Chapter 170 He Cannot Accept Ava Leaving
Ava was rushed to the hospital. The surgery lasted from noon until evening.
A man stood motionless outside the quiet emergency room, the oppressive aura around him making it hard to breathe.
Some medical staff walking by couldn't help but glance at him a few times, only to notice that his blood-stained hands were trembling slightly.
His eyes were hollow—that was fear, endless fear.
The sharp pain made it impossible for him to breathe.
The girl he had cherished in his palms, afraid she'd get even the slightest hurt, had been injured so badly overnight, her life hanging in the balance.
Joshua couldn't accept it.
In the shadows, Ryan leaned against the wall smoking. He squinted at the lit-up operating room, his hand holding the cigarette trembling. The cigarette burned down to his fingers before he finally snapped back to reality.
After what felt like forever, Joshua sat down in a chair and closed his eyes, exhausted.
Ava will be fine!
She'll be fine!
He comforted himself over and over, hoping to find some solace in these words.
The operating room door opened.
Joshua jumped up as fast as he could. A rush of blood went to his head, and everything went black. Samuel quickly stepped forward to steady him.
Joshua pushed Samuel away. "She's okay, right?" Joshua stared at the doctor and asked.
The doctor paused for a moment and took off his mask. "She's badly injured. Multiple whip wounds on her body damaged her internal organs. The gunshot wound on her leg wasn't treated in time and got infected. She had a high fever when she arrived. The wound on her shoulder was deep with significant blood loss. But fortunately, she was brought in just in time, so she's not in immediate danger right now."
Joshua's eyes dimmed then brightened, his brows furrowed then relaxed, his clenched fists making cracking sounds.
He didn't know if he should feel relieved about this outcome.
At least Ava was okay. She was still alive.
But she was so badly hurt. When he held her, he didn't dare look at her wounds.
When he saw her, she was covered in blood, as fragile as a broken porcelain doll that would shatter completely with just a bit more force.
After a while, he asked again, "When will she wake up?"
The doctor wasn't sure when the patient would wake up either.
The doctor, intimidated by the cold aura emanating from Joshua, lowered his head. The words on the tip of his tongue came out without confidence, afraid that one wrong word would get him frozen to death.
Seeing the doctor didn't answer, Joshua's anxiety made his cold aura even more intense. The doctor immediately said, "...It's hard to say. It depends on her own will. But if the patient doesn't wake up within seventy-two hours, there will be danger."
Joshua's deep eyes grew even darker.
Joshua didn't leave the ICU for even a moment. He sat by Ava's bedside, watching as she was hooked up to various machines, tears blurring his vision without him realizing it.
He gently held Ava's cold hand to his lips and kissed it again and again. "Ava... I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
He bowed his head deeply, his voice full of self-blame.
If he had answered that phone call, maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way.
Why didn't he answer that call?
He really deserved to die.
Why wasn't he the one lying in the hospital bed, covered in wounds, hooked up to all these machines?
Ava, please wake up. I won't lose my temper with you anymore. I was wrong. You're mad at me, aren't you? When you wake up, you can hit me, yell at me, whatever you want, just please wake up.
"Ava... Ava..." Joshua called Ava's name over and over again, hoping this would wake her up.
Over the next few days, Joshua stayed at the hospital with Ava, but he didn't dare tell Finn and Cleo that Ava was still hovering between life and death.
Samuel came twice a day. When he came in the morning, he'd see Joshua sitting by Ava's bedside holding her hand, and when he came at night, Joshua was still in the same position.
He kept watching her, afraid that if he blinked, the person in front of him would disappear.
On the seventh day, Ava still hadn't woken up.
The hospital issued several critical condition notices.
Doctors came in and out repeatedly, and finally had to tell Joshua the worst possibility. "If she doesn't wake up in the next twenty-four hours, there's nothing more we can do."
Joshua's handsome face was covered with exhaustion, his eyes dim without a trace of light.
The doctor changed Ava's dressing and walked out of the ICU helplessly.
Life and death are up to fate—no one can change that.
After the doctor left, the quiet ICU room was filled only with the beeping of machines and Joshua's low, hoarse voice.
"Are you still mad at me for losing my temper? For not answering your call?"
Joshua lowered his eyes and gently brushed Ava's hair from her forehead behind her ear, asking her softly.
"If you're mad at me, then get up. Get up and hit me, stab me with a knife. As long as you wake up, I'll let you do whatever you want, okay?"
No one answered him.
"Ava, can you hear me? Are you going to leave me, Finn, and Cleo? Finn and Cleo depend on you so much. They can't live without you, you know?
I can't live without you either, you know?"
Ava, do you know? I regret it. I regret asking you for a divorce back then. I regret losing my temper with you. I regret not answering your calls.
