Chapter 209

Chapter 209

"Are you hiding something from me?" Molly's voice was soft, yet her gaze dark and penetrating.

Michael didn't answer immediately. His expression grew conflicted as he rubbed his hands together, uncertain how to respond.

Finally, under Molly's earnest stare, he spoke the truth. "Edward's still in the emergency room."

He hadn't wanted to worry her, but even if he'd kept silent, she would've found out eventually.

As expected, hearing this, Molly's body went slack. She took a step backward.

Michael reached out to steady her, but she raised her hand to block him.

The silence stretched on, long enough that Michael thought she wouldn't speak at all.

"I need to see him." Molly took a deep breath, forcing her emotions back under control.

Michael didn't try to dissuade her further. He simply followed quietly, taking her to the hospital as requested.

The car headed toward the hospital.

Molly sat in the back seat as streetlights flashed past the window one by one, carving her face into alternating segments of light and shadow.

She'd rolled down the window. Wind whipped across her face, yet she seemed oblivious to the cold, staring quietly outside, her fingers clenched tightly together.

Michael glanced at her through the rearview mirror periodically, afraid something might happen.

But her expression was calm to the extreme—a calm that concealed crushing pressure beneath its surface.

"Don't worry. He's already in the ER. The doctors will do everything they can." Michael offered reassurance as he drove, his tone full of concern.

He paused, then added carefully, "Alicia's waiting outside the operating room. She's not in good shape."

Molly understood his warning. After all, this had happened because of her.

By all rights, she couldn't escape some measure of responsibility.

"If I hadn't taken Edward to see Grandma, maybe none of this would've happened." Self-reproach crept into her voice.

Michael shook his head. "No one can predict the future. It was just bad timing. If anyone should be blamed, it shouldn't be you."

Molly fell silent again, simply gazing out the window, praying Edward would be safe.

The car soon arrived at the hospital. The moment it stopped, Molly rushed toward the emergency room.

The surgical lights were still on. Edward hadn't come out yet.

Alicia stood silently by the door, head bowed, her silhouette unutterably lonely.

"Mrs. Howard..." Molly called out, her face showing visible discomfort.

Only then did Alicia turn to look at her, though her eyes carried a hint of displeasure.

"I entrusted Edward to you so you'd take care of him, not so he'd get hurt." Alicia hadn't yet accepted the situation, her tone harsh.

But ultimately it all came from concern for Edward's wellbeing. Molly understood completely, her own heart heavy with guilt.

Molly swallowed, about to speak, when Michael stepped in front of her, meeting Alicia's gaze.

"This isn't entirely her fault. Nobody wanted this to happen."

Alicia let out a long sigh, seeming to realize she'd spoken out of turn. Her attitude softened slightly, though her voice remained choked. "Edward's health was already poor. Now he's suffered such serious injuries—I'm terrified he won't make it through."

Just then, the operating room lights went dark.

The moment that harsh red light extinguished, Molly felt her heartbeat skip.

The door pushed open from inside. The lead surgeon emerged, his mask still on, the edge of his surgical cap damp with sweat.

He nodded to the group waiting outside, saying nothing—just a simple acknowledgment.

Molly stood rooted in place, her fingers clenching and unclenching, her heart racing wildly.

"The surgery was successful." The doctor spoke.

Everyone's suspended hearts fell back into place simultaneously.

"When will he wake up?" Alicia asked urgently.

The attending physician shook his head. "Mr. Howard needs time to recover. We can't give a specific timeline for when he'll regain consciousness."

Molly gazed deeply at Edward still lying on the gurney. He looked peaceful, his breathing shallow.

"He'll wake up. I know he will." Molly's voice caught.

Alicia turned to look at her. Her lips moved, but ultimately she said nothing.

Edward was wheeled to a recovery room. Molly followed the gurney the entire way, staying by his side.

She remained silent, watching Edward quietly, her face full of heartache.

He lay there connected to numerous tubes and monitors, IV fluid dripping steadily into the bag.

She sat down beside the bed, unable to stop herself from taking his hand.

Edward's fingers were long and slender, his skin pale, his fingertips still cool.

She pressed that hand against her cheek, using her palm to warm his cold fingertips.

"Edward, please wake up. Wake up and look at me." Molly had never been sentimental by nature, but now, feeling Edward so close to death's door, her heart ached terribly.

Years ago, she'd prayed like this at another bedside.

But in the end, she hadn't been able to keep her mother. Now history seemed poised to repeat itself—she simply couldn't accept it.

Molly sat by the bed, keeping vigil for who knows how long.

From when the lights came on until dawn broke.

She'd only dozed briefly in between.

The next day, Molly woke on the companion bed. The moment she stood, a wave of dizziness hit her, her vision going black.

At first she paid it no mind, but the vertigo only intensified.

She tried to steady herself, but her vision went dark and she collapsed.

When Molly woke again, a white ceiling filled her view.

She lay in a hospital bed, tape securing an IV line to the back of her hand, tubing hanging from above.

Alicia sat beside the bed.

"You're awake?" Alicia's voice held anticipation. This time, the look she gave Molly was completely different from outside the operating room yesterday—it held concern, and also a certain expectation.

"I..." Molly tried to sit up, but her head still spun. Supporting herself on her arms, she fell back.

"Don't move. You had low blood sugar and fainted in the room." Alicia pressed her hand down, applying slight pressure as if suppressing surging emotions. "The doctor said... you're pregnant."

Molly froze.

She lay there, pupils contracting slightly.

"Nearly four weeks along." Alicia's voice was soft, carefully gentle, even trembling. "Molly, you're carrying Edward's child. The Howard family finally has an heir."

Molly was shocked almost beyond breathing.

She slowly moved her gaze to her own abdomen. Through the blanket, it remained flat—nothing visible yet.

She'd never imagined that at this very moment, a small life was growing there.

She placed her hand gently over it, palm against her belly, trying to sense the child's presence.