An ambulance ca screaming up to the scene.
Isla Prescott and Annabelle Leighton got into the ambulance with him.
Isla trembled uncontrollably the entire way.
Annabelle Leighton’s heart clenched in sympathy. They sat side-by-side, their eyes fixed on Shane Sterling’s face.
Shane Sterling’s face was like silk bleached by moonlight, utterly devoid of color. His lips were so pale they blended into his skin. Only his faint breaths proved he was still alive.
When the ambulance reached the hospital, Shane Sterling was rushed into ergency care.
Isla watched the operating room doors close, then began to pace anxiously in the hallway. Annabelle Leighton was worried about both Shane Sterling and Isla. She wanted to offer comfort but couldn’t find the words, so she could only follow Isla, chanically pacing back and forth beside her.
Ivan Fulton rushed over as soon as he heard the news.
"What’s the situation?" Ivan asked.
"He’s in surgery. We don’t know the specifics yet," Annabelle replied.
And so, another person joined the anxious pacing in the hallway.
Although Ivan was a doctor, he couldn’t remain as composed as he would with a regular patient when his best friend’s life was on the line.
"Should we contact his family first?" Isla suddenly asked, looking to Ivan for advice.
Shane Sterling’s life was hanging in the balance, and none of his family were here. If sothing went wrong during the surgery, there wouldn’t even be anyone to sign the ergency consent forms.
"No need," Ivan said. "If anything happens, we’re here. That’s enough."
"But we’re not his family."
"His family won’t co," Ivan stated with certainty.
Shane Sterling’s mother, Audrey Hughes, was currently with his younger brother, Ezra Sterling, at The Serene Peak Monastery. They were both living in a state of semi-seclusion, so it was unlikely they could even be reached. As for his father, Victor Sterling, Shane had been on terrible terms with him recently. Victor probably wouldn’t mind seeing an old man bury his son.
Isla had never imagined that Shane Sterling—who always seed so noble and carefree, as if he wanted for nothing—was actually in a situation where not a single family mber would show up for him while he lay on an operating table, fighting for his life.
’My heart aches for him.’
’It really, really does.’
A little over an hour later, the doors to the operating room opened.
"Riley, what’s the situation?" Ivan asked. The surgeon, Riley Zane, had been his classmate.
"Ruptured spleen causing internal bleeding, a minor concussion, and a fracture in his left leg. The last two aren’t a huge deal, the main concern was the internal bleeding. We’ve stabilized him for now, but he’ll need to be monitored closely tonight."
"Thanks for your hard work."
"Of course."
Shane Sterling was wheeled out of the operating room.
His face seed even paler now. Isla walked to the side of the gurney and took his hand. It was cold.
"Isla, don’t worry too much," Ivan said, trying to comfort her. "You know the saying, ’only the good die young’? A nace like Sean won’t kick the bucket that easily."
Annabelle imdiately nodded in agreent. "Even the Grim Reaper would get a headache dealing with soone like Shane Sterling. He won’t take him that easily."
Isla was speechless.
’These two sure have a unique way of comforting people.’
Although Ivan and Annabelle said as much, the heavy stone in their hearts hadn’t lifted. Ivan went to Riley Zane’s office and repeatedly asked him to watch over Shane Sterling closely.
Annabelle, anwhile, stayed with Isla at the hospital all night.
At one point, Isla tried to get her to go ho and rest, but she refused.
"Shane Sterling basically saved my life today. What kind of person would I be if I just left before he even woke up?" Annabelle said, sitting down next to Isla. "Besides, I’m worried about you. I’m afraid if I leave, you’ll stay here crying all by yourself."
So Isla didn’t press her to leave anymore.
Riley Zane ca by the room several tis throughout the night to monitor Shane Sterling’s condition.
Just as dawn was breaking, Shane Sterling finally woke up.
Isla hadn’t slept a wink, sitting by his bedside all night. She was the first to notice he was awake, and a light instantly sparked in her weary eyes.
"You’re awake. How do you feel?"
Shane Sterling had been having a long nightmare. In it, Isla was kidnapped, thrown onto a major road, and finally run over by a car... He had struggled to wake up several tis, but couldn’t break free.
Now, as he opened his eyes and saw her sitting safely by his bed, his tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed.
Shane Sterling reached out, about to take Isla’s hand, when another head, fuzzy with sleep, popped up from the side of the bed.
It was Annabelle Leighton.
Annabelle had kept watch for half the night before she couldn’t take it anymore and fell asleep leaning against the bed. Hearing the movent now, she realized Shane was awake and excitedly raised her head.
Seeing there was a third wheel in the room, the smile that had just begun to form on Shane’s face instantly vanished.
"What’s with that look?" Annabelle snapped. "You’re disgusted to see , aren’t you?"
"Why are you here?" Shane asked.
"To see if you were dead or not."
"Well, I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not dying."
"Good. If you died, I’d have to find a new match for Isla."
Shane was so angry he nearly perford a dical miracle and shot up from the bed.
Annabelle yawned and got up. "God, I’m exhausted. I’m going ho to sleep. Isla, you can stop worrying now. The fact that he still has the energy to bicker with ans he’s fine. Go find a place to get so sleep."
"Okay."
Isla knew Annabelle was leaving so abruptly to give them so space. Annabelle knew better than anyone the tornt they had both been through recently, and that they desperately needed so ti alone to talk.
But right now, Isla was more concerned about Shane’s physical condition than baring her heart to him.
She pressed the call button by the bed, and a mont later, Riley Zane ca in.
He gave Shane a quick check-up and confird his condition was stable, but that they still couldn’t let their guard down.
"Thank you, Dr. Zane. We appreciate all your hard work," Isla said.
"It’s my job. I’m heading off my shift now. If you need anything, contact my colleague, Marcus Young."
"Okay."
Riley Zane left.
The hospital room fell completely silent.
Isla sat back down by the bed and looked at Shane. "Does it hurt?"
A concussion, internal bleeding, a leg fracture... he must be in pain all over, but Shane just answered nonchalantly, "It doesn’t hurt."
"How could it not hurt?"
"If that car had actually hit you, I’d be in a million tis more pain than I am now."
’Sweet nothings rolling right off his tongue. Looks like he really is going to be okay.’
The tension in Isla’s heart eased a little. She still had a question she was curious about. "Weren’t you on a business trip abroad? You weren’t supposed to be back for another week. Why did you suddenly co back?"
"I had a premonition you were in danger," Shane said.
"Why don’t you just say you’re psychic?"
"It’s true." Shane’s hand slowly reached out and took Isla’s wrist. "I love you so much that we have a telepathic connection."
Hearing him clearly say he loved her didn’t make Isla happy. "You know, I really don’t like it when you say important things in a joking way."
"I’m not joking." Shane’s expression turned serious. "But if you don’t like it, I can rephrase."
"Then rephrase it."
He thought for a mont, then said to her in a deep voice, "Isla Prescott, I love you. I really, really, really love you."
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