Chapter 228

Chapter 228

"Ethan—"

Christina cried out and jolted awake from her dream.

When she opened her eyes, she wasn't on that cargo ship tossed by wind and waves, nor was she hanging high above by ropes.

Before her was a familiar hospital room. She lay on a soft hospital bed, heavy curtains drawn, with shards of sunlight flickering through the gaps.

Just then, her caregiver Stella emerged from the bathroom. Seeing Christina awake and trying to prop herself up by the bed rail, she froze for a moment, then quickly rushed forward, her voice full of joy. "Ms. Reed, you're awake?"

Stella set down the basin she was holding, helped Christina sit up, and pressed the call button by the bed.

"Ms. Reed, you're finally awake! You've been unconscious for three months. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

Hearing this, Christina realized that everything in her "dream" might not have been a dream after all.

She leaned against the headboard as Stella placed two soft pillows behind her to make her more comfortable.

"I've been asleep for three months?" Christina's voice was hoarse, her whole body weak from just waking up.

"Yes." Stella nodded. "Your surgery three months ago was very successful, but you just never woke up. This morning Mr. Carter and Henry came to see you. They left just an hour ago. Mr. Carter even trimmed your nails himself."

"Ethan... Henry..." Hearing these two names, images flashed through Christina's mind—the cargo ship deck, the dark deep sea, and the scene of Henry and Ethan falling into the water.

She slowly raised her hand and moved her fingers. Her fingertips were smooth and clean, the edges still showing a faint sheen from careful filing—clearly freshly trimmed.

Stella pulled open the curtains, and blinding sunlight instantly flooded the hospital room. Christina instinctively narrowed her eyes.

Having been unconscious for so long, she could no longer distinguish whether those images in her mind were reality or dreams.

The doctor arrived quickly. Stella hurried forward to explain the situation: "Doctor, Ms. Reed just woke up on her own and could even sit up by herself. Please check if she's fully recovered."

The doctor said nothing and bent down to carefully examine Christina's body.

"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Headache, eye pain, abdominal pain, or heart discomfort?" the doctor asked.

Christina gave a slight shake of her head. “No.”

"The preliminary examination shows no abnormalities. Your body has recovered well, and the transplant surgery wound has healed. I'll write up orders for you to get a comprehensive checkup to confirm your continued recovery."

Hearing the words "transplant surgery," Christina hesitated, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.

The doctor noticed her confusion and explained: "Three months ago, when you were brought to the hospital, you were already in critical condition. We immediately initiated emergency surgery. The operation was completed while you were unconscious, and it was very successful."

Christina responded quietly: "Okay..."

After the doctor left, Christina took a moment to collect herself, then said to Stella: "You said earlier that Ethan and Henry came this morning?"

"Yes," Stella said, surprised by her confused expression. "Don't you remember? Three months ago, you, Mr. Carter, and Henry were all brought to the hospital together. Their injuries weren't serious, but you urgently needed surgery, and you've been unconscious ever since."

"Three months?" Christina repeated, her tone full of disbelief.

"That's right. During these three months, they've come to see you every day. Mr. Carter has to go to the company during the day to handle business, but he comes to stay with you morning and evening."

"So what happened three months ago, when we were kidnapped—that was real?" Christina asked softly.

Stella nodded, then quickly reassured her: "Don't worry. According to the police, when they arrived at the cargo ship that night, the kidnappers resisted, and they were all shot and killed on the spot."

Christina's heart sank heavily, a sense of post-traumatic fear instantly washing over her entire body.

She turned to search the nightstand, her tone urgent: "Stella, where's my phone?"

Stella paused, then pulled out a new phone from the nightstand drawer: "Your old phone couldn't be found. Mr. Carter already got you a new one with your original number, worried you wouldn't be able to reach him when you woke up."

Christina took the phone and turned it on. Stella added: "The password is your birthday."

After the phone powered on, Christina logged into her messaging account and immediately called Ethan.

Ethan's surprised voice came through: "Is it really you, Christina?"

Hearing that familiar voice, Christina's tense heart finally relaxed.

Her eyes reddened: "Ethan... I'm so glad you're okay..."

"Christina, I'm bringing Henry over right now! Just wait there, we'll be right there!" Ethan's voice was urgent. Through the phone came his rapid breathing and footsteps, along with him speaking to someone nearby: "Today's meeting is suspended. We'll discuss it later."

Only then did Christina realize he had been in a meeting.

Confirming that Ethan and Henry were safe and sound, her worries eased.

Stella stood nearby, watching her bow her head with a gentle smile, and also breathed a sigh of relief.

Vivian and her husband Brice arrived before Ethan. Seeing Christina awake, they were both shocked and delighted.

The doctors had kept saying her body and brain showed no abnormalities, and the surgery was successful. As for why she hadn’t woken up, maybe it was because, deep down, she didn’t want to.
During these three months, Henry and Ethan had stayed by her side constantly.

It wasn't until this week, when company matters piled up too much, that Ethan started going to the office during the day and coming to stay with her at night.

Vivian and Brice also came often, talking to her and keeping watch, but she never showed signs of waking.

After three months of unconsciousness, everyone had prepared for the worst—that she might never wake up.

Vivian and Brice had run into each other downstairs at the hospital. Walking into the room and seeing Christina awake, they were both surprised and overjoyed.

After chatting briefly, Brice went to find the doctor to understand Christina's recovery and follow-up treatment plan, while Vivian stayed in the room with Christina.

"Christina, you don't know—these three months, all of us have been hoping you'd wake up. Your brother, Ethan, and other friends consulted many internationally renowned doctors, but no one could say when you'd wake up."

Christina gently squeezed Vivian's hand and smiled at her, then asked: "Three months ago, how did Henry, he, and I get back?"

This was the answer she most wanted to know since waking up.

Vivian paused, holding her hand and speaking slowly: "Three months ago, when the police arrived, Ethan accidentally fell into the sea, but fortunately the police speedboat arrived in time and rescued him and Henry."

"The kidnappers on the cargo ship continued to resist even after the police helicopters arrived, engaging in a gunfight with the police. In the end, they were either shot dead or fell into the deep sea."

Vivian paused, looking into Christina's eyes: "Emily is dead. She was shot multiple times—by the police and by her accomplices. Apparently it happened during the chaos of their escape. I heard her injuries were severe."

Christina listened quietly, her thoughts sinking into silence.

"Christina, everyone who hurt you has gotten what they deserved," Vivian squeezed her hand. "The doctor said your surgery was successful. Now that you're awake, all the suffering is behind you. From now on, we'll all have peaceful, happy lives."

Christina's eyes instantly welled up with tears, nearly spilling over.

Just then, there was a knock on the hospital room door.

From Ethan's company to the hospital normally took thirty minutes by car. He made it in twenty, and he'd brought Henry.

The door opened. Christina looked up, her gaze meeting Ethan's directly.

He wore a sharp business suit, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his prominent nose. Behind the lenses, his deep eyes were full of urgency and tenderness.