Chapter 361 I'm Willing to Suffer
Patrick just bailed.
Heather stumbled in with a few folks from the Cooper clan.
One of 'em was Jenny.
She's Ethan's sis.
"How's Gabriel?" Heather clung to Frederick's arm, looking all freaked out.
Frederick tried to calm her down, "He's not in any life-or-death situation, but it's gonna be a long road to recovery! Heather, I'll find the best plastic surgeon out there."
Heather's legs almost gave out.
Right then, a doc came over to fill her in on Gabriel's condition. Luckily, he was conscious, and the Coopers rushed to see him.
Down the hall, Frederick could still hear Heather's gut-wrenching cries.
Frederick felt super uneasy.
Laura gently patted his shoulder and whispered, "Frederick, go get your wounds checked. I'll stay here. If she wakes up and sees you like this, she'll freak out."
Frederick leaned against the wall, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "Mom, I'm not in the mood!"
Laura, heartbroken, didn't push it and stayed with Frederick outside the ER.
Four hours later, the ER doors swung open, and the doc came out, pulling off his mask.
"How's my wife?" Frederick rushed over.
The doc hesitated for a sec before speaking softly, "Mr. Hawkins, from our exams, Mrs. Hawkins didn't suffer any major external injuries, but her brain got hit by debris, causing a moderate concussion. She should've woken up by now, but weirdly, she's still out cold. Plus, her body functions are in a sort of dormancy."
Frederick was kinda stunned.
The doc sighed, "Mrs. Hawkins is pregnant. If this goes on for more than a week, it could be bad for the baby!"
"Is there no way to wake her up?"
"Let's wait till tomorrow morning!" The doc went back into the ER.
Charlotte was moved to a VIP room.
She lay there quietly in her hospital gown, a thin blanket covering her slightly swollen belly.
Frederick refused a blood transfusion, just got his wounds patched up, changed his clothes, and stayed by her side. He held Charlotte's cold hand, his blue eyes locked on her face.
Frederick softly said, "Mom, go check on the Coopers and see if they need anything."
Laura nodded.
She left, leaving just Frederick and Charlotte in the room. The silence was deafening, and a tear fell on Charlotte's hand.
It was Frederick's tear.
"Charlotte, I regret it so much. I shouldn't have let you go to the premiere."
Hot tears kept falling on Charlotte's hand.
But she still didn't react.
Frederick gazed out at the night and murmured, "If you wake up, I'll take you home. You can sip on some hot milk and watch the kids build snowmen outside."
As he spoke, he gently stroked Charlotte's face.
Frederick was in so much pain that he buried his face in her neck, his voice choked. "Charlotte, the doc said you might wake up tomorrow morning! But I can't wait even a second!"
He was terrified of any mishaps.
He didn't dare close his eyes, scared he'd miss the moment she woke up. But from night till dawn, Charlotte still didn't stir.
Her body felt even colder.
Early in the morning, Patrick, who'd been busy all night, rushed back to the hospital.
He walked in quietly. "Still no change?"
Frederick nodded.
Patrick handed over breakfast and softly said, "I asked your mom to take care of the kids. They still don't know."
Frederick's eyes stayed glued to Charlotte.
Patrick patted his son's shoulder. "You need to eat something to take care of Charlotte."
Frederick nodded.
He ate quickly, then sat by the bed to keep Charlotte company.
The doc came to check and couldn't help but shake his head.
Frederick stood up, his tone eerily calm. "If she never wakes up, what happens?"
The doc, feeling a bit sympathetic, said softly, "The most immediate impact will be on the baby! But if it goes on for too long, it'll also take a toll on Mrs. Hawkins' body."
Everything was up in the air; it all depended on Charlotte's will.
The doc quietly left.
The room fell into a deathly silence again, with only the sound of snowflakes falling outside the window.
Patrick stood by the window.
He was just as heartbroken. Charlotte was like a daughter to him, just like Chloe. Thinking about what might happen, he couldn't help but shed tears.
At that moment, Frederick's voice came from behind. "I heard a astrologer say I have a fiery temperament and shallow family ties! Dad, is it because of me that Charlotte keeps getting hurt?"
Patrick's eyes reddened, his voice hoarse. "Frederick, don't think like that!"
Frederick's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
He looked at Charlotte's sleeping face, gently brushing away the hair from her forehead. They had just fallen in love; how could she bear to ignore him?
'Charlotte, how long are you gonna sleep?' He had never felt time drag so slowly.
In just three days, Frederick had lost a lot of weight, his cheeks sunken, making him look pitiful.
The kids couldn't be kept in the dark any longer.
Chloe brought them to see their mom.
