Chapter 308 Like Two Different People
Chapter 308 Like Two Different People
Michael had always been rational. He usually took care of himself—rarely touched alcohol or cigarettes.
I never imagined he could drink himself into this state.
Chase sighed, his face full of helplessness. "Ms. Thomas, you don't know the full story. Mr. Johnson went on a trip recently, and Charles took advantage of his absence to undermine him at the company. Tonight, Mr. Johnson was at The Gilded Lounge for a business meeting. That's where he drank too much."
An image suddenly surfaced in my mind—photos I'd seen online recently.
The landscapes Michael had posted were all places we'd been together.
A wave of bitterness rose in my chest. Not sympathy. Just the sense that this man was both absurd and pathetic.
Why did he always fail to do what needed to be done when it mattered most?
Chase hesitated, lowering his voice. His tone grew awkward. "And... Mr. Johnson was at the club tonight. He apparently saw you and Mr. Brown together..."
I froze in place.
The images from the private room flooded back uncontrollably—me clumsily trying to help William through the drug's effects, him pinning me beneath him, teasing me...
My face burned. I could barely breathe.
I forced myself to stay calm, keeping my expression neutral. I didn't respond.
Chase wisely shut his mouth. The hallway fell silent again.
I stared at the closed operating room doors, emotions tangled inside me.
I even found myself praying silently—if Michael could recover safely, I hoped he'd finally see clearly and divorce me.
Let himself go. Let me go.
---
The surgery dragged on for hours.
By the time dawn broke, it was finally over.
The doctor told me, "The surgery was successful. The patient is out of immediate danger, but we'll need to monitor him closely to prevent post-operative complications."
The weight I'd carried all night lifted slightly. Exhaustion and a dull headache washed over me.
I watched as the nurses wheeled Michael out. His face was pale as paper, eyes closed. The confidence he usually carried was gone, replaced by fragility.
I turned to Chase. "Did you reach his mother?"
Chase looked troubled. "Not yet. Her phone's been off. No idea where she is."
He paused. "Mrs. Johnson, why don't you go home and rest? I'll stay here."
But the nurse cut in. "A successful surgery doesn't mean we're out of the woods. The next 48 hours are critical for complications. We may need family members to sign off on emergency procedures. Mrs. Johnson, as the patient's spouse, must remain at the hospital in case immediate communication is required."
Helplessness filled me.
Our marriage had been dead for so long, yet legally, I still couldn't break free.
Chase said quietly, "Ms. Thomas, as soon as I reach Winter, I'll have her come replace you."
There was no point in refusing.
I nodded and followed the nurses as they moved Michael to a VIP room.
---
It wasn't until ten in the morning that he finally opened his eyes.
When he realized I was beside him, his lashes fluttered. His gaze landed on me, surprise flickering across his pale, cold face.
His lips pressed into a thin line. He said nothing.
Just then, my phone rang. The caller ID read 'Charles.'
Remembering the brothers' bitter rivalry, I grabbed my phone and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me.
"Evelyn, did Michael come looking for you?" Charles's voice was tinged with tension. "He didn't come to work today, and his phone's off."
I frowned. "Why are you looking for him?"
Charles's voice softened, guilt seeping through. "Yesterday, outside your and William's private room, Matthew and I said some things to provoke him. I'm... worried he might do something rash. If he didn't go to you, where could he be?"
Something tugged at my heart.
Despite all my resentment toward Michael, I couldn't help but say coldly, "Do you two have to tear each other apart like this? He drank himself into gastric bleeding last night. He just got out of surgery."
"What?" Charles's voice shot up, shock flooding through. "How is he now?"
"The doctor said he's out of immediate danger for now." My tone was icy. I didn't say another word.
Silence stretched on the other end. Then the line went dead.
I hung up, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.
The doctor had just entered to check on Michael.
Michael lay in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. He didn't say a word. A suffocating heaviness hung around him, as if this blow had stripped away all his former sharpness.
The doctor gave some post-op instructions and left.
The room fell silent again.
After a long pause, Michael finally spoke, his voice hoarse, like sandpaper scraping over metal. "Did you all enjoy your little victory party yesterday? You and William... must've had a great time."
My heart sank slightly.
If I put myself in his shoes—yesterday was probably the first time Charles had truly crushed him. He'd suffered a massive loss.
And in that moment of utter humiliation, he'd seen me with his "mortal enemies." No wonder he drank himself into this state.
I didn't get angry. I just looked at him calmly and explained, "Believe it or not, I wasn't there to celebrate with them. Matthew asked me to pick up Katya. That's the only reason I was there."
After saying that, I fell silent. Michael had just woken from surgery. He didn't have the energy to fight with me.
The room grew quiet again, save for the steady beeping of the monitors.
Then footsteps echoed from outside. Before anyone appeared, Winter's voice rang out. "My son! Where's my son? Michael, Mommy's here!"
Winter burst through the door, Chase trailing behind her.
She must have learned about the surgery on the way over.
Now she rushed to Michael's bedside, fussing over him anxiously.
Seeing her arrive, I quietly stood and prepared to leave. Finally, I could hand things over.
But just as I stepped out of the room, Winter's voice called after me.
"Evelyn."
I stopped, surprised.
As far as I could remember, Winter had never called me by my name so gently.
She used to spit out "Evelyn Thomas" like I was some kind of sworn enemy.
I turned around, frowning. That's when I noticed how different she looked.
She used to dress lavishly, dripping in luxury brands and jewelry, radiating superiority with every move.
Now, her back was slightly hunched. Her eyes darted nervously, like a frightened bird. Her jewelry was gone. She looked hesitant, unsure of herself.
"Ms. Hayes, what is it?"
I assumed she wanted to ask about Michael's condition, so I spoke first. "The doctor said he can't drink anymore. He needs to rest. If you have other questions, you can ask the doctor."
I turned to leave.
But Winter hurried forward and blocked my path. "Evelyn, I... I have something I want to say to you. It won't take long."