Alia Garcia woke up, and it was already afternoon.
Upon opening her eyes, she was surprised to see that the person sitting by the bed was Kane.
She was startled and imdiately tried to get up.
"Don’t move," Kane said as he stopped her, "The doctor said that after your large blood donation and the extre stress, you fainted due to weakness. You need to stay in bed and rest for a couple of days."
"I’m fine..." she said, leaning on the headboard as she scanned the ward. Besides Kane, there was no one else.
"When... when did you co?"
"Around noon," Kane replied. "Such a big incident occurred last night, and you didn’t tell . I couldn’t reach you by phone. Later, when I contacted Snow Fitch, I found out about your condition."
Last night...
The events of last night were unbearable to revisit.
As she gathered her thoughts and her brain gradually started working again, she suddenly asked, "What about the kids?"
"They’ve gone ho. Sister Jones is there, and they’re being taken care of by the bodyguard and the butler."
Thinking that Lily Garcia had been arrested, and with Fuller and Aunt Harper there, the children should be safe for the ti being. Alia felt sowhat relieved and got out of bed.
Knowing what was on her mind, Kane ca forward to help her: "Are you going to see him?"
"Um..."
"He’s still in a coma and hasn’t passed the critical period."
Alia’s stride paused, her expression somber and serious, "I want to see him..."
Kane didn’t say anything, just silently accompanied her.
Arriving outside the intensive care unit, they saw Emma Carter and George Hart, as well as Wendy Hart in a wheelchair and other relatives from the Hart family.
Upon seeing Alia, Emma’s sorrowful expression instantly darkened, and she stood up, intending to start trouble but was pulled back by George, who gave his wife a look.
Emma huffed in dissatisfaction and sat back down.
Alia paid her no mind and walked to the outside of the intensive care unit, looking inside.
Doctors and nurses were examining Christopher Hart, surrounded by a group in white coats, completely obscuring the view.
Alia stood blankly outside for quite a while until the doctors erged. She then ca to her senses and approached them.
But before she could speak, Emma and the other Hart relatives had already crowded her out, anxiously inquiring about the situation.
The doctor repeated the sa few words: "The situation is not optimistic. The patient has not passed the critical period, and we need to continue close monitoring."
What the doctor had wanted to add was that, under normal circumstances, with such severe injuries, the patient wouldn’t have survived the surgery last night. It was only due to the patient’s strong willpower that he had managed to hold on until now, which was nothing short of a miracle.
Emma quickly pressed, "Doctor, it’s been so long, why hasn’t he passed the critical period? When can he wake up?"
"That is... hard to say..."
Emma beca agitated, raising her voice: "What’s the matter with you all? You don’t know anything, can’t say, leaving it all to fate—this patient is in your care, don’t you have any judgnt? If your dical skills aren’t up to par, then quickly find a better doctor!"
Hospital leadership was also present, hastening to explain and soothe.
If not for knowing the esteed status of the Hart family, the doctors would’ve been disinclined to bother over such attitudes from the family.
Snow Fitch slowly approached, curiously and confusedly asking, "What’s happening with the Harts?"
Alia was startled and turned around, "Snow... why are you here?"
"And why wouldn’t I be here?" Snow replied.
"I’m alright now..."
Snow glanced at her and muttered, "Your face is as white as a ghost, and you say you’re fine!"
She pursed her lips, saying nothing.
Snow Fitch overheard their argunt and, with a sigh, said, "I asked my aunt, and she made inquiries. With Christopher Hart’s degree of injury, it’s a miracle he didn’t go directly to et King Rhys last night."
Alia Garcia’s heart lurched as she looked at her best friend, her eyes wide with shock and fear.
Yes... she had forgotten, Snow’s aunt worked in the ergency departnt of the hospital.
"The doctors say that Christopher Hart’s will to live is incredibly strong. That’s the only reason he’s been holding on to that last breath, but whether or not he can wake up, it’s really hard to say. In the best-case scenario, he might end up in a vegetative state, forever asleep."
This was also why Snow Fitch was worried about Alia Garcia and had now co back to the hospital.
She feared that Christopher might not last, and that her best friend couldn’t handle the blow, so she had gone ho to sleep before hurrying back to the hospital.
Alia Garcia understood her concern, managing a bitter smile, "I’m okay... If he really doesn’t wake up, I won’t have to be bothered by him anymore. We’ve been divorced for four or five years..."
"Let’s be real, even if it were just a normal friend who passed away, you’d still feel upset, right? Besides, he is the father of your three children."
Alia Garcia pursed her lips and fell silent.
Outside the hospital room, the hospital staff were still communicating with the Hart family.
"Mr. Elder Hart, given Mr. Hart’s current condition, we have decided, after consultation, to allow 15 to 20 minutes of visiting ti daily. You can assign a family mber, put on sterile clothing, go through proper disinfection procedures, and then stay by Mr. Hart’s side, talk to him, call out to his will. This... might help." The hospital director, seeing their high anxiety, finally relented a step and made a suggestion.
