CHAPTER 125
Time dragged on, each second feeling like an eternity.
Arianna lost track of time until the door to the operating room finally opened.
She quickly opened her mouth to ask about the situation but realized it was a nurse who had come out, not the doctor.
Her heart sank, and she stepped forward, asking, "Excuse me, how is Charlie? Is he okay?"
The nurse recognized Arianna and shook her head sadly. "Things aren’t looking good. His heartbeat stopped briefly..."
Those few words felt like being plunged into an ice cellar. Arianna's entire body went cold, trembling uncontrollably, her teeth chattering. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed.
The nurse caught her just in time and helped her to a bench in the corner. Concerned, the nurse advised, "You’re in very bad condition, Ms. Johnson. I suggest you inform your family or loved ones and have them come over to accompany you. At least there will be someone to take care of you if you can’t handle it."
With that, the nurse hurried off, leaving Arianna leaning against the cold wall, her mind spiralling into panic. The dread she felt was as if her world was crashing down, completely out of her control.
She couldn't think of anything else after hearing the nurse's words and unconsciously took her cell phone from her bag.
Her hands trembled so much that it took her a while to hold the phone firmly.
When she tried to dial a number, her hands froze, and her expression became even more confused.
Family...
She and Charlie no longer had any family from the moment they walked out of the Johnson residence.
Loved ones...
Xander's figure appeared in her mind out of nowhere. Her fingers had already entered the 11 numbers she knew so well into the virtual keyboard.
When her fingertips were about to press the dial button, she froze yet again.
Would Xander be willing to come over if she called him?
Or...would he mock her for not knowing her place in wanting him to come over and accompany her?
If it was the latter... She did not think herself capable of bearing any more shock.
But what if it was the former?
If Xander had even the tiniest sliver of feelings for her two years ago, he ought to be willing to come over and check on her, right?
As slim as that hope might be, Arianna closed her eyes and pressed the dial button like a desperate gambler.
The dial tone sounded only thrice when the light above the operating room went out all of a sudden. The door was then pushed open.
Upon hearing that movement, Arianna immediately ended the call, stood up, and staggered toward the room.
The doctor walked out while taking off his mask and watched as Arianna approached him. Her red lips moved as if she wanted to ask the result, but fear of hearing bad news made her hesitate to say even a single word.
The shattered glimmer in her eyes was distressing to look at.
The doctor did not beat around the bush and immediately told her the result.
“Charlie isn’t in any more danger for the time being!”
Arianna instinctively covered her lips with her hand, and only then did tears slide down from the corners of her eyes.
"However, this heart attack is very dangerous. Even if he wakes up later, it might recur again at any time. You have to be mentally prepared, Ms. Johnson.”
Bad news immediately followed the good news.
Arianna opened her mouth, but it took a long time to find her voice. Her words trembled with every syllable.
“Won’t he be okay if his health is well taken care of, Doctor? Isn’t there a better way? Wasn’t it said before…that he can make it until he’s at least eighteen years old?”
Charlie was 17 that year, but his birthday had not passed yet. It would be more than a year before he would turn 18.
There was nothing the doctor could do either. “Ms. Johnson, the current medical resources in our hospital are only barely capable of maintaining Charlie’s life. If his health is to improve, then… the only recourse is to invite the renowned cardiologist, Professor Arthur Louie. Under his care, Charlie might be able to live for a few more years.”
As he said that, he shook his head and added, “It’s a pity that Professor Louie has lived in seclusion ever since his retirement. No one knows where he went.”
The doctor patted Arianna on the shoulder to comfort her. “You may keep Charlie company once he’s transferred to the ICU.”
…
That night, Arianna donned personal protective equipment and sat in the hospital ward. Tears started welling in her eyes as she looked at Charlie lying motionless on the bed, various tubes attached to his body.
She hated feeling fragile and loathed tears even more, but she couldn’t control her emotions in such a moment of sadness.
Arianna raised her head slightly, blinking back her tears with effort. In a hoarse voice, she said, “I won’t let you lie on this bed forever, Charlie. I’m going to find Professor Louie and ask him to come and treat you.”
Charlie lay quietly, unresponsive. The only sound was the cold beeping from the machines.
Arianna spoke with Charlie for most of the night before finally leaving the intensive care unit.
Her first stop was the hospital bathroom, where she washed her face and wiped away her tears. After composing herself, she took her cell phone from her bag.
There was a missed call on the screen.
She remembered the call she made to Xander earlier. She had hung up before it connected because the operation was over.
Could Xander have seen her call and decided to call her back?
