Chapter 257: Stats: Stable

"Notify Obstetrics. We need them involved as well. And order full-body X-rays. I want to rule out fractures."

"Yes, Doctor."

Half an hour later, Lucas was wheeled from one department to another.

The CT scanner hummed as images of his head were taken.

Next came X-rays of his skull, neck, spine, chest, pelvis, arms, and legs.

Blood samples were drawn for laboratory analysis.

Finally, an obstetric specialist performed an early pregnancy assessment.

The room remained unusually quiet as the medical team reviewed every result carefully.

One doctor scrolled through the CT images while another studied the X-rays displayed on the monitor.

After several tense minutes, the senior physician finally let out a slow breath.

"Good news."

Everyone looked toward him. "There are no fractures."

The orthopedic doctor nodded in agreement.

"His spine is intact. No broken ribs. No fractures in the arms, pelvis, or legs. The fall was severe, but somehow he escaped without any broken bones."

A young nurse smiled with relief.

"That's incredible."

The senior physician wasn't celebrating just yet. “He wasn't completely lucky."

He pointed at the brain scan.

"There is a mild concussion and a small soft-tissue injury at the back of his head."

He enlarged the image on the screen. "The swelling is minimal, and there is no evidence of internal bleeding."

Another doctor nodded. "It should heal with observation and adequate rest but I hope…”

Every eye gazed at him.

…it doesn't have an after effect like amnesia."

Silence followed that sentence.

The obstetric specialist stepped forward with her own report.

"As for the pregnancy..." Everyone instinctively kept silent.

"The gestational sac appears intact. There are currently no signs that the fall has affected the pregnancy."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the room.

"However," she continued, "it is still extremely early, because of the trauma, we cannot lower our guard.

He'll need close monitoring over the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

If he develops severe headaches, excessive bleeding, abdominal pain, or repeated vomiting, we'll act immediately."

The senior physician closed the patient's file. "For now, he was extraordinarily fortunate. He suffered only a minor head injury. No broken bones, and, against all odds, the little life he's carrying still appears safe."

Outside the emergency room, however, no one waiting knew any of that yet.

Alex, the family, and everyone else could only stare anxiously at the closed doors, praying for the doctor to come out with good news.

The doors to the emergency unit finally swung open.

The head physician stepped into the waiting area, still holding Lucas's medical file.

Every conversation stopped.

Alex was the first to move. He practically ran to the doctor, his face pale, his eyes swollen and red from hours of crying.

"Doctor..." His voice shook.

"Please..." He grabbed the doctor's arm before quickly letting go.

"Please tell me he'll be alright."

The doctor's expression softened.

"I know you've all been worried."

He glanced at the anxious faces gathered behind Alex before speaking.

"The good news is that Mr. Lucas is stable."

A chorus of relieved sighs echoed through the hallway.

Alex's knees nearly gave out.

He pressed a trembling hand against his chest. "Stable?"

"Yes."

The doctor nodded reassuringly.

"He suffered a mild concussion and a minor injury to the back of his head.

We've completed a CT scan, multiple X-rays, and several other examinations. There are no broken bones. No internal bleeding."

Alex shut his eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks.

"Thank God..." He muttered gratefully.

The doctor continued. "The pregnancy also appears unaffected."

That sentence made everyone release another collective breath.

Sally clasped her hands together.

"Oh, thank You, Lord."

Annie burst into tears, covering her mouth.

Jason lowered his head, relief washing over him.

The doctor, however, lifted a finger.

"But..."

Everyone's smiles disappeared.

"Because of the fall and because the pregnancy is still in its early stages, we cannot relax yet. He'll remain under close observation.

The next twenty-four to forty-eight hours are very important.

We'll monitor him for worsening concussion symptoms and keep a close watch on the pregnancy."

Alex nodded immediately.

"We'll do whatever you say."

The doctor gave him a small smile.

That's all we're asking. Right now, he needs rest."

An hour later, Lucas was transferred from the emergency department to a private hospital suite.

The room was quiet, with soft lighting and continuous monitoring equipment.

Lucas lay peacefully on the bed.

A small bandage rested beneath his hair near the back of his head.

His face looked unusually pale, but his breathing was steady.

Beep...Beep... rhythm of the heart monitor filled the room.

The nurse stepped outside. "You may see him briefly."

The family quietly entered.

Sally walked over first, gently stroking Lucas's hair. "My poor child..."

Her eyes became wet again.

"You've frightened all of us."

Annie squeezed Lucas's hand carefully. "You'd better wake up soon."

Jason smiled faintly. "You still owe me that dinner."

Even Caleb Benson quietly stood at the foot of the bed. "I'm glad you're going to be alright."

The head nurse returned after several minutes.."I'm sorry. Visiting time is over."

She looked toward Alex. "Only one person may stay with the patient tonight."

Without hesitation, Alex spoke.

"I'll stay."

The nurse smiled. "I thought so, but please no more crying."

Everyone slowly filed out. Before leaving, Sally hugged her son tightly.

"Take care of him dear."

"I will, Mom." Alex never took his eyes off Lucas. Not even once.

Nearly two minutes later, the peaceful atmosphere outside the room was shattered.

"Where is my son?"

The furious voice echoed through the hospital corridor.

Lucas's father stormed toward the room, Emily struggling to keep up behind him.

He pointed an accusing finger at Alex the moment he saw him.

"You! This is your fault! If you had stayed away from him like I told you, none of this would've happened! You brought nothing but trouble into my son's life!"

Alex slowly stood. His exhausted eyes met the older man's. He looked too drained to argue.

But before he could speak Caleb Benson stepped between them.

"That's enough."

Lucas's father glared. "Stay out of this!"

"My son nearly died because of your reckless son!"

Caleb's expression hardened. "No. He nearly died because you forced him into a marriage he never wanted."

The hallway became deathly silent.

Lucas's father froze.

Caleb continued, his voice calm but razor-sharp. "You manipulated your son while he had memory loss. You ignored his feelings. You pressured him into remaining in a marriage that should never have happened. If he hadn't gone there today to deliver divorce papers, he would never have been standing on those stairs."

Lucas' father's face flushed with anger. "How dare you accuse me? I'm his father! I was protecting him!"

"No. You're a bad father.” Caleb took another step forward. "You were controlling him."

Hospital security, sensing the escalating confrontation, hurried over. "Sir, please calm down."

Lucas's father shook off one of the guards. “I have every right to see my son!"

"You do but you're not seeing him today. You're a bad father. Caleb replied evenly. And you have no right to harass my son."

Lucas's father struggled against the guards.

"I'm not leaving! I want that manipulative son of yours away from Lucas!"

Caleb looked toward his lawyer, who had accompanied the family earlier.

"Mr. Adams."

The lawyer stepped forward.

"Yes, Mr. Benson."

"I want legal proceedings against Mr Westman started immediately."

“What?”