Chapter 53
"The patient has lost too much blood, but there was a major multi-car pileup this morning, and our blood bank is depleted. Does anyone have AB blood type?" The nurse asked urgently.
Anson instinctively looked at Edward.
Edward spoke up, "I do."
Edward sat back in the chair, watching the blood being drawn from his body.
After the donation, he asked the nurse, "She's going to be okay, right?"
"Hard to say. The patient is still in critical condition. She lost an enormous amount of blood and went into shock. But rest assured, we're doing everything possible to save her."
The nurse didn't look at him as she hurried away with the blood bag.
Anson stood at the doorway and quickly approached when Edward emerged.
"Mr. Thomas, are you alright?"
Edward remained silent.
Anson hesitated before asking, "Have you... forgiven Ms. Brown?"
Those two simple words were easier said than done.
Edward shot him an icy glare. "You talk too much."
Anson fell silent.
Still, he couldn't help thinking Edward was in denial. If he truly hated her, why would he donate blood to save her life? What would drive him to such lengths if not the deepest kind of love?
Of course, he didn't dare voice these thoughts, keeping them safely locked in his mind.
The night slipped away quietly.
Adeline had a dream.
She knew with crystal clarity it was a dream, yet couldn't wake herself from it.
A thick fog surrounded her.
No path behind, no path ahead.
She wandered aimlessly, venturing deeper into the mist.
Just as her silhouette was about to vanish completely, a familiar voice reached her ears.
"Mommy."
Lily!
Adeline spun around immediately, but it wasn't Lily who appeared before her.
It was Edward.
"I will never forgive you."
His face was cold and resolute. The overwhelming hatred transformed into black fog, engulfing her until she couldn't breathe.
"No, Lily..."
She watched as Edward carried Lily away.
Not once did he look back.
They simply walked out of her world.
No matter how she begged, how she chased after them, she couldn't catch up.
The moment Lily disappeared, Adeline jolted awake.
The hospital room was empty.
Only her rapid breathing lingered in the silence.
In the hallway.
Anson updated Edward, "Zach made it through surgery. His life is no longer in danger, though he's still unconscious. His throat was severely injured, and he may never speak again when he wakes up."
"At least he's alive."
As long as there was life, there was hope.
"Unfortunately, the assassin escaped. He seemed incredibly familiar with the mountain terrain. The police searched extensively but couldn't find any trace of him."
Anson continued, "However, the assassin was injured. There's blood evidence, and the police are tracking these traces now."
Edward's eyes darkened, "Spare no expense in Zach's recovery."
No one understood better than Anson what this witness meant to Edward.
"Yes, sir."
Just then, they heard a crash from the hospital room.
Like a glass shattering.
Edward rushed into the room to find Adeline awake. She appeared thirsty and had tried to reach for the water glass on the bedside table, accidentally knocking it to the floor.
It had shattered completely.
"I'm sorry, I—"
"Don't apologize."
She was always like this—her first words invariably an apology.
Utterly humble.
Edward poured her a fresh glass of warm water.
Adeline wanted to drink, but the wound in her abdomen throbbed with pain. She couldn't sit up. Biting her lip, she tried to push herself up with both hands, only to break into a cold sweat from the agony.
Edward pressed her back down, "Don't move."
He found a straw in the bedside drawer and placed it between her lips.
"Drink."
Adeline took a sip.
The warm water flowing down her parched throat felt like rain after a long drought.
After she finished, Edward set the glass down.
"The doctor says your wound isn't too serious, but you lost a significant amount of blood. You need proper rest for a while."
"Okay. Thank you for saving me."
"Technically, you saved me, too."
If she hadn't kept the assassin occupied for so long, he wouldn't have had time to escape his bindings.
The final result would have been both of their deaths.
Though he thought her actions were utterly foolish.
He looked down at her from his full height.
"Where was your brain?"
Adeline froze.
The question was so unexpected, she didn't know how to respond.
"Did you honestly think your tiny frame could overpower a professionally trained assassin?"
"No."
"Then why did you try?"
Edward couldn't comprehend it.
It was practically suicide.
If that knife had struck just a little more precisely—if it had pierced her heart.
Adeline would have died instantly.
One hundred percent certainty.
Adeline murmured, "I didn't think that far ahead."
The situation hadn't allowed for much thought. She just knew she couldn't let Edward die.
His life had been difficult enough.
He couldn't die on a desolate mountain because of her.
If that had happened, she would never have found peace. Her remaining years would have been consumed by guilt.
These past six years had been torturous enough.
Just six years, and they had nearly broken her.
"If you think this kind of sacrifice will earn my forgiveness, let me tell you—you're delusional."
Edward maintained his characteristic coldness before turning and walking out of the room.
Adeline's gaze lingered long after he'd gone.
A bitter smile crossed her face.
She hadn't expected forgiveness this way. She knew she didn't deserve it.
-
Edward stormed down the hallway, triggered by something he couldn't quite name.
Anson didn't dare ask, just followed closely behind.
Suddenly, Edward's steps faltered. His tall frame swayed before collapsing to the ground.
"Mr. Thomas!"
Anson rushed forward.
He helped Edward to the emergency room. Fortunately, Edward's condition wasn't serious—he had simply gone a day and night without sleep or food, plus donated blood.
Though he appeared fine on the surface, his body had finally given out.
"What happened?"
Anson looked toward the voice, "Aaron."
Aaron had rushed over after receiving the news. Entering the room, he immediately assessed Edward. "What's going on? Someone tried to kill you both?"
Anson quickly explained the situation.
Aaron raised an eyebrow, his smile characteristically polite and gentle, "Has Edward's brain stopped working?"
He could say such things, but Anson wouldn't dare agree.
Aaron pushed his glasses up, saying with scholarly refinement, "I think his brain has malfunctioned if he's falling into the same trap twice."
Edward woke up to this insult as the first thing he heard.
"No one would mistake you for mute if you didn't speak."
Aaron smiled slightly, "Find my words offensive? Truth is often unpleasant. If you hadn't gotten yourself into this mess, I wouldn't need to say such things."
He had watched Edward go from having everything to losing it all, then slowly rebuilding his life step by step to reach his current position.
His current standing appeared glamorous.
But many coveted his position, and many watched his every move. He was surrounded mostly by enemies.
"Obsession with the past is a poison, and these grand romantic gestures will be the death of you."
Such beautiful phrases sounded mocking coming from Aaron's mouth.
Edward remained silent for a moment.
Unusually, he didn't contradict his friend's words.
"Never again."
"What do you mean?"
Edward looked up, his deep eyes revealing profound exhaustion.
"This is the last time."