Chapter 216
As I got closer to the hospital, my feelings became more and more complicated. I didn't know how to face Michael, Sophia, and Katniss when I saw them. Along the way, Mia didn't sit in the same car as me. If she did, maybe I could have consulted her. I don't know why, but after just two days of being together, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dependence and trust towards her.
Upon arrival, Mia and I entered the hospital together. I thought Mia would take me directly to Katniss's ward, but instead she led me and Simon to an office in the hospital. The office looked upscale and luxurious. My mind was preoccupied with worry for Katniss. Although I used to want to avoid this, now I didn't care as much.
"You and Simon wait here," Mia said to me, then turned and walked out. I looked at Mia's back, unable to say anything for a while. Since she asked me to wait, I would wait.
As the office door opened again, Simon and I looked towards the entrance. I thought it would be Mia coming in, but to my surprise, it was Michael and Sophia. I was stunned, speechless, and my expression was extremely complicated.
"Grandma, Grandpa..." Simon, sharp-eyed, saw Michael and Sophia and quickly rushed over to hug them. After they glanced at me, they knelt down and hugged Simon tightly. To them, Simon was Katniss's only daughter, their grandson. After being apart for so many days, their longing for Simon was evident.
"Come on, Simon, let's go play." Mia walked in at that moment and took Simon's hand, leading him out. Before closing the door, she nodded gently at me.
I looked at the tearful Michael and Sophia, feeling extremely conflicted. I felt even worse inside. At this moment, I couldn't face them. For whatever reason, I had abandoned them, Katniss, Jennifer, and Nathan. I had abandoned everyone. I felt like a coward and a deserter. The kindness Michael and Sophia showed me was impeccable. I owed them as much respect as my own biological parents.
I couldn't bring myself to face Michael and Sophia at that moment. I was lost in my thoughts, but a voice interrupted me. I reflexively looked up and saw the two elderly figures of Michael and Sophia bowing and apologizing to me.
"Mom, Dad, what are you doing?" I jumped up from the couch like my butt was on fire and quickly went to help the two elderly people.
"Kevin, we are sorry for what Katniss did. It was shameless of her, and we didn't raise her well. On behalf of her, we apologize to you. As the older generation, we know that a woman's betrayal is unforgivable. Even as strangers, we would support your decision to divorce Katniss. You've done nothing wrong, it's Katniss's fault." Sophia cried as she spoke, her words piercing my heart like thorns. Was the fault only Katniss's? If we really thought about it, the whole situation started with me. I was the instigator, and Jennifer left, leaving Michael and Sophia in this state. Looking at their faces, which had aged significantly in just a few days, tears welled up in my eyes, filled with regret and self-blame.
"Mom, Dad, please don't say that. It's not your fault, it's mine. I didn't take care of Katniss well enough, I didn't give her enough love. It's really not your fault." At that moment, I could only blame myself for everything. In reality, it was true, but I couldn't make it too clear. I couldn't possibly say that Katniss's affair was initially orchestrated and facilitated by me, right?
"Kevin, I know your mom and I shouldn't ask anything of you. As a man, I support your decision to divorce in my heart. I know how it feels to have your wife betray you. If it were me, I would make the same choice as you. But as a father, your mom and I beg you, save Katniss, save our only daughter. I know our request is unreasonable, but as long as you can save her, we are willing to agree to any request, as long as we can do it. We will give you all our assets, even our retirement money. We will take care of Katniss in the future, we are willing to pay any price to earn your forgiveness for Katniss. Please understand the heart of parents." Katniss's father, a retired government official, had lost his former dignity at this moment, giving up all his pride to plead for his daughter. When they said to save Katniss, I knew what they meant. They wanted me to reconcile with Katniss so that she would have the motivation to continue living.
"Alright, Mom, Dad, I promise you. Please get up, there's no need for this." At that moment, my rationality was in chaos. The two highly respected elders were apologizing to me, something I had never imagined. Since I had decided to come back, I wanted to rebuild this family. I just wanted Michael and Sophia to get up quickly. Seeing them in pain, my heart ached.
After hearing my agreement, Michael and Sophia got up, wiping their tears and slightly moving their legs. I could only guess how much pain they were in. For their daughter and family, they were willing to sacrifice everything.
"I'll go see her, you two stay here for a while." I held Michael and Sophia and said, looking at their slightly trembling knees, I couldn't bear to have them follow me.