Ava, you said you'd give me a chance to make things right. You can't go back on your word.
He had never felt this heartbroken before, as if a knife was twisting wildly in his heart, making it impossible to breathe.
He couldn't accept Ava leaving.
He wouldn't allow Ava to leave.
"Ava, wake up!"
Joshua suddenly punched the wall beside him, the endless sadness building up inside him, desperately venting his emotions.
That evening.
Joshua had lost count of how many times he checked the readings on the machines beside her. Even the slightest drop made him afraid Ava would leave in that moment.
Joshua talked to Ava about so many things, as if he wanted to tell her everything he had to say for the rest of his life.
There were two hours left until sunrise, like a final judgment.
Joshua looked down at Ava lying peacefully in the hospital bed without any movement, powerless yet desperately pleading, "Please, don't go, don't go..."
Ava's hand under the blanket moved slightly.
A numb, unconscious feeling spread through her entire body.
Joshua's low voice echoed faintly in her ears.
His voice was incredibly gentle, yet filled with pain, unwillingness, and despair. His pleas touched her heart one by one.
Her butterfly-like eyelashes trembled, and she struggled to open her eyes. Her eyeballs rolled to the corner of her eye sockets, and she saw Joshua with his head bowed.
Her hand moved, and she struggled to move it outside the blanket, lightly touching Joshua.
The next moment, Joshua's body stiffened.
Ava struggled to lift her hand and touched his head. Having not spoken for so long, talking had become difficult, her voice hoarse. "Why are you crying? I'm not dead, am I?"
Suddenly, Joshua looked at her with eyes full of shock.
He gripped her hand tightly, holding it firmly.
"Ava..." Joshua called her name tentatively.
"I'm here. You're not still afraid I'm fake, are you?" Ava asked with a slight smile.
"Doctor, doctor." Joshua was overjoyed, as happy as a child who had regained his treasure. "She's awake. It's so good that you're awake."
A group of doctors rushed in after hearing his call.
Because Ava hadn't woken up and critical condition notices had been issued, they were afraid she might stop breathing at any moment, so they'd been taking turns waiting outside, ready to resuscitate her.
When Joshua called out anxiously, they thought the patient was dying and had prepared for a final resuscitation attempt.
But when their eyes fixed on Ava and moved to her face, they found that her eyes were open.
Every doctor looked at Ava in surprise, as if witnessing a great miracle.
The doctors gave Ava the most thorough examination. Generally, in Ava's condition, as long as she woke up, her condition would improve and she would no longer be in danger.
This was the best news Joshua had heard in recent days.
Seeing Joshua's nervous expression as he held his breath, Ava smiled slightly. "Don't be scared. Now that I'm awake, I won't die."
After the doctors finished examining her, they immediately left, giving the two of them privacy.
During this time, they had clearly seen Joshua staying by Ava's side day and night, unwilling to leave for even a moment.
He held her hand and talked to her about so many things. He loved Ava so much.
Seeing Joshua still frozen in place, Ava called out to him helplessly. She knew that during the days she was unconscious, he must have been terrified.
"Joshua." Ava called him softly, her voice gentle and sweet. "Come here for a second."
Joshua obediently walked to her side.
Ava still couldn't move her body, so she said, "Lower your head."
Ava looked at his hollow, fearful eyes. As he lowered his head, Ava lifted hers slightly and kissed his cold lips.
Joshua froze, his breathing stopping for a moment.
"Are you sure now?"
Ava asked him.
Joshua supported the back of Ava's head and deepened the kiss.
After a while, Joshua let her go, supporting the back of her neck, his nose touching hers. "They said you weren't going to make it."
Scared—he was really scared.
Scared she would leave, that she would abandon him.
He had even been considering the worst outcome—if she really left, he wouldn't want anything, he would go with her.
Thank goodness she was okay. She had woken up.
Ava moved her body. After lying in the hospital bed for so long, her body felt like it was falling apart. When she moved, there were even sounds of joints creaking.
"Don't move." Joshua pressed down on her body.
"Joshua, it's okay now, really okay." Ava's voice gently comforted him.
"That's good." The two were extremely close, feeling each other's breath, each one incredibly real.
...
The morning sunlight slowly rose, streaming generously through the clean glass window into the cold hospital room, shining on her bed, adding a touch of warmth.
Ava slowly looked out the window. "The weather's really nice today. Don't you think so, Joshua?"
"Yes."
Joshua slowly fed Ava porridge. Ava hadn't eaten in a long time and was extremely hungry.
The porridge was fragrant and smooth. Ava ate quite a bit.
"Joshua, have you eaten?"
"Yes."
"You're lying." Ava bluntly called him out. After she woke up, he'd been taking care of her the whole time—where would he have had time to eat?
