Chapter 277 Actually, I Envy You
Outside the operating room, the air hung heavy with anticipation and dread. The hallway, initially overflowing with concerned citizens, had thinned as the night wore on, leaving a smaller but no less anxious group. Jennifer and Harmony, their faces etched with worry, sat side-by-side, their gazes fixed on the stubbornly glowing red light above the operating room door.
Members of the counseling club, whose countenances were marked by exhaustion, spoke in subdued voices, their consoling words doing scant to mitigate the palpable tension. The families of the rescued children huddled together, their gratitude for James' heroism battling with their fear for his fate. Even the seasoned reporters, accustomed to bearing witness to tragedy, seemed subdued, their notebooks clutched loosely in their hands.
Michael, his usual confidence shaken, approached Harmony, his concern evident in his eyes. "Harmony," he began, his voice soft, hesitant, "you should really try to get some rest. I'll wait here and let you know the moment Mr. Smith is out of surgery."
He experienced an overwhelming sense of compassion for the young woman, who had scarcely tasted her meals throughout the day as her concern for James overshadowed all other matters. Yet, his presence here, the richest man in Lindwood City reduced to a bystander in the face of love and loss, felt awkward, almost intrusive. Harmony had given her heart to James, and that was a fact he couldn't ignore, no matter his own feelings.
Harmony, however, merely shook her head, her gaze never leaving the operating room door. "I'm not tired," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Kaitlyn and Dennis, seated nearby, exchanged a knowing look. They had known Harmony since her college days, and she was a close friend of their daughter's, a frequent guest at their dinner table. They recognized the signs, the way her eyes followed James, and the longing in her voice when she spoke his name. Now, seeing her so distraught, their hearts ached for her, but a part of them, the protective parents, couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort.
Dennis cleared his throat, deciding to address the elephant in the room. "Harmony," he said gently, "you look exhausted. Why don't you go home and get some rest? Jennifer and I can stay here. You and James are… well, you're friends. There's no need for you to put yourself through this."
He emphasized the word "friends," a subtle reminder of the invisible barrier that stood between Harmony and the man she loved.
Harmony winced, his words stinging like salt on a wound. She lowered her head, her fingers twisting in her lap, her heart a knot of despair and longing. He was right, of course. She was just a friend. Jennifer, the woman James had chosen, was right here, her grief palpable. What right did she have to this pain, this desperate hope?
She endeavored to articulate a futile objection, yet the words eluded her. A bitter taste rose in her throat, choking her.
Michael, sensing her distress, reached out and gently squeezed her arm. "They're right, Harmony," he whispered. "You need to take care of yourself."
Harmony bit her lip, her gaze fixed on her lap, her silence speaking volumes.
Jennifer, who had remained unnervingly still throughout the ordeal, suddenly spoke, her voice hoarse but firm. "Mom, Dad, why don't you two go home and get some rest? I'll stay here with Harmony."
Her words hung in the air, stunning everyone into silence. Harmony's head shot up, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Jennifer!" Kaitlyn exclaimed, her voice sharp with disapproval. "What are you talking about?" She turned to Michael, her expression apologetic. "Michael, please forgive her. She's just upset, not thinking straight. It's late, you should take Harmony home. She's not used to this kind of… situation."
Michael, caught in the middle of this unexpected family drama, could only offer a weak smile. At no point in his life, as the most eligible bachelor in the city, had he ever felt more profoundly out of his element.
Harmony, emboldened by Jennifer's unexpected support, spoke up, her voice soft but pleading. "Dennis, Kaitlyn, please. I'm not tired. Let me stay with Jennifer. Please?"
Kaitlyn and Dennis frowned, their parental instincts warring with their compassion.
"That's enough," Jennifer interrupted, her voice brooking no argument. "Dad, Mom, please stop. Harmony is James' friend too. There's nothing wrong with her being here."
Her words, spoken with quiet conviction, left no room for further debate. Kaitlyn and Dennis, recognizing the steely glint in their daughter's eyes, knew better than to push. They exchanged a resigned look, a silent agreement to table the discussion for another time.
"Thank you," Harmony whispered, her eyes welling up with gratitude.
She glanced at Jennifer, who had returned to her silent vigil, her gaze fixed on the operating room door, and a wave of complex emotions washed over her.
Michael, witnessing this unexpected turn of events, could only sigh and shake his head. Life, it seemed, had a way of defying even the most well-intentioned plans. He had never imagined that Harmony, a woman of her stature and grace, would find herself entangled in such a messy, heart-wrenching situation.
Five hours elapsed, each passing moment like a hammerblow to the hearts of those in suspense. Midnight came and went, the surgery stretching on with no end in sight. Exhaustion settled over the group, their initial energy replaced by a weary resignation.
Dennis and Kaitlyn, unable to fight the pull of their aging bodies any longer, dozed in their chairs, their faces etched with worry even in sleep. The teachers, their eyelids drooping, whispered apologies and slipped away one by one. Even the families of the rescued children, their initial exuberance dimmed by the passing hours, had dwindled, leaving only a few fathers, their faces grim, their hopes fading with each passing minute.
Michael, duty calling, had been forced to leave, his departure accompanied by a small army of bodyguards tasked with ensuring Harmony's safety.
Only Harmony and Jennifer remained, their vigil unbroken, their silent presence a testament to the man who had brought them together under such extraordinary circumstances.
The hospital, cloaked in the stillness of the early morning hours, felt eerily quiet, the only sound the soft hum of machinery and the distant echo of footsteps.
"Jennifer," Harmony's voice, barely a whisper, broke the silence. "I envy you."
Jennifer, her composure finally cracking, turned to face her, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
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