Chapter 165
After Ella finished massaging Joshua, she noticed Aurora had fallen asleep lying by the pillow.
She carried Aurora to the couch to sleep.
Then came back to sit by the bed, watching Joshua.
He had been asleep for three years now.
During these three years, a lot had happened around them.
Mason had gotten married and had a two-year-old son.
She had also successfully taken the CEO position with Heath's help, and both Aurora and Dorian were in elementary school now.
Ella looked at Joshua, still unconscious, and asked softly, "How much longer are you going to keep sleeping?"
"Don't you want to see how much your children have grown?"
"You always wanted me to forgive you, right? If you're willing to wake up, we can start over and forget about the past."
"Joshua, I'm giving you one more year. If you still haven't woken up after a year, I'll never come see you again."
"If you like lying here so much, then just lie here forever!"
Seeing it was getting late, Ella didn't want to stay any longer. She got up, picked up the sleeping Aurora, and left the hospital room.
However, right after she left, the man on the bed suddenly moved his fingers.
Then his eyebrows, his eyelashes.
But he still didn't wake up right away.
Early the next morning, when Samuel came in, he noticed the heart monitor's rhythm had changed.
He quickly went over to give Joshua a full examination.
Before he finished the examination, he was amazed to see Joshua slowly opening his eyes.
Samuel was thrilled and quickly leaned down, calling to him, "Joshua, you're finally awake."
He actually woke up.
This man had been shot three times, and both legs were completely damaged. Samuel had thought his chances of waking up were very slim.
He didn't expect him to miraculously wake up after just three years.
But Joshua's consciousness still seemed foggy after opening his eyes.
His eyes were blank, staring straight at the ceiling without any movement.
Samuel continued checking his vital signs. After confirming there was no danger to his life, he spoke again, "Joshua, can you hear me?"
After a long while, Joshua finally gained some awareness.
His eyes began to move, his gaze falling on Samuel.
A dry, rough grinding sound came from his throat. After a long time, he finally managed to say, "I'm not dead?"
Hearing Joshua speak clearly, though still so weak and powerless, this was already a medical miracle.
Samuel couldn't help but feel tears welling up. "Yes, you're not dead. You're alive, and your daughter Aurora is alive too."
Hearing Aurora's name, Joshua's heart stirred, and his gaze turned back to the ceiling.
All the memories of what he'd been through came flooding back like a tide.
Aurora, his daughter.
Was she really still alive?
If she were alive, would Ella forgive him?
At this moment, Joshua desperately wanted to see Ella and Aurora, wanted to hear Aurora call him daddy.
When he turned to look at Samuel, his eyes were wet.
Using all his strength, he managed to say, "I want to see Aurora and Ella."
Samuel nodded in agreement, "Okay, I'll call Ella. They'll be so happy to know you've woken up."
After all, for these three years, Ella had come to stay with Joshua every day.
Joshua being able to wake up must be because Ella and Aurora came to keep him company every day.
Joshua tried to sit up, wanting to meet Ella and Aurora in better condition.
But he found he had no feeling in his lower body at all.
He tried moving a few times, but still no feeling.
Joshua looked at Samuel, "My legs, why can't I move them?"
To keep him from losing the will to live, Samuel could only lie, "The anesthesia probably hasn't worn off yet. Just lie down for now, I'll go call Ella."
Joshua saw Samuel's obviously evasive look and knew it definitely wasn't what Samuel said.
He had been shot twice back then.
He didn't know how long he'd been lying here, so how could there still be anesthesia?
He had no feeling at all now—did that mean his legs were already ruined?
Seeing Samuel about to leave, Joshua used all his strength to call out, "Samuel."
Samuel turned back to look at him, "What is it?"
Joshua said weakly, "Don't let Ella come yet. I don't want her to see me like this."
If his legs were really ruined and he couldn't stand up anymore, what was the point of seeing Ella?
To gain her sympathy?
He couldn't do something like that.
He didn't want to morally blackmail Ella even more.
He still wanted to appear before Ella and the children healthy and normal.
Samuel understood that Joshua cared about his dignity.
He wouldn't force him.
He also didn't tell him that Ella actually came with the children every day.
