Chapter 320

Chapter 320
Lucas
 
I stared at my phone in disbelief, reading the message. Two days ago, Dr. Phillip had been adamant—retired, unavailable, not interested in any case, no matter how critical. His secretary had practically hung up on me when I'd tried to explain Flynn's condition. The man was legendary in neurosurgery circles, particularly for his work with unusual spinal injuries, but he'd made it clear his operating days were over.
 
Now, out of nowhere, his office was calling me back.
 
"Alpha Lucas?" The voice on the other end was Dr. Phillip's personal assistant, the same woman who'd dismissed me days earlier. "Dr. Phillip has reconsidered your request regarding the Flynn case. He's reviewed the medical files you sent and is willing to perform the surgery."
 
I nearly dropped the phone. "He's... what? Are you certain?"
 
"Quite certain. Dr. Phillip will arrive tomorrow morning to begin preparation. He'll want to examine the patient personally before proceeding."
 
Something felt off about this sudden change of heart. I had pulled every string I could, called in every favor, and still, nothing had worked. This kind of turnaround didn't just happen. But questioning it now would only waste time. Flynn was still in critical condition, and if Dr. Phillip could save him, that's all that mattered.
 
"Thank you," I managed. "We'll have everything ready for his arrival."
 
The moment I ended the call, I headed straight for the hospital. Freya needed to know immediately.
 
---
 
I found Freya in the hospital. She looked exhausted, her usually pristine appearance showing signs of the stress she'd been under since the accident. Flynn was still unconscious, the monitors around him beeping steadily but ominously.
 
"Freya," I said softly, walking in. "I have news about Dr. Phillip."
 
Her head snapped toward me, hope and desperation warring in her expression. "Did you find him? Will he come?"
 
"He's coming tomorrow morning," I said, watching as her face transformed with relief. "He changed his mind about the case. He'll examine Flynn personally and perform the surgery if he deems it viable."
 
For a moment, she just stared at me, as if afraid to believe it. Then she leaned back in her chair, her hands trembling slightly. "How did you convince him? I thought he was completely retired."
 
"I didn't," I admitted, sitting down across from her. "I've been pulling every favor I could, but nothing worked. This... this wasn't me. I don't know what changed his mind, but he's coming."
 
Freya's eyes narrowed, and I could see her sharp mind working. She knew as well as I did that this kind of reversal didn't happen without a reason. "Do you think... it's my mother?" she asked hesitantly. "Celia? She has connections, and she's always been... protective."
 
I hesitated. The thought had crossed my mind. Celia was powerful, and her influence extended far beyond what most people realized. If anyone could sway Dr. Phillip, it was her. But bringing her up now would only complicate things. "It's possible," I said carefully. "But right now, the only thing that matters is Flynn. Let's focus on getting him through this."
 
Freya nodded, her gaze drifting back to her brother. "You're right. I just... I can't believe he's actually coming."
 
---
 
The next morning, Dr. Phillip arrived as promised. He was exactly as intimidating as his reputation suggested—a silver-haired man in his seventies with sharp blue eyes and an air of absolute authority. He examined Flynn with methodical precision, flipping through charts and scans with a practiced eye.
 
"The silver fragments have caused significant damage," he said finally, his voice clipped and professional. "They're dangerously close to the spinal cord, and if left untreated, the risk of permanent paralysis is high. However, I believe surgery can remove them without causing further harm."
 
Freya's hands tightened around the arms of her chair. "What are the risks?"
 
"Every surgery carries risks," Dr. Phillip replied, his tone unflinching. "Infection, paralysis, or worse. But without intervention, Flynn's condition will continue to deteriorate. I wouldn't have agreed to this if I didn't believe I could help."
 
Freya looked at me, and I could see the conflict in her eyes. She wanted reassurance, but I couldn't give her false promises. I reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "It's our best shot," I said softly.
 
She nodded, her jaw tightening with resolve. "When can you operate?"
 
"Immediately," Dr. Phillip said. "The sooner, the better. I'll need several hours, so you'll have to wait outside."
 
As he and his team prepared to move Flynn to the operating room, Freya and I were ushered into the waiting area. The hours dragged by, each minute feeling like an eternity. Freya paced the room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, while I sat quietly, trying to keep my own anxiety in check.
 
Finally, Dr. Phillip emerged, still in his scrubs but with a faint smile on his face. "The surgery was successful," he announced. "We removed all visible silver fragments and repaired the damaged tissue. Barring complications, Flynn should make a full recovery."
 
Freya let out a shuddering breath, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Thank you."
 
Dr. Phillip gave a curt nod. "He's being moved to recovery now. You can see him briefly, but he'll be unconscious for several more hours."
 
As he walked away, Freya turned to me, her hands trembling as she reached for mine. "He's going to be okay," she said, her voice barely audible.
 
I pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly. "He is," I whispered into her hair. "And so will you."
 
Flynn would recover, and if Celia was the one who had made this possible, I'd find a way to thank her. But for now, all that mattered was that Freya had her brother back. And maybe, just maybe, we'd found our way through the darkness together.