Chapter 280: Best of Luck to You
Thanks to the swift emergency response, the doctors informed them that if they had arrived just three minutes later, there would have been no chance of saving him.
Vance’s blade had pierced William’s chest, hitting a major artery right near the heart.
He had lost a massive amount of blood, depriving his brain of oxygen for far too long.
For two whole weeks, he showed no sign of regaining consciousness.
The nurse had already finished her routine care—wiping down William's body and massaging his limbs to prevent bedsores.
Isabella set the chicken soup she'd just made on the bedside table.
"It's been two weeks. You promised me you'd agree to the divorce, remember? If you don’t wake up soon, I’ll think you’re stalling on purpose again."
William lay motionless and silent, as if silently acknowledging her accusation.
Isabella sat beside the hospital bed, her feelings toward William impossibly tangled.
After all that had happened that day, old grievances somehow felt less important to her now.
William had ended up in this condition because of her. The overwhelming guilt made it almost unbearable for her to look him in the eye. She desperately hoped he would wake up.
The door swung open from outside. Richard strode in holding a folder, naturally pulling up a chair to sit across from Isabella.
"The court’s decision was finally handed down."
The kidnapping case had caused massive public outrage. After being arrested, the three kidnappers flatly refused to cooperate with the police, desperately trying to coordinate their stories and conceal evidence. Their conduct had been truly despicable.
"Under the court’s ruling, each was sentenced to thirty-five years behind bars."
For this type of case, it was an exceptionally harsh sentence—mainly because William had fallen into a coma due to their actions and still hadn't woken up.
"What about Laura?"
Only after that day had Isabella learned that Laura's entire identity had been fabricated.
Isabella had to admit—Laura truly hadn't missed a single opportunity to climb the social ladder. She'd even manipulated her own stepfather's child.
Lies mixed with half-truths were the easiest kind to believe.
"She's already been locked up for fraud. But the Montagu family is still in the evidence-gathering phase. It depends on whether Ophelia is willing to help. If she can hire a good lawyer, there might be a chance for a reduced sentence."
Isabella nodded thoughtfully, then turned back to look at William lying in the hospital bed, oblivious to it all.
Lucky him—he'd slept through all the chaos and upheaval. When he finally woke, he'd find the whole world had changed.
Three months later.
Isabella held up the new product performance test report, glancing sideways at Richard beside her.
"These trial numbers look decent. After some adjustments, we can consider moving to the next phase of calibration."
Richard scanned the test report and nodded. "You're the experts. I'll defer to your professional judgment."
Isabella stood to discuss adjustment plans with Emily.
Just as she approached, her phone rang, interrupting her.
She pulled it out and was surprised to see Nathan calling.
Since William had fallen into a coma, Nathan had been taken back to Montagu Manor. Over these past months, aside from a few encounters at the hospital, he hadn't contacted Isabella at all.
"Hold on a second." Isabella walked to a corner of the testing facility to take the call.
"What's wrong?"
"Mom," Nathan's voice burst out urgently, unable to contain his excitement. "Dad's awake!"
Isabella froze mid-step, her hand trembling slightly as she gripped the phone.
"Mom, can you come to the hospital to see Dad? The doctors are examining him right now. Dad says he really wants to see you."
Nathan's voice grew hesitant, taking on a pleading tone.
"Okay." Isabella agreed, ending the call to meet Richard's questioning gaze.
Her expression was complicated. "William woke up."
They'd both prepared themselves for the possibility that William might need long-term bedridden care. Richard and Isabella had already found the best rehabilitation specialists and neurologists.
Against all their expectations, William had woken up on his own.
It was an unexpected blessing.
Richard hesitated for just a moment before naturally pulling out his car keys. "That's good news. Come on, let's go to the hospital."
After giving a few more instructions about the experiment details, Isabella left with Richard.
When they arrived, the nurse was helping William—just back from his examination—while Nathan hovered nearby excitedly.
His limbs still stiff, William turned with difficulty. Seeing Isabella and Richard, his eyes froze for a moment.
"You came?"
His voice was hoarse, as if scraped by coarse sandpaper.
Isabella said nothing. Richard hummed an acknowledgment, and they both stepped inside together.
There wasn't really much for them to say to each other. Aside from Nathan's occasional sounds, the atmosphere grew awkwardly quiet.
"I had a very long dream," William said, being helped to sit on the sofa.
Sleeping for three and a half months—of course it was a long dream, Isabella thought.
"Laura wasn't in the dream," William continued, his storm-weathered eyes sweeping calmly across Isabella's face. "We were still a happy family."
After sailing through countless trials, he'd finally realized he'd been wrong.
But it was too late.
Nathan looked up, blinking once before pursing his lips at William.
Quickly, he turned toward Isabella, his face full of embarrassment. "Mom, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have believed Laura."
Nathan's apology was sincere as he lowered his small head before Isabella.
Isabella pressed her lips together. She couldn't bring herself to scold him, but forgiveness didn't come easily either.
"Once I've recovered, I'll sign the divorce papers," William said, the corner of his mouth lifting in a somewhat bitter smile.
Everything now was the bitter fruit he'd planted himself.
Isabella hadn't expected William to agree so readily. After a moment of surprise, she nodded lightly. "Okay."
One week later.
After comprehensive medical evaluation, William was cleared for discharge, though he still relied on a wheelchair for mobility.
At ten o'clock in the morning, Isabella and William smoothly signed their divorce agreement.
No delays, no obstacles. Everything went so seamlessly it felt almost unreal.
"Isabella." As they left the courthouse, William called her name.
Standing at the bottom of the steps, Isabella looked up at William.
"Best of luck to you." William's throat worked as he forced out the words.
Isabella smiled and nodded. "You too. Good luck."
Turning, she spotted Richard standing by the roadside not far away. Seeing Isabella emerge, he strode over.
"Emily just sent word—yesterday's trial went very smoothly. At the fastest, we could move to performance testing in three months."
As Isabella walked, she said, "I saw the message. There are still quite a few areas that need refinement. Let's not rush the timeline."
Before getting in the car, Isabella inadvertently glanced back at William. He was still standing at the courthouse entrance, motionless.
Isabella quickly looked away, composing herself.
Everything was passing like clouds. From now on, the most important thing for her was reclaiming the peak of her career.