He told Joshua to rest well, and he'd go notify Jasper and Ava.
The Lewis family.
After Ella helped Aurora and Dorian wash up and get ready to go downstairs for breakfast, she stopped by to check on Vida and the baby.
Through the open door, she immediately saw Vida sitting on the bed holding the baby, head down, crying.
Thinking about how Mason hadn't come home again last night, she walked in and asked, "Vida, are you okay?"
Vida quickly wiped away her tears and adjusted herself to face Ella.
"I'm fine. You're up early, Ella."
"Yeah, I need to take the kids to school in a bit."
Ella took the baby from Vida. Seeing Vida's red, swollen eyes, looking like she hadn't slept all night, she felt sorry for her.
"Did you fight with Mason?"
Vida shook her head, forcing a strong smile, "No."
"You don't have to pretend to be strong in front of me. I'll go talk to him later."
Ella had known from the start that this business marriage wouldn't make either of them happy.
Besides, Mason had always had Scarlett in his heart.
Although Scarlett was dead, it was precisely because she was dead that she remained deeply imprinted in Mason's heart.
Maybe after three years, Mason still hadn't let go. Now he was unwilling to endure it anymore, which was why he was treating Vida so coldly.
Yet Vida always made excuses for Mason, swallowing all her grievances, unwilling to tell anyone.
Sometimes she really felt sorry for Vida.
Vida said nothing more.
Ella held the baby and pulled her downstairs for breakfast.
After breakfast, she took the kids to kindergarten before heading to the company.
She didn't expect Mason to be at the company at this hour,, too, coming over with a project to discuss with her.
Ella took the project but didn't look at it, staring at Mason and asking, "How many days has it been since you went home?"
Mason pulled up a chair and sat down, deflecting, "Did Vida complain to you?"
Ever since he married Vida and had a child, they'd been sleeping in separate beds.
In the past year, he'd been staying out all night even more often.
Mason felt he'd already completed the task his parents had given him and had given up the CEO position to Ella.
Now he was just coasting along at the company, even more unwilling to fulfill his duties as a husband and father.
He wanted to live the life he wanted, instead of always being led around by the nose by his family.
"Do you think Vida is the type to complain?"
Seeing Mason's complete lack of concern for his wife and child, Ella was furious.
"Mason, can you have some sense of responsibility? It's been three years. Can't you develop some feelings for her and make this marriage work?"
She'd been through this herself and understood men's psychology too well.
They don't know how to cherish what they have, only to regret it deeply after losing it.
She'd always known that Mason didn't deserve Vida.
Yet Vida stubbornly stayed by Mason's side, bearing and raising his children.
For these three years, Vida had worked tirelessly without complaint, managing the household perfectly and taking good care of the child.
And Mason? He didn't care about anything, leaving early and coming home late every day, sometimes not coming home at all.
If Ella couldn't stand watching it anymore, she wouldn't have bothered interfering.
"My business is none of your concern."
Mason had always resented Ella. With a cold face, he said, "Look at the project. If you approve, I'll have them start."
Ella saw he was beyond help and was too lazy to care anymore. She pulled her thoughts back to work.
In the afternoon, when Rhea told her she'd already picked up the kids from school, she didn't rush to leave work.
In the evening, after eating at the company cafeteria, she drove to the hospital.
When she gently pushed the door open, she was shocked to see Samuel talking to Joshua.
And Joshua was actually responding to him.
Ella stood there frozen in shock, thinking it was her imagination.
Until Samuel saw her, got up, and said to Joshua, "Ella's here. You two talk, I'll go take care of some things."
Walking to Ella's side, he reminded her in a low voice, "Joshua woke up, but he's not in great shape. He's afraid you'll look down on him, that's why he didn't let me notify you in advance."
"Comfort him well. At this stage, he still needs encouragement to keep cooperating with treatment."
Ella stood there dazed, her eyes staring blankly at the man on the bed who had indeed woken up. Her heart was full of mixed feelings, with an indescribable sadness.
Three years.
He finally decided to wake up.
Did he know that for these three years, she came every day, hoping he would open his eyes sooner?
Did he know that for these three years, Aurora came every day calling "daddy" countless times?
