Chapter 384

Chapter 384

Meanwhile.

Outside the hospital, a Bentley sat quietly at the entrance.

Sterling sat in the car, staring at the hospital, his expression heavy with worry.

His phone lit up beside him.

It was a message from Nolan—

[The emergency treatment is over. Willow is in the ICU now.]

At the first half of the sentence, Sterling's brow started to relax, but then, seeing 'ICU', his frown deepened even more.

Without replying, he got out of the car and entered the hospital, seeking out the surgeon who had operated on Willow.

"I've already discussed the specifics with Mrs. Spencer." The doctor said, "The stab wound was dangerously close to her heart. We had to fight hard to save her."

Sterling's expression was cold and grim. "How long until she wakes up?"

The doctor shook his head. "This is the first time I've encountered a case like this."

He paused, looking at Sterling with hesitation.

Sterling's heart sank further. "Speak."

The doctor said, "The chances of full recovery are slim. She may remain unconscious for an extended period. Even if she does wake up, her body will never be the same as before."

Seeing Sterling's icy expression, the doctor quickly added, "Of course, we can't rule out the possibility of a miracle."

Sterling remained silent for a moment before saying, "I understand. Thank you for your hard work."

With that, he stood and left.

Outside the ICU.

The hallway lights cast a dim, sickly glow, wrapped in an eerie silence.

Maria sat on a bench in the corridor.

After seven or eight grueling hours, combined with worry for her granddaughter, Maria's complexion looked terrible.

Nolan was deeply concerned. "Mrs. Spencer, please go rest for a bit. I'll keep watch here. If anything happens with Willow, I'll call you right away."

Maria shook her head. "I need to stay with Willow. Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep."

Looking at her exhausted face, Nolan said, "But if something happens to you, Willow will blame herself when she wakes up."

Maria didn't respond, only shook her head to make her position clear.

Nolan sighed helplessly. "Then I'll get some blankets from the nurses so you can sleep on the bench."

With that, he turned to find a nurse.

He had only taken two steps when he saw Sterling walking toward him.

Nolan frowned and stopped, using his eyes to signal that Maria was still there.

Sterling saw Maria behind him, and Maria, hearing his footsteps, turned to look.

"What are you doing here?" Maria stood up angrily. "I said you're not welcome here!"

Sterling stopped at the door and said quietly, "I came to see her."

Through the glass, seeing Willow lying on the hospital bed, Sterling's heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand, making it hard to breathe.

However, just as he was about to look at Willow's face more closely, Maria shoved him from the side.

"Where were you when Willow was in danger? Now you care about her? Too late!" Maria's eyes were red as she pushed and hit him. "My granddaughter doesn't need your fake concern! She has me, and that's enough! Get out! Get out now!"

"Mrs. Spencer," seeing Maria's agitation, Nolan quickly came over to restrain her. "Please calm down."

Maria struggled in his arms. "How can I calm down? Nolan, throw this bastard out for me!"

As she spoke, Maria's tears fell again. "I should never have agreed to let you two be together, much less allowed Willow to return to the Brown family! It's all my fault. I failed to protect her..."

Maria's anguished voice echoed through the corridor.

For a moment, neither Nolan nor Sterling could speak.

After a long while, Sterling spoke heavily. "It's my fault. You have every right to be angry with me. I promised to go with her, but I didn't."

Maria choked up, unable to speak.

Sterling glanced at Willow in the hospital room again and said, "No matter what, I won't let anything happen to her. Before she wakes up, please take care of yourself. There's someone watching the room 24/7, and there's an empty room upstairs where you can rest anytime."

With that, he nodded to Nolan and turned to leave.

Only Maria's sorrowful sobs remained in the corridor.

Willow remained in the ICU for two days without any complications. On the third day, she was transferred to a regular ward, but still hadn't woken up.

During this time, Maria stayed by her side constantly.

Nolan also took time off to stay at the hospital with Maria, helping with errands.

Maria didn't want to trouble him and told him to leave, but Nolan refused.

Regardless of his current feelings for Willow, given her and Maria's situation, no one would leave Maria to care for a patient day and night alone.

On the fifth day, Molly rushed to the hospital.

"Willow," seeing the person lying on the bed with her eyes closed, Molly's eyes immediately reddened.

She turned to ask Nolan, "She hasn't woken up at all these past few days?"

Nolan nodded.

Seeing this, Molly's cheeks puffed up. After holding back for a long time, she finally couldn't help but cry, sobbing and cursing at the same time.

"I should have come earlier! Willow, wake up! I still have so much to tell you!"

Molly leaned over the bed, clutching Willow's hand. "If you don't wake up and I get bullied, who's going to stand up for me? I've been so exhausted these past few days. I wanted to visit you, but the production team wouldn't give me time off."

On the bed, Willow's eyes remained tightly shut, showing no response.

Molly cried even harder.

Maria, who had finally calmed down, heard her crying and her eyes reddened too, silently wiping away tears.

Nolan looked at Maria, then at Molly, completely helpless.

"Alright, crying like this won't help. You're affecting Mrs. Spencer, too."

He went over and helped Molly up. "The doctor said Willow's vital signs have been stable recently. At least there's no immediate danger to her life. The rest, we can only leave to fate."

After crying for a while, Molly recovered and asked him between sobs, "Why are you here? Where's Mr. Lancaster?"

Her eyes still glistened with tears, but her gaze at Nolan now carried wariness.

Without asking, he knew what she was thinking.

Nolan sighed helplessly. "Mrs. Spencer drove them all away. I was worried about leaving her alone. I've been in contact with Mr. Lancaster the whole time."

Hearing this, Molly finally relaxed. "That's more like it."

With that, she wiped away her tears and pulled out her phone from her bag. "Then let's exchange contact info. If anything happens with Willow, please let me know."

She naturally opened her contact card and had Nolan scan it.

Nolan couldn't help but glance at her. He still remembered how hostile Molly had been toward him, and now she was ordering him around so naturally...

However, Molly's expression was so matter-of-fact.

In the end, Nolan said nothing and added her as a contact.