"We'll go in with you. You go in by yourself, and your dad and I will wait outside," Michael supported Sophia and followed me. As I walked out of the office, I saw Mia leading Simon in the corridor. I walked over and took Simon from her, then followed Mia towards Katniss's ward.
When we reached the ward, Mia, Michael, and Sophia were standing at the door. I led Simon and pushed open the door, walking in. As I entered, I saw a woman sitting on the hospital bed, but I didn't recognize her. Feeling like I had entered the wrong room, I quickly backed out, barely glancing at the woman.
"We went into the wrong room," I quickly asked Mia after exiting.
"No, this is the right room," Mia sighed and said firmly. Michael and Sophia couldn't hold back their tears once again. Suddenly, I realized what was happening. I hurriedly led Simon back into that upscale ward.
I slowly approached the woman. At that moment, she had disheveled hair, a pale face, and her once beautiful long hair was now messy, covering most of her face. She sat on the hospital bed playing with her hair, one hand constantly twirling it around her temple, the other hand bringing her hair to her mouth, then blowing on it, seemingly enjoying herself.
As I got closer, I finally saw clearly—it was Katniss. However, she had lost all her former beauty and grace, with a pale, lifeless face, disheveled hair, and eyes that had lost all color, appearing hollow and vacant. She looked like a madwoman. How could this be? In just a week, how could a person change like this? When someone entered the room, she didn't even look. Not only me, but even Simon didn't recognize this woman as his mother.
As Simon and I slowly approached, Katniss seemed to sense something. Her hands stopped moving, and she slowly turned her head. Initially looking down, as her gaze shifted, she first saw Simon, who was shorter than me. When she saw Simon, her once lifeless eyes showed a slight flicker of emotion. Her gaze then moved up and finally landed on me. Her eyes instantly regained some focus. Her trembling hands that were playing with her hair, and her quivering lips, looked at me, then at Simon, her eyes alternating between clarity and confusion, as if her brain couldn't catch up. When I returned, Mia told me that although Katniss had been saved, the medication had severely affected her brain and body, much worse than Mia had described.
"Katniss, it's me, Kevin. I'm back." I stood in front of the hospital bed, and Simon seemed to realize that this woman resembled his mother. Despite his height disadvantage, he awkwardly climbed onto the bed and knelt in front of Katniss, staring at her with his innocent and naive childlike eyes, seemingly unaffected by any troubles, his little face filled with concern.
"Mom, you're my mom. Mom, what's wrong? Are you sick?" Simon, with the innocence and purity of a child, seemed untouched by any worries, kneeling in front of Katniss, staring at her intently, his little face full of care.
Upon hearing my and Simon's calls, Katniss, who had lost all vitality and motivation, suddenly showed intense emotions in her eyes. Finally, she burst into tears, lunging towards Simon, hugging him tightly and not letting go. Feeling Simon's warmth, feeling his breath, she had longed for all of this for so long, as if she had regained her most beloved possession.
Seeing Katniss in this state, all my doubts disappeared from my heart. All I felt was heartache and self-blame. Why did I blame everything on Katniss alone? Katniss's current condition was something I had never imagined. I had to save her, I had to help her return to the beautiful and graceful Katniss she used to be.
I walked over to Katniss, slowly embracing her and Simon. Katniss also used one hand to hold onto my waist. Her thin cheeks lifted, her eyes, which I couldn't bear to look at, revealed helplessness and expectation, looking at me in a way that I couldn't meet. At that moment, I believed that Katniss loved me. She loved this family, and in her heart, Simon and I were more important than her own life.
As our family of three embraced each other, I suddenly noticed Katniss's body starting to tremble violently. At that moment, a doctor and a nurse quickly entered, and the doctor swiftly injected something into Katniss's arm, a clean and precise process that left me stunned. Gradually, Katniss calmed down, then released our hands and slowly closed her eyes, lying back down.
"Sorry, sir, we didn't mean to disturb you. The patient's emotions are very unstable right now. Seeing you has greatly agitated her. There were signs of losing control just now, so we had to calm her down first, let her gradually accept it, and not give her too much stimulation." The doctor, seemingly instructed by Mia, showed me great respect. After injecting Katniss, he smiled and explained to me. It was then that I realized the doctor had just given Katniss a sedative.
Watching Katniss calm down, although she had been sedated, she didn't fall asleep. She seemed conscious, lying there with half-open eyes, her mouth moving as if she wanted to say something to me. Her eyes, once full of spirit, were now filled with tears, perhaps trying to explain something to me through her tears.
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