Perhaps he heard Aurora's calls,, and that's why he woke up.
Ella held her breath, suppressing her excitement, and walked forward with heavy steps. She stood by the bed, looking down at the man on it.
Joshua looked at her too.
He hadn't expected Ella to actually come.
He had clearly told Samuel not to notify Ella.
But Ella still came.
The way he was now, he couldn't even sit up, and speaking was difficult.
Ella must really look down on him.
Thinking this, Joshua felt self-mocking.
How could Ella look down on him?
There was nothing between them anymore.
Ella was now Zachary's wife. She and Zachary must be very happy together.
But thinking of his child, Joshua couldn't help but ask weakly, using all his strength, "Is Aurora really still alive?"
Hearing him speak, Ella nodded with tears in her eyes, her voice choked up, "Yes, Aurora is still alive."
"Is she okay?"
Ella shook her head, "She's fine."
"Does she know I'm her father?" Joshua's eyes were fixed on Ella. He saw her eyelashes seemed wet, her eyes red, and her voice trembling when she spoke.
Was she crying for him?
Was she moved because he woke up?
On second thought, how could that be possible?
Ella hated him to death. She couldn't possibly shed a tear for him.
Ella pulled up a chair and sat down, trying to stay calm as she said flatly, "Aurora not only knows you're her father, she comes to stay with you every day. If her grandmother hadn't picked her up from school today, she would have come again."
"Do you know how long you've been asleep?"
Joshua didn't know how long he'd been lying in the hospital bed.
Samuel hadn't told him, and he hadn't asked.
When Jasper and Ava came, he felt particularly uncomfortable and didn't want to talk, so he didn't ask his parents.
Now that Ella asked, he casually inquired, "How long have I been asleep?"
"Three years."
Ella looked at his thin, pale appearance, feeling desolate inside.
This was completely different from the man three years ago who wore suits, was full of vigor, and dominated the business world.
But fortunately, fate was kind to him.
Fortunately, he woke up and didn't let Aurora and Dorian lose their father.
As long as he woke up, everything was still possible, wasn't it?
Joshua was somewhat shocked.
He had actually been lying there for three years.
Three years.
After three years, his legs still had no feeling at all.
Did that mean his legs were already ruined?
Joshua struggled to prop himself up, wanting to see if his legs were still there.
But he couldn't prop himself up. His waist hurt and he fell back down.
Still no feeling in his lower body.
Ella quickly held him down, "What are you trying to do?"
Joshua asked, "Are my legs still there?"
Samuel told him the anesthesia hadn't worn off, but it had been a whole day. How could there still be anesthesia?
But he couldn't feel his legs at all.
Ella glanced at his lower body and told him honestly, "Your legs are still there, but they're seriously injured. You might need to wait until you're better and slowly exercise before you can walk again. Don't lose heart. You were able to wake up, so your legs will get better too."
As long as he was still alive and conscious, what did it matter if he lost those legs?
She believed that when Aurora and Dorian grew up, they wouldn't look down on him.
Seeing Ella caring for him so kindly, afraid he'd get emotional, holding him down.
Joshua calmly lay back down, looking at her, inexplicably stirring ripples in his heart.
He asked, "You came here, won't Zachary be jealous or mind?"
Ella's expression changed slightly.
She wanted to tell him that three years ago, she and Zachary had already divorced.
As far as she knew, Zachary had gotten married in Eldoria and had children.
She was happy for Zachary.
It was just that Michael, the culprit who hurt Joshua, was still at large.
Because Michael was abroad with a powerful family that was hard to deal with, the police there had been unable to do anything about him.
Seeing Joshua waiting for her answer, Ella said flatly, "Zachary understands me, gets me. He wouldn't make a fuss over nothing. Besides, I'm just here to see you for the kids' sake. It has nothing to do with you and me."
Hearing this, Joshua laughed bitterly.
He had judged a gentleman's heart with his own petty mind.
He really wasn't as magnanimous as Zachary.
Knowing he and Ella could never go back, he still wanted Ella to forgive him.
Looking at Ella, he asked with difficulty, "Aurora came back alive, so can you forgive me?"