When they opened the door and saw their mom lying there quietly, Lola's eyes filled with tears, but she didn't make a sound. Instead, she ran to her mom's bedside and gently rested her little head on her belly.
Johnny lightly touched Charlotte's hand, his eyes also brimming with tears.
Kingsley didn't get it and kept calling for his mom.
Frederick picked him up, holding him close, feeling an overwhelming sadness.
Charlotte, the kids were all here.
He had brought in the best experts from all over.
Family members took turns staying with her, calling out to her countless times, but Charlotte still lay there quietly, with no response.
Six days passed.
At ten o'clock at night, after the most authoritative consultation, the doc spoke with Frederick alone.
The doc tried to keep it together and said softly, "It's been six days! After examination, the fetal heart rate of Mrs. Hawkins' baby is dropping. If she doesn't wake up in two more days, not only will the baby be lost, but it will also pose a serious threat to Mrs. Hawkins' body! Our recommendation is artificial intervention."
Frederick squinted and grabbed the doc's collar forcefully. "What did you say?"
The doc didn't speak, just looked at him quietly.
After a long time, Frederick let go. "Sorry!"
The doc suppressed his voice. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hawkins. Please consider it."
Frederick didn't say anything.
He stood in the dark night, facing the night wind, watching the snow fall outside.
It seemed that ever since Charlotte fell into a coma, the snow hadn't stopped. He wondered if it was God mourning their separation, or their separation from the child. He knew how much Charlotte loved the kid, and he also loved the child in her womb.
Six days had passed, and she still hadn't woken up.
If she never woke up, what would he do?
'Charlotte, what should I do?'
Frederick lit a cigarette, and only when the smoke filled his lungs did he feel alive.
Laura was wiping Charlotte's body.
Frederick's voice was hoarse. "Did the kids go back?"
Laura, with tears in her eyes, nodded. "Chloe took them back."
Frederick took the warm towel from his mom's hand and carefully wiped Charlotte, speaking softly as he did, "Mom, I'm not a good husband! I watched her fall into a coma and couldn't do anything."
Laura tried hard to hold back her tears.
Frederick gently wiped Charlotte's face and said softly, "I have forgotten our past, but I'm sure I love her. Mom, I want to find the astrologer."
She cried and choked, "Frederick! Wait for your father to come."
Frederick, however, squeezed her hand and said softly, "Mom, you still have Chloe! But my four kids only have one mom. I gotta go on this trip, no matter what."
He owed Charlotte too much.
Whether there was a way or not, he had to try.
In the end, Laura agreed. She didn't cry.
She smiled as she saw her son off, just like she was sending him on a regular business trip, as if he'd be back in a few days.
Frederick slowly put on his coat.
Before leaving, he leaned down and kissed Charlotte, whispering in her ear, "Wait for me to come back! I will definitely come back!"
After saying that, he left resolutely.
In the heavy snow of the night, the black car slowly drove away from the hospital, while Laura stood by the window, quietly watching her son. "Frederick, you must come back safely."
Frederick drove to the foot of the mountain, then opened the car door and started hiking up. The snow quickly soaked his pants and seeped into his shoes, his feet almost submerged in icy water.
But he ignored the pain.
When he reached the top of the mountain, it was brightly lit.
The cold wind carried his voice, his face turning purple from the cold. "I wish to see the astrologer."
The young disciple stood inside,
"The astrologer says that fate cannot be changed. Please go back!"
Frederick refused to leave.
He pleaded repeatedly, and the young disciple had to report back, but the answer remained the same.
Frederick had made up his mind this time.
He raised his voice. "I beg the astrologer to save my wife and child! I am willing to pay any price."
The astrologer was unwilling to see him.
He kept repeating his plea.
The snow fell harder and harder.
The astrologer sighed softly. "Let him in!"
Five minutes later, Frederick, pale and shaky, walked in.
As soon as he entered, the astrologer spoke softly, "It's not that there's no way! But you must bear the suffering on behalf of your wife. Are you willing?"
He thought Frederick would need to consider it.
After all, it was a matter of life and death.
But this man didn't hesitate at all, immediately bowing down. "I am willing to suffer on behalf of my wife!"
The astrologer closed his eyes.
He gently spoke, "You and she have no fate together, yet you refuse to let go, entangling each other through life after life!"
The astrologer slowly stood up and walked to Frederick's side.
His thin but warm hand gently covered Frederick's head, chanting softly.
In front of Frederick's eyes, a bright light appeared.
Everything from the past unfolded before him.
He stood on the sycamore path of Seattle Music Academy, golden sunlight shining on him, dappled and warm.
Ahead, a slender figure walked towards him.
It was 20-year-old Charlotte.
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