting her teeth, she followed him to the hallway outside,
where he was talking over the phone, his reaction getting more somber with the minute.
Quinn had no idea what could make him react like that—it was as if the world had just ended.
He never reacted like that back when Saunderia was facing a crisis. He was even calm and composed when he was arrested for
drunk driving, so what could it be?
It was after a long while that Sam finally lowered his phone and turned toward Quinn, who was staring blankly at him in worry.
He pursed his lips, just as Marvin and Lindsay arrived- Lindsay looked especially expectant, as if hoping it was just a prank.

However, Sam said slowly and clearly just then, “It was Ryan’s supervisor. Ryan really was involved in an accident around 6
AM.”
Lindsay’s legs caved right then, but Marvin reacted quickly and caught him, looking anxious just then as well. “How is he now?” i
“It looks a little serious-he was rushed to the ER right away, current status unknown.”
“What?!” Marvin exclaimed, shuddering just then-he would collapse if he was not leaning on Lindsay.
“Where is he now? The capital?” Quinn asked.
Sam finally turned toward her. He was afraid to look her in the eye when he broke the news about Ryan, because he did not
know if she could take it.