Emma Carter responded eagerly, "I’ll go! I’ll stay with my son. I’m his mother, no one is more suitable than I am!"
The hospital administration hesitated for a mont, then said, "I understand... Mr. Hart has children."
"Children? The children are too small! They wouldn’t understand anything!"
"While the children are young, their mother can take them in. This... Old Lady Hart, I know this may be unpleasant for you to hear, but usually, parents worry about their children, just as you are extrely concerned about your son right now. And in his heart, what he’s probably most concerned about might also be his children. As for the two of you elders, in his eyes, you may... co after his children..."
The director’s words were the truth.
But Emma Carter’s displeasure upon hearing this was as true.
"You—" However, before she could express her dissatisfaction, George Hart stopped her and turned to ask the hospital administration, "You just said only one family mber can go in."
The director replied, "This is a special situation. I’m only making a suggestion. If you don’t accept, you can let Old Lady Hart accompany him. From my years of dical experience, I just think the children might be more suitable."
"That’s not necessary. My son should be accompanied by . Children understand—"
Emma Carter hadn’t finished her sentence when Snow Fitch suddenly spoke out from behind, "Doctor! The children’s mother is here. She can accompany the children inside!"
The Hart family turned sharply to look at the trio standing behind them, their expressions varied.
Emma Carter was, of course, furious and firmly objected, "No way! I will go with him, and that’s final!"
Snow Fitch moved to argue but was held back by Alia Garcia.
"What are you doing! If Christopher Hart had any consciousness, he’d most want to see you!" Snow Fitch didn’t try to lower her voice, and everyone in the hallway heard her clearly.
Alia Garcia looked composed, "It’s not necessary. Since there are so many people here at the hospital, I’ll be going back first."
The children were indeed in soone’s care, but they weren’t with family.
Moreover, after what Ethan had experienced yesterday, and being in a fragile emotional state, the doctor said he would need more support over the next few days to avoid any lasting psychological trauma that could affect his future life.
So, she needed to go back and check on the children.
————
While still on the way ho, Sister Jones called her.
"Miss Norton, are you still at the hospital?" Sister Jones’s voice sounded urgent.
Alia’s heart tightened, and she quickly responded, "I’m on my way ho, what’s the matter?"
"Ethan has a fever."
"A fever? When did it start?"
"Soti around noon..."
"If he started having a fever at noon, why are you only telling now?" Alia was frantic.
Sister Jones explained anxiously, "I was supposed to tell you the first mont, but at first it was only a minor fever. Considering your situation over there... Sister Harper said she has plenty of experience caring for children, so she decided to observe first, that’s why..."
"Okay, I got it, I’m coming back imdiately."
After hanging up the phone, Alia Hart was frantic, urging Kane to drive faster.
Snow Fitch, having heard the conversation, asked with concern, "Who has a fever? Ethan or Hope?"
"Ethan. He started to have a low-grade fever at noon, they thought it wasn’t serious and didn’t tell ..." Alia Hart was overwheld, as one problem arose after another, she had no ti to catch her breath.
Snow Fitch comforted her by rubbing her back, "Don’t think too much, go back and check the situation. If it’s serious, rush to the hospital right away."
Upon returning ho, Ethan’s cries could be heard even before entering the door.
This child was different from others.
Other kids would be listless and drowsy when sick, but he would cry loudly whenever he felt unwell, full of vitality.
As soon as she entered, she saw Sister Jones and Aunt Harper in the living room, struggling with Ethan who had the strength of a bull when he made a fuss.
"Mommy’s back! Mommy’s back!" Upon spotting Alia Hart, the two experienced nannies breathed a sigh of relief as if they’d been pardoned.
Alia Hart quickly approached and picked up her son. Just by looking at his flushed face, she knew his fever was high, and her heart ached imnsely.
"Ethan, mommy’s here... It’s mommy, open your eyes and look, mommy is holding you..." She soothed him patiently, calling out to him over and over.
Despite crying, the little guy clung tightly to her neck with his hands and wrapped his legs around her waist, buryingly cuddling into her embrace.
This reaction...
Alia Hart guessed that the child must have been extrely scared and thus the emotional shock triggered a physical fever.
Indeed, after she comforted him for a good while, Ethan cald down a little and began to cry with a choking voice, "Mommy... scared, so scared... sob sob sob, I want mommy, I want mommy..."
"There, there, mommy’s here. Mommy will always be by your side, no need to be scared, sweetheart, be good, don’t be afraid." Alia Hart continued to soothe him with patience, not daring to let go despite the aching back.
Snow Fitch slipped two pillows behind her to make her more comfortable sitting on the sofa while calming the child in her arms who was gradually settling down.
Noah and Hope watched with big eyes, silently from the side.
Once the living room quieted down, Hope approached and asked timidly, "Mommy... has daddy woken up? Is he okay?"
Alia Hart was still gently patting her convulsively twitching younger son when she heard this, her gaze turned towards her daughter and beca complex and sour.
