Chapter 762 Johnny: I Will Take Care of Lola
When Lola got to the hospital, Patrick had just come out of surgery and was moved to the ICU.
Frederick and Charlotte were waiting outside.
The younger family members were there too, standing quietly in the hallway. When they saw Lola, Charlotte walked over and whispered, "Chloe's on her way, and Natalie went to the airport to pick her up."
Even though Charlotte was Patrick's daughter-in-law, she cared deeply for him.
She couldn't help but feel heartbroken.
She held Stella close, pressing her cheek against Stella's, hoping the warmth would bring some comfort.
Frederick, though sad, was more composed than Charlotte.
He gently put his arm around Charlotte's shoulder and said softly, "Ever since Mom passed, Dad hasn't been happy. If things don't turn out well this time, I don't think he'd have any regrets."
Hearing this, Charlotte felt even more heartbroken.
How could Patrick not have regrets?
Before the surgery, Frederick had signed the consent forms, and Patrick had briefly regained consciousness with Charlotte by his side.
Patrick was nearly unconscious, but even with his eyes closed, he kept repeating one name.
Johnny.
Because Patrick knew that while the other children would return, Johnny would not.
Patrick couldn't forget Johnny.
He kept calling Johnny's name, and when he saw Charlotte, he held her hand and murmured, "Find Johnny! If you don't, he might never come back. Where else could he go but home?"
After saying this, Patrick fell unconscious again.
At that moment, Charlotte was overwhelmed with grief.
Kingsley leaned against the wall, clenching his fists. Amara stayed by his side, knowing he was struggling.
After a moment, Kingsley took out his phone and dialed a number.
It was Johnny's.
Unexpectedly, before Kingsley could say anything, Johnny spoke first, "I'm on my way to the hospital."
Kingsley was taken aback.
After a pause, he put down the phone and told Frederick and Charlotte, "He'll be here soon."
When Johnny arrived, Patrick's condition worsened, and the doctors rushed him back into the emergency room.
But the efforts were in vain.
Half an hour later, the lead doctor came out, removed his mask, and apologized to Frederick, "Mr. Hawkins, I'm sorry. We've done everything we could. If you want to say your goodbyes, now is the time."
Frederick's fingers trembled.
Charlotte leaned on his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.
After a moment, Frederick suppressed his emotions and said, "No one is allowed to cry. Go in and say your goodbyes to your grandfather and great-grandfather."
But his own voice was shaking.
Tears streamed down his face.
So many years of father-son bond, severed just like that. How could he not be heartbroken?
He and Charlotte were the first to enter. The doctors and nurses had stepped back, leaving only the life-support machines, emitting faint beeping sounds.
Patrick was on the brink of death.
As if sensing his end, Patrick's eyes focused on Frederick. He weakly asked, "Where are Chloe and Andrew? Why aren't they here?"
Frederick bent down and whispered in his ear, "They're on their way. The plane just landed."
"Good, good!"
Patrick kept repeating this, still longing to see Chloe. Chloe wasn't the brightest, but she had lived a content life, and Andrew had treated her well.
Patrick closed his eyes slightly.
Frederick, tears streaming down his face, knew Patrick didn't have much time left. He painfully called in the children to say their goodbyes.
"Don't cry! No one should cry."
"Frederick, I'm about to see your mother. I've missed her so much these past two years, but she never came to me in my dreams. I'm afraid if I go too late, she won't be happy in heaven. So, I should go and be with her."
"Don't be sad. I'm fine!"
Everyone's eyes were filled with tears, but no one cried out loud.
Just then, Chloe and Andrew arrived.
Natalie couldn't hold back and hugged Patrick, crying. Patrick struggled to lift his hand to touch her hair. This child looked so much like Chloe!
Sadly, he wouldn't see her get married.
"Dad!"
Chloe's throat felt tight. She knew life and death were inevitable, but she couldn't accept it.
With Patrick gone, she and Frederick would have no parents left.
Frederick came over and gently held her shoulder, "Chloe, be strong."
Chloe couldn't help but hug him and cry, "Frederick!"
Patrick was in his final moments. His eyes fixed on Lola, wanting to say something but unable to speak. Lola knew he wanted to ask about Johnny.
She quickly knelt beside him, tears in her eyes, "He'll be here soon."
Patrick closed his eyes tightly.
Just when everyone thought he wouldn't make it, the hospital hallway door opened, and Felicity hurried in, pushing a wheelchair. She made it just in time for Patrick's last moments.
"Grandpa." Johnny held his cold hand.
Patrick no longer had the strength to speak. He barely opened his eyes, looking at Johnny and his left leg.
His lips moved, trying to make a sound.
He wanted to talk about the car accident. he felt he should say it before he died.
But now, he couldn't.
Johnny understood.
He leaned in close to Patrick's ear and whispered, "I'll take care of Lola and the kids for the rest of my life."
Tears rolled down Patrick's cheeks.
But the wrinkles on his face slowly smoothed out.
It seemed he had been waiting, waiting for Johnny, waiting for those words.
Waiting for Johnny and Lola to reconcile.
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