Chapter 465 Diana, Thank You
The 48-hour wait felt like forever. I stayed by the observation room door, too scared to close my eyes, worried I might miss any tiny movement.
"You're gonna wear yourself out like this."
Lila's voice, wrapped in the flickering emergency lights of the hallway, was especially clear at 3 a.m.
"I'll keep watch. I'll call you if there's any change."
I shook my head mechanically, a sharp pain shooting through my neck from holding the same position for too long. My phone buzzed in my hand, a new message from the work group, but I didn't even have the strength to swipe the screen. Lila suddenly pressed my cold hand, "Why don't you go sleep in the empty room next door? Your lips are turning white."
"I'm afraid I won't hear the monitor."
My throat was dry an d bitter. I remembered the rhythmic sound of the machine in the operating room. Would it sound like the grim reaper to the semi-conscious Edward?
"Last time during rounds, his blood oxygen dropped to 85%. Do you know what that means?"
The taste of blood spread on my tongue.
"Every beep of the monitor feels like he's one step closer to hell."
Lila sighed and pulled a blanket from her bag, draping it over my shoulders. Silence fell between us, broken only by the distant sound of typing from the nurse's station.
After a while, Lila spoke again, "Do you remember in high school when you got locked in the equipment room? I spent half an hour banging on the window outside."
I turned to look at Lila. Her eyes reflected the green exit sign at the end of the hallway. She gently brushed her fingers under my dark circles, "Don't lock yourself in this place, okay?"
Before she finished speaking, the observation room door suddenly opened. The wind from the doctor's white coat lifted the edge of the blanket, and I jumped up reflexively, my knee hitting the bench armrest hard.
"Mr. Howard's vital signs are stable. He can be moved to a regular room."
The doctor's voice was like a light piercing through the fog. As Lila supported my trembling arm, I realized my whole body was shaking.
Morning light filtered through the blinds, casting neat stripes on the floor. I pushed open the door, holding a bouquet of lilies, and saw Edward half-sitting up in bed, his pale fingers gently stroking a wooden music box. It was the gift we had bought at a charity auction for Skylar's birthday.
The melodious music flowed out, making the rhythmic beeping of the monitor sound almost pleasant.
"You're up early."
I placed the flowers in a glass vase on the windowsill, water droplets rolling off the petals, glistening in the sunlight.
"The doctor said you're recovering better than expected. You can be discharged in two days."
Edward responded softly, his gaze never leaving my face. I knew he was looking at the dark circles under my eyes and my pale lips from staying up all night.
My fingers unconsciously brushed the pure white petals of the lilies, and memories surged up.
"Actually, lilies are more suitable for a hospital room than red roses."
I spoke softly, "Red roses are too intense, they make people uneasy."
The air in the room grew tense. Edward's previously gentle eyes tightened, his Adam's apple bobbing.
I saw his fingers tremble slightly as he stroked the music box, a reaction that only occurred when his emotions were in turmoil.
"Did Anne make you think of this?"
Edward's voice broke the silence, his fingers twisting the corner of the blanket, the fabric wrinkling deeply under his grip.
"She always acts without thinking about the consequences."
I took a half step forward, my knee almost touching the edge of the bed.
"I had a friend look into it. Seems like Anne was taken by Jeffrey to the abandoned docks on the east side of the city. That warehouse area is Nicholas's underground trading hub…"
Before I could finish, Edward's violent coughing interrupted me, his pale face flushing with a sickly red.
"Enough!"
Edward gasped, grabbing my wrist,
"Do you think I don't know how dangerous those places are? Jeffrey's men aren't afraid to go after the police. You can't go alone!"
"Precisely because it's dangerous, I have to bring Anne back!"
I pulled my hand free, the metal bed rail clanging loudly,
"Anne knows almost everything about Nicholas and Jeffrey's dealings. If we find her, we can take them down for good!"
Edward suddenly struggled to sit up, the movement pulling at his wound, making him break out in a cold sweat.
"Diana, look at yourself in the mirror!"
Edward's voice was more out of control than I had ever heard,
"You've been at the hospital for three days straight. You can barely stand, and you want to walk into a lion's den?"
A sharp whistle from outside made the glass tremble slightly. I heard my own trembling voice. "If I don't go, Anne might…"
Edward cut me off, his tone brooking no argument. "Then let me go! I don't want you taking any more risks."
"But…"
"No buts."
Edward interrupted, struggling to sit up, his face turning pale from the pain,
"You saved my life. Now it's my turn to take the risk. Promise me you'll stay safe and wait for me to bring back the evidence."
Edward's thumb gently brushed the dark circles under my eyes,
"You've suffered enough for me."
After a moment of silence, Edward's voice softened. "Diana, thank you. Thank you for staying with me."
I was stunned, my ears burning. I wanted to turn away, but his hand gently turned my face back.
"That day in the operating room, it felt like I could hear you calling my name."
Edward's voice was hoarse, his fingers lightly brushing my dark circles,
"Seeing you like this breaks my heart."
My phone suddenly buzzed in my pocket, and seeing "Melissa" on the screen made my heart tighten.
As soon as I answered, Skylar's tearful voice burst out. "Mom, I heard Dad got hurt. I want to see him."
Edward's previously tense body went rigid, instinctively tugging at the collar of his hospital gown. His pale fingers nervously smoothed the wrinkles in the sheets, then he looked at me, pleading with his eyes. "Tell her I'm not ready to see anyone."
I put the phone on speaker, trying to keep my voice light. "Skylar, sweetie, Daddy isn't feeling well. His hair is all messy, and he looks like a little lion right now. How about we wait until he's better, and then he'll come see you first thing?"
"I'm not scared!"
I could hear Skylar's hurried footsteps, clearly running,
"I'm bringing Daddy his favorite chocolate, and I'll sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' to him!"
Skylar's voice suddenly rose, the tearful note making Edward clutch his chest.
He took the phone with trembling hands, his Adam's apple moving with difficulty. "Skylar, listen to Daddy…"
The door to the room suddenly burst open, and Skylar, with her pink backpack, stumbled in.
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