Chapter 056 It Won't Happen Again
Adrian extinguished his cigarette, his fingers curling tightly around Natalie's neck as he battled his rising fury.
"Natalie," he said, his voice gravelly with suppressed emotion, "you stepped in front of a knife meant for me. I owe you my life, and yes, I harbor affection for you. But involving my mother was a step too far."
"But I didn't..." Natalie began, her brows knitting together in protest.
Just then, the shrill ring of Adrian's phone cut through the tension. Natalie's eyes darted to the shelf where his phone lay, the name 'Alice' brightly illuminated on the screen.
"Mr. Howard, your phone..." she managed to gasp out, her breath hitching in her throat.
Without breaking his intense gaze on Natalie, Adrian reached out and pressed the answer button. Alice's voice, light and cheerful, filled the room. "Adrian, I'm out shopping. I saw a tie that would look fantastic on you. I've sent you a picture. Do you like it?"
Without sparing a glance at the photo, Adrian replied curtly, "You decide." Then, he abruptly ended the call.
As Natalie caught her breath, Adrian's icy voice echoed in the room, "Natalie, I don't care what games you play. But if you dare to involve my mother again, I will ensure you vanish from Vachilit."
She laughed, a bitter sound that echoed her dejection. "Don't worry, Mr. Howard. It won't happen again." She knew her words would fall on deaf ears. Adrian would never believe her.
His anger flared at her acquiescence. "Get out!" he barked. The moment the car door unlocked, Natalie scrambled out and fled into the night.
In the solitude of his car, Adrian's fist slammed into the steering wheel, a physical manifestation of his frustration. He was infuriated by Natalie's audacity and his own muddled emotions. But what enraged him most was the undeniable fact that he was developing feelings for such a woman.
Meanwhile, Rosalie was prepped for surgery.
Natalie was blindfolded, her hands bound, and she was ushered into a car. When the vehicle finally came to a halt, she was guided up a flight of stairs and out of an elevator. The blindfold was then removed.
Four imposing bodyguards stood sentinel outside the operating room, where Rosalie had already been taken. Natalie sat on the waiting chairs by the door, her gaze fixed anxiously on the closed doors. She had faith that Rosalie would pull through. The surgery had to be successful.
Seven grueling hours passed, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Finally, the doors of the operating room swung open, and Rosalie was wheeled out. Natalie rushed over, her stomach churning from hunger. As she stood abruptly, a wave of dizziness washed over her. "Doctor, how's my mom..." she managed to ask.
The doctor nodded. "The patient's kidney transplant was a success, but she needs to rest. Additionally, she'll go through a period of rejection."
"The surgery was a success..." Natalie echoed, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. "Doctor, thank you."
As she watched Rosalie being wheeled into the ICU, Natalie felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
Family wasn't allowed into the ICU, so Natalie could only stand at the entrance of the ward. Through the glass, she saw Rosalie lying pale on the hospital bed, her body hooked up to various machines. Tears welled up in Natalie's eyes.
Her phone rang. It was Avery. "I didn't lie to you, did I? Natalie, now that you've seen your mother, I hope you'll keep your word."
Natalie bit her lip. "What do you want me to do?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
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