Chapter 146 Absurd
Emma didn't come back. Hugh called, asking where she was, and she just mumbled something about having stuff to do, telling Hugh to look after Daniel.
Daniel was still out cold. The doc said his vitals were stable and it was just a waiting game till he woke up.
Ronan and Helen took me home. Brad walked me downstairs and watched me get into the car.
Ronan drove off, but Brad was still standing in front of the hospital, watching me from a distance.
Ronan and Helen were both old and worn out from the past few days. They didn't feel great and went to crash after cleaning up.
I lay on the couch alone, my mind a mess, and my head spinning.
A few hours later, I thought I heard something across the hall. I jumped up to check.
It was Brad. He had a big bag and was opening the door.
I opened my door and followed him, asking why he was back.
Brad said Hugh had sent him to grab some stuff. I helped him pack according to his list.
"But I couldn't find any new towels. Maybe we used them all up," Brad said.
"Hold on, I got some. I'll grab a few."
I wasn't sure where the towels were at home. It took me a bit to find them. When I was about to open the door with the towels in my arms, I heard someone talking loudly across the hall.
Emma, who had been MIA for half a day, was back. She was crying and complaining to Brad.
"I don't agree. This is nuts. Say whatever you want, but I won't let go of Jane."
"Brad, listen to me. Only Jane can save Daniel. Just think of it as a favor I owe you. I'll find you a better girl later. You can't just watch Daniel die." Emma was crying, tears streaming down.
Brad was angrily arguing with Emma. It wasn't my place to butt in, so I waited.
Emma couldn't win the argument with Brad and finally exploded, "Brad, I'm telling you, if you don't save your brother, you're no longer my son."
"Mom, are you trying to drive me to the edge?" Brad lamented in despair. "Why are you doing this to me? Am I not your son? Why are you treating me like this? Daniel made his choice, so he should deal with the consequences. He needs to get his head straight, get some help, and work with the doctors, not sacrifice Jane for his sake. I don't agree, I just don't!"
A sharp sound echoed, and the room fell silent for a moment.
That sound must have been Emma slapping Brad.
Being forced like this by his own mom, Brad's heart must be breaking.
I couldn't take it anymore. I burst into the room, tossing the towels aside and spreading my arms to protect Brad. "Emma, you're going too far. What did Brad do wrong for you to hit him? Is it because of me? Then come at me, don't make things hard for Brad."
Brad hugged me from behind. His body was shaking badly, and my shoulder was wet and hot. Brad was forced to tears again.
Man, Brad's such a good dude. How could Emma do him like that?
"Fine, Jane, as long as you stay with Daniel and save him, I won't hit Brad. He's my son too; how could I not care for him? If he would just let go, I wouldn't have hit him."
"Shut up." Brad tried to shield me, but I wasn't having it.
Brad'd been protecting me all along. Today, it was my turn to protect him.
He loved me so much; I could't let him down.
"No way. Daniel and I are long over. The person I love now is Brad. There's no way I can be with Daniel again. I don't want to, and it has nothing to do with Brad. Stop forcing Brad."
"Jane, how can you be so heartless and refuse to save him?" Emma glared at me, looking all frantic.
"No, it's not that I'm heartless; it's that you're going too far. I'll do what I can, but I'm not willing to sacrifice my lifelong happiness for your son. Blame me if you want, not Brad. If you hit him again, I'll take him away."
Emma was stunned. She looked at Brad and me hugging each other, her face turning sinister.
Emma let out a sharp scream, eyes rolling back, and she fell backward.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Brad let go of me and rushed over.
Emma lay motionless. I was also scared and ran out to bang on my door.
Helen opened the door, all sleepy-eyed. I didn't have time to explain and dragged Helen to Emma.
Helen was startled to see Emma lying on the floor. She patted her chest and massaged her head for a good ten minutes before Emma finally woke up.
Brad let out a sigh of relief, slumping to the floor, his head hanging low, looking utterly defeated.
Emma didn't cause any more trouble after waking up. Helen helped her to bed, and she just lay there silently crying.
I squatted beside Brad, staying with him.
I thought he must be feeling really heavy-hearted at that moment.
Emma was forcing him to choose between his family and his love. How cruel!
I didn't know how to comfort Brad, so I just held his head in my arms.
Brad hugged me tightly, burying his head in my neck, and soon my sweater was soaked with his tears.
The next morning, when I got to the hospital, it was already past nine.
Hugh, Emma, and Brad were standing in the hallway, and seven or eight doctors and nurses were busy in the ward.
I peeked into the ward but couldn't make out what was happening. I stepped back and stood next to Brad, reaching out to hold his hand.
But before I could touch Brad, Emma suddenly lunged at me.
I froze on the spot, feeling trapped with no way out.
I looked to Brad for help. Brad, with a grim face, tried to pry Emma's arms off me. But Emma held on too tightly, Brad's efforts were in vain. Hugh seemed to want to help Brad but hesitated, then turned his face away, letting things unfold as they would.
I wasn't disappointed. When it came to family, things like morality, fairness, and right or wrong didn't matter.
"Mom, don't do this. Let go of Jane." Brad pleaded with Emma, his eyes bloodshot.
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