CHAPTER 126
Arianna's heartbeat quickened.
People often face their truest feelings when they're most vulnerable. She freely admitted that she didn't want to be alone at that moment. It would be comforting to have someone there for her, and even better if that person was Xander.
She bit her lower lip and unlocked her phone. She tapped the call icon and looked at the first missed call in her recent call logs.
Her long curly eyelashes trembled fiercely but soon stopped. The expectant light in her eyes was instantly shattered.
It wasn't Xander who had called, but a random salesperson...
In hindsight, Xander had never answered her calls, let alone called her back. She had merely been carried away by her wishful thinking.
In hindsight, Arianna realized that Xander had never answered her calls, let alone returned them. She clenched her teeth, applying more pressure as she bit down on her lower lip, feeling a slight tingling pain.
This outcome was something she should have anticipated long ago. Why should she feel disappointed or sad about it?
She almost forgot that this was typical of her. Giving up was never in her nature.
Back when she first went abroad, she was inexperienced and easily nervous. Whenever she ventured out to work, she often faced setbacks and occasional injuries.
In those days, even the smallest injury felt unbearable. Her immediate reflex was to reach out to Xander, wanting to vent and hoping to evoke his sympathy in the hopes of reconciliation.
But Xander never answered her calls.
Initially unwilling to give up, she persisted in calling him repeatedly, despite his non-responsiveness. This continued until one fateful day when she was covering a live report in a hazardous building. Out of nowhere, a beam fell and struck her leg.
Rushed to the hospital's emergency department, Arianna found herself amidst a chaotic scene. The medical staff were overwhelmed by the influx of injured individuals, unable to tend to every one promptly.
Surrounded by others with their loved ones nearby, Arianna lay alone in a foreign land, her pain intensified by the stark loneliness. The injury to her leg was excruciating, leaving her fearful of permanent disability.
With trembling hands, she fumbled for her phone and dialled Xander's number, desperately hoping for his voice, even if just to comfort her. The first call, however, echoed into silence, unanswered as usual.
Undeterred, she dialled again, her persistence driven by a need for solace amid the chaos of the hospital emergency room.
Upon hearing the cold message declaring his phone switched off, Arianna couldn't help but break into laughter. It was a bitter, almost hysterical laughter that soon dissolved into tears.
In that fleeting moment, the emotional pain she felt far surpassed the physical anguish in her leg. Remembering how Xander used to answer her calls almost instantly when they were together intensified her sorrow.
If she hadn't experienced such warmth and attention from him in the past, perhaps the current rejection wouldn't have hurt so deeply.
From that day forward, Arianna vowed never to call him again. Instead, she resolved to internalize and endure the pain and hardship on her own.
Reflecting on her journey, she realized that her judgment had been clouded by fear of losing her brother. It was a mistake she vowed never to repeat.
Arianna stared at her phone screen for what felt like an eternity. The more she scrutinized the call history, the more a sense of frustration and disappointment grew within her. Eventually, with a decisive swipe of her finger, she added Xander's number to her block list.
...
The following day arrived, but there was still no change in Charlie's condition. His complexion had turned even paler, almost translucent, prompting Arianna to wonder if he had quietly slipped away, if not for the faint signs of life detected by the medical equipment.
Time was now her greatest adversary. Arianna knew she had to gather information about Professor Louie without delay. It had become a desperate race against the clock.
Arianna opened her laptop and began scouring the internet for any information regarding Professor Louie. The headlines on Bidoopedia intrigued her, but disappointment quickly settled in as she realized his whereabouts remained elusive since retirement. Despite her persistent online searches, no clues emerged.
In parallel, Arianna called several friends in hopes of any leads on Professor Louie's current location.
Throughout the day, Arianna dedicated herself to Charlie's care, leaving her exhausted by evening. She drifted off to sleep beside Charlie's bed, only to be abruptly awakened by the ringing of her cell phone.
Startled, Arianna grabbed her phone and glanced at the screen.
Arianna received a FriendTalk message from one of her friends.
["I can't help you with Professor Louie himself, but I do know that Professor Louie took on a disciple who he mentored. That disciple is now the youngest cardiologist in the medical community. They call him 'St. John'. He might be able to help your brother."]
Arianna had vaguely heard of Professor Louie's disciple, Little St. John, before. She clung to the hope that if she could reach this
"Saint John," there might still be a chance to save Charlie.
Suppressing her inner excitement, she quickly replied,
["Do you have any specific information about him?"]
Five minutes later, her phone buzzed with multiple notifications containing detailed information.
[Even though he’s widely known, he maintains an extremely low profile. His identity and appearance remain shrouded in mystery.
[His selective nature likely stems from the overwhelming demand for his medical expertise. He’s highly particular about whom he treats, turning away even influential individuals who seek his services.
[For now, all I can confirm is that he’ll arrive in Capital City tomorrow. He’s slated to attend a medical conference at The Xtreme Hotel. Best of luck, Ari!]
Upon reading the message, Arianna couldn’t help but feel a pang of frustration. The reputation of being Professor Louie’s disciple seemed well-earned. Information about both the "Saint John" and Professor Louie remained elusive.
However, it didn't take long for her spirits to lift once more.
Arianna was never the type to back down easily. Whenever a spark of hope appeared, she seized it with determination!
She was determined to locate that elusive "Saint John"!