Snow Fitch wrapped her arm around Hope and explained softly, "Daddy’s still sleeping."
"When will he wake up? I want daddy to take ho..." Hope pouted slightly, her voice both childish and plaintive.
Alia Hart looked over, perplexed, "Hope, don’t you want to be here with mommy?"
"I do..." She nodded and then confessed honestly, "But mommy is also not at ho, and he keeps crying, crying, crying, it’s so noisy..." That’s why she missed her own ho.
Alia Hart, hearing her daughter’s words, didn’t know how to console her.
Juggling the needs of ho and the hospital, she had already abandoned her work without care, unable to balance both sides.
Knowing her best friend was stuck between a rock and a hard place, Snow Fitch felt uncomfortable too, so she led Hope away, "Sweetheart, how about auntie plays with you, hmm? Do you want to hear a story? Or shall we play with building blocks?"
Alia Hart continued to comfort Ethan.
Seeing his brother standing quietly at the side, she gave a faint smile and gestured to him with one hand.
Noah imdiately approached, "Mommy..."
"Honey, mommy’s going to be very busy these days and won’t have ti to take care of you guys."
"I understand, mommy..." Noah was always understanding.
After a mont of silence, Noah bravely asked, "Mommy, is he... going to die?"
The little guy had already asked this question last night, and now he was asking again.
Because he sensed from the adults’ overly sorrowful and heavy expressions that the person must be very badly injured and in a critical condition.
Alia Garcia’s nose felt a tinge of acidity, but she didn’t respond directly. Instead, she gently pulled her oldest son to sit by her side and asked, "If you could go into the ward to be with him, would you go?"
Noah’s eyes were startled as he fixedly looked at his mother.
As if struggling for a mont, he finally nodded, "I will."
"Good, when Mom goes to the hospital later, you’ll co with , alright?"
"Alright!"
Alia thought that Hope was a bit too delicate and was afraid that bringing her in might lead to crying, and a loss of control would make things complicated.
And Ethan’s current condition was obviously not suitable either.
Only the most sensible and calm oldest son could go with her to accompany that person, to talk with him... Who knows if that might have any positive effect.
In the evening, Fuller had the family doctor co over to see Ethan, prescribing so fever-reducing and calming dication.
After dinner, as Alia was preparing to take a bath and have a good sleep to go to the hospital early the next morning to check on the situation, her phone rang before she even dried her hair.
It was Benny Palr’s call.
"Alia, co to the hospital quickly. Christopher is in a bad state; the doctors are resuscitating him!"
Upon hearing this, Alia’s heart sunk to the bottom. She hastily changed her clothes, entrusted Aunt Harper and the others to take care of the kids, and hastily left the house with Noah.
Kane had been lingering at ho and was ready to act as the driver once again, speeding them to the hospital.
Outside the ICU, Benny Palr was anxiously pacing back and forth.
Emma Carter and the others were crying and praying at the sa ti.
Seeing Alia and her son arriving, Benny hurried over and asked, "Why did you bring the child?"
Alia whispered, "I was thinking, just in case..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Benny talked to himself, "Right, right! They should all be brought here. If it’s the last ti, he should see them all."
Before his words had finished echoing, the doctors ca out, and everyone imdiately crowded around.
"The situation has stabilized for now, but it remains very critical. If there’s a next ti..." The doctor didn’t finish his sentence, shaking his head with difficulty.
Alia didn’t care how Emma and the others might see her at this mont, and she stepped forward to plead, "Doctor, can you let and my child go in to be with him?"
Before the doctor could respond, Emma sternly refused, "No! His condition is particularly critical right now; do you want to go in and disturb him?!"
Alia ignored her, her eyes reddening as she waited for an answer from the doctor.
Benny stepped forward to persuade, "Aunt Carter, I understand your feelings right now. But you know who Christopher is most concerned about. We can’t just miss this possible opportunity for recovery because of your prejudices at this point, can we?"
Emma’s face turned iron blue, and she remained silent.
George Hart spoke up, saying, "Doctor, let them go in."
Alia was startled, looking toward George.
On the side, a nurse called out, "Please follow ."
Alia’s heartbeat was frantic as she took Noah’s hand; mother and son exchanged a glance and followed the nurse to change into sterile suits and undergo full-body disinfection.
Ten minutes later, she led Noah into the ICU, taking slow steps toward the man lying among a bundle of tubes, whose life hung by a thread.
When they stopped, she wiped the tears shrouding her eyes, finally seeing his features clearly.
In just one day and night, he had beco gaunt, pale, and thin, as though he had beco soone else.
His head was wrapped in layers of white gauze, his cheeks deford by the pressure of the oxygen mask, his body connected to various tubes, with fluids entering and exiting his body...
His eyes were tightly shut, without any movent, and if not for the "beep beep" sounds of the machine by his bed, he looked as though he had left forever.
Staring blankly for a good while, Alia started to speak hoarsely and with difficulty, "Christopher Hart... I’m here, to see you, bringing your son to see you..."
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