Chapter 452 Red Rose
I gently held Edward's hand in mine, feeling the sharp edge of his wrist bone under my fingers.
The steady beeping of the monitor filled the room. Edward kept glancing at the door, his Adam's apple bobbing with each swallow, like he had a million things he wanted to say but couldn't. I felt a wave of sympathy, thinking it was the pain getting to him. I quickly got up and moved the IV stand closer to the bed, asking softly, "Want some water? I can get the nurse to bring a straw."
"No, I'm good."
Edward's voice was barely audible, but I could sense his unease.
"This place should be safe."
I tried to reassure him, also glancing towards the door.
Edward tugged at my sleeve, his grip weak but full of trust. "Stay with me for a bit."
I sat by his bedside as he asked, gently stroking his cheek, teasing, "You're getting clingy."
Edward's cheeks flushed, but his eyes kept darting to the door.
The sharp smell of disinfectant was suddenly interrupted by a strong floral scent. A caregiver holding a bouquet of flowers stopped at the doorway. A bunch of vibrant red roses caught my eye, their petals spreading boldly, with glistening droplets rolling off the satin-like petals, leaving dark marks on the white sheets. The vivid red seemed like a silent warning. Instinctively, I positioned myself in front of the bed, my fingers touching the phone in my pocket, which held crucial backup recordings.
I wondered who had sent the flowers.
"Mr. Howard, these flowers are from Ms. York."
The caregiver, wearing a blue mask, smiled with crescent-shaped eyes, "She wishes you a speedy recovery."
Edward's already pale face turned even whiter, then flushed suddenly. He struggled to sit up, but the movement caused his wounds to ache, leading to a violent cough. The monitor emitted a piercing alarm, and the heart rate graph on the screen jumped wildly.
I hurriedly pressed Edward's shoulder down, feeling his burning temperature, while his gaze remained fixed on the bright red roses, his pupils reflecting a nearly greedy joy.
"Is it her? Is she okay?"
Edward's cracked lips trembled, repeating the words unconsciously, his fingers clutching the sheets into disarray. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he looked up at me. "Diana, don't get the wrong idea. I'm just worried about Anne."
I froze, feeling the intense heat from Edward's heaving chest. Edward struggled to get up, his bandaged left shoulder seeping dark blood. It turned out his unease wasn't from the pain but from waiting for news about her.
The mix of disinfectant and rose scent formed a bitter knot in my nose. The smile I forced was more painful than crying, "Don't talk now. The doctor said getting worked up would mess with your recovery."
The caregiver quickly added, "Mr. Howard, please don't get too excited. Ms. York has regained consciousness, but she's still very weak. The doctor advised that she can't visit you yet." This sentence was like a stone thrown into a deep pond, causing Edward's tense body to collapse instantly, as if relieved but also drained of all strength.
I watched the mix of disappointment and relief in Edward's eyes, feeling a pang of bitterness.
It turned out that every time Edward looked expectantly towards the door, he was just waiting for news about her.
He continued to mutter, "She's awake, that's good, she's awake."
Edward's lost yet relieved expression stung my eyes. I silently let go of his hand, the lingering warmth fading away, just like my feelings for him, cooling to the core.
Edward didn't notice my sadness at all, his eyes shining as he stared at the bouquet, his dry lips moving. "Is it really from her?"
The strong scent of roses felt suffocating. I turned and walked towards the door, blinking furiously to keep the tears from falling, not wanting Edward to see me lose control.
"Diana." Edward's voice came from behind.
Just as I touched the doorknob, he spoke again, almost pleading. "Can you go to the ICU and check on Anne for me, right now?"
Outside, thick clouds loomed, almost pressing down on the rooftop. I slowly turned around, seeing Edward's red-rimmed eyes and trembling hands.
"Please, just do me this one last favor."
I forcefully shook off Edward's hand, leaning against the door, my voice cold. "You can go see her yourself once you're better."
"I..."
Edward turned away, his voice choked, "I'm afraid. Anne's injuries are so severe, I can barely recognize her. I can't bear to see her like that."
The sound of a nurse's cart rolling down the hallway reached us. I remained silent, looking at the IV line snaking across Edward's hand, remembering Anne's once healthy appearance. Finally, I took the visitor pass that the caregiver handed me.
"Give me the flowers."
I reached out, pointing to the roses on the bedside table.
Edward hesitated, then signaled the caregiver to quickly hand me the flowers.
As the rose thorns pricked my palm, I heard myself compromise, "I'll stay for ten minutes. Wait for me to come back and change your bandages."
The smell of disinfectant grew stronger in the ICU hallway, and my palm sweated as I clutched the visitor pass. The electronic screen at the corner flashed Anne's bed number, with the care record showing she had just been downgraded from intensive care this morning.
Pushing open the ICU door, the smell of disinfectant hit me, even stronger than in the hallway. The rhythmic ticking of the monitor mixed with Anne's weak breathing. Holding the roses, I walked heavily towards the bed.
Anne lay there, almost swallowed by the white bedding and medical equipment. Her cheeks were sunken, her skin an unhealthy grayish-blue, her lips cracked and peeling, with a bit of brown medication at the corner. Her hand, with an IV line, was covered in bruises, and even breathing seemed difficult. As I approached, Anne's eyelids trembled slightly, struggling to open, a faint light appearing in her dull eyes.
"Diana."
Anne's voice was so hoarse it was barely audible. She tried to lift her hand but couldn't, only managing to move her fingers. I quickly placed the roses on the bedside table and held her cold hand, feeling the sharp wrist bone beneath my fingertips.
"It's good to see you."
Anne's speech was broken, needing to pause for breath after every few words.
"The flowers..." Anne's gaze fell on the roses, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
"Edward asked me to check on you."
Hearing Edward's name, Anne's fingers tightened, causing the IV line to sway slightly. She turned her head with difficulty, her Adam's apple moving as she swallowed, her cracked lips opening and closing several times before she managed to speak. "Is he badly hurt?"
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