Joshua brought another spoonful of porridge to her. Ava didn't open her mouth, her eyes looking at Joshua.
"What's wrong?"
"You eat." Ava looked at Joshua—he had lost so much weight. Her eyes were full of concern.
"Later. You finish first." Joshua insisted on bringing the spoon to her mouth.
Ava was more stubborn and turned her head away directly.
"Ava!"
Ava suddenly clutched her chest.
Joshua anxiously put down the porridge and supported Ava. "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"
"My heart hurts." Ava gasped.
Joshua's face darkened. "I'll get the doctor."
"Don't." Ava grabbed his hand. "If you finish breakfast and then go rest, my heart won't hurt anymore."
Joshua turned back to look at Ava—her eyes were smiling. She didn't look uncomfortable at all.
"Do you want to make my heart hurt? Then I'll just hurt to death." Ava let go of his hand and turned her head away proudly, not looking at him.
"Don't talk nonsense." Joshua scolded her.
Ava wouldn't look at him. "Then finish breakfast and go back to rest."
Joshua sighed helplessly.
When it came to Ava, he never had a way to deal with her.
Ava's eyes quietly moved a bit, secretly observing Joshua's expression.
Joshua picked up the bowl and elegantly ate what Ava hadn't finished.
Ava's face showed a gentle smile. "That's more like it."
"By the way, where are Finn and Cleo?" I've been missing these past few days—the two kids must be worried sick.
"At home."
"Good. Do they know I was injured?" Ava missed the two children but was also worried they'd worry about her.
"Yes. I already had Hayden bring them over."
As soon as Joshua finished speaking, a loud shout came from the doorway.
"Ava! Are you okay?"
Hayden rushed in with the two children. His tall figure crowded around the bed, and Ava suddenly felt the light beside her dim.
When Hayden, Finn, and Cleo came in, they saw Ava's leg bandaged, her face pale, looking incredibly weak.
"Mommy," Finn called out to Ava with concern.
Cleo burst into tears.
"Mommy must be in so much pain," Finn blinked twice, and tears the size of beans fell down.
These past few days, there had been no news from Joshua and Ava. Samuel had only told them everything was fine.
But if everything was fine, why hadn't Joshua and Ava come back?
Finn and Cleo weren't stupid—they could guess that something must have happened to Ava.
It wasn't until this morning that they were told Ava was in the hospital.
Hayden immediately rushed over with the two of them. The two had already cried the whole way over.
"Ava, you had us so worried."
"Ava, Ava."
Another voice rang out from the doorway.
Isabella rushed in frantically. When she saw Ava, the tears that had been building up in her eyes immediately began to flow wildly.
"I..." Ava was just about to speak when Isabella's tears were already falling.
"Ava, how did this happen? Who kidnapped you? I'll go get revenge for you right now."
Suddenly the hospital room was filled with crying, like a symphony. Anyone who didn't know better would think it was a funeral.
With such a sad atmosphere, people passing by outside couldn't help but glance inside, then silently shake their heads and walk away.
Ava smiled slightly. "Actually... I'm fine. Please stop crying..."
"How can you be fine? You're so badly injured. We've been worried sick for days since you disappeared." Isabella was heartbroken.
Finn and Cleo had been worried and scared for so many days. Seeing Ava, all their emotions poured out at once, and no one could console them.
Ava was helpless. "Stop crying. I'm really okay. I'll be fine after resting for a few days."
But Ava's body was still weak, her voice too soft, directly drowned out by the loud crying.
"I really..."
"Get out." Joshua furrowed his brows and roared.
Isabella and Hayden blinked. Isabella's voice immediately stopped, and she didn't forget to cover Finn and Cleo's mouths.
Finn and Cleo blinked twice, looking at Joshua at a loss.
Ava finally got a chance to speak. "I'm really okay. Don't worry. Stop crying—it's actually kind of noisy... Finn, Cleo, I can't hug you right now, but please don't cry anymore, okay? You're making me want to cry too. Do you want to see me sad?"
Finn and Cleo always listened to Ava. Tears still kept falling, but the crying had stopped. They shook their heads hard.
"That's right. I don't want you to be sad either."
Isabella and Hayden stayed at the hospital for a while before being impatiently kicked out by Joshua. Finn and Cleo were fortunate to be protected by Ava.
"Joshua, go back and rest. We agreed on this earlier." Ava looked at the dark circles under Joshua's eyes—clearly from not sleeping for a long time. He must have been exhausted during this period. Ava's heart ached seeing him like this.
Joshua couldn't win against Ava and was kicked out of the hospital room by her.
Seeing Joshua come out of the hospital, Samuel immediately stepped forward to open the car door. Joshua got in the car and wearily rubbed his temples.
"Have you found out?"