Chapter 175 Aiden is Not Dead Yet

Chapter 176 Aiden in Critical Condition

"You, you!" Mira was so furious at his retort that her vision went dark.

She had never imagined that Dashiell, who had always been gentle and obedient, would actually talk back to her like this for Keira's sake.

"Doctor." Dashiell turned to the doctor standing awkwardly to the side.

His tone returned to gentle, "How is Aiden doing? You mentioned earlier there was a change?"

The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Mr. Coleman's condition is indeed not looking good.

If serious complications occur in the next 24 to 72 hours, I'm afraid it will truly be dangerous."

"You mean Aiden might not make it through these few days?" Dashiell's voice tightened.

The doctor nodded heavily, "Yes, right now it really just depends on Mr. Coleman's own will to survive and fate."

Beside them, Mira, who was already swaying unsteadily, could no longer hold on and fell straight backward.

The bodyguards and medical staff nearby caught her in a flurry and carried her to the adjacent lounge for emergency care.

In the hallway, only Dashiell and a few grim-faced bodyguards remained.

Late at night, inside the ICU.

Aiden still lay there unconscious.

Dashiell walked in.

He gently closed the door, lowered his head, and looked down at Aiden on the hospital bed from above.

Aiden had always been the golden child—cold and domineering, taking most of their parents' attention and expectations.

It was also Aiden who had kept Keira trapped for over a decade, bringing her endless pain.

Jealousy consumed Dashiell.

He slowly raised his hand, reaching toward his pocket.

There, hidden, was a syringe.

As long as he pushed the liquid inside into Aiden's IV line, without anyone knowing, it would all be over.

No one would suspect.

A perfect plan. Once and for all.

His fingers had already touched the cold plastic of the syringe.

All he had to do was take it out and complete this final step.

However, his movement froze.

In his mind, beyond his control, appeared Keira's pale and resolute face.

"Dashiell, you'll always be that friend who gave me warmth and protected me in my heart. You're my family. But that's all it is."

She said she didn't want any more emotional entanglements with the Coleman family.

She said she was tired and just wanted to leave.

If he really killed Aiden, with his brother's blood on his hands, how would he be any different from someone like Aiden?

In fact, he would be even more despicable, even more unforgivable.

Even if Aiden died, would Keira like him?

Perhaps she would only distance herself from him even more.

He suddenly released his grip on the syringe, staggered back a step, leaned against the wall, and gasped for breath.

He looked at Aiden, still unconscious on the hospital bed, his eyes filled with shock, confusion, and self-loathing.

He couldn't do it.

He slowly slid down to sit on the floor, buried his face in his palms, his shoulders trembling silently.

After a long while, he stood up again, took one deep, complicated look at Aiden on the bed, then turned and left the room without looking back.

Time dragged on painfully through another dozen hours of suffocating waiting.

Inside the ICU, Aiden's vital signs continued to hover on the edge of danger.

The attending physician's expression grew graver by the day.

Mira kept vigil outside the room, not eating or drinking, her eyes red and swollen, looking as if she had aged ten years overnight.

Watching the lifeline on the monitor screen that could flatline at any moment, she finally could bear it no longer.

She suddenly grabbed the arm of Dashiell, who stood nearby looking equally grave, like clutching at a last straw.

"Dashiell! I'm begging you! I really have no other options.

The doctor said Aiden is only being kept alive by machines now. If he has no will to survive, he won't make it through tonight.

I really know I was wrong! I shouldn't have forced you, shouldn't have cursed at Keira, and especially shouldn't have had someone try to murder her! I was foolish! I deserve to die!"

Tears streaming down her face, she clutched Dashiell tightly, begging incoherently,

"But Aiden is your brother! You're blood brothers! You can't just watch him die.

Now only Keira is left! Only she can save Aiden!

The doctor said if we can stimulate his will to live, there might still be a chance. Go, go bring Keira here!"

As she spoke, Mira's legs gave way, and she was about to kneel down.

Dashiell was shocked and quickly held her up firmly, his heart a jumble of emotions.

He was silent for a moment, then finally nodded slowly, his voice low,

"Alright, I'll try. But Mom, you must promise that after Keira comes, you absolutely cannot make things difficult for her or hurt her in any way! Otherwise, I'll take her away immediately!"

"I promise! I swear! As long as she can save Aiden, from now on, I'll never trouble her again!" Mira agreed repeatedly.

Dashiell found Keira and told her everything about the hospital situation and Mira's plea.

After listening, Keira said nothing for a long time.

She sat by the window, looking at the gray sky outside, her heart a tangle of emotions.

Go, or not go?

If she went and he woke up, what awaited her would likely be another nightmare.

If she didn't go and he died, that debt would become a shackle she could never escape for the rest of her life.

"Keira, you don't have to go."

Seeing her struggling painfully, Dashiell said softly,

"Aiden's condition is very dangerous. Even if you go, it might not help.

Besides, my mom's words might not be trustworthy. It's too dangerous."

Keira slowly turned her head to look at Dashiell.

His eyes were still gentle, full of concern, but somehow, at this moment, beneath that gentleness, there seemed to be something she couldn't understand.

She shook her head, "No, I'll go."

She had to go.

If he could wake up, perhaps they could truly have closure.

Stepping into the hospital again, the smell of disinfectant hit her face.

As soon as Mira saw Keira, she tried to rush forward, but was quickly blocked by Dashiell.

But Mira couldn't care about that. From several steps away, tears poured out, her voice choked and broken,

"Keira, I was wrong before! I'm begging you! Please save Aiden."

As she spoke, she made to kneel down! The nearby medical staff and bodyguards were all stunned.

Keira was also startled and stepped back half a step, a complex sadness welling up in her heart.

This Mira, who had once been so high and mighty and humiliated her to the extreme, was now humbling herself to the dust for Aiden's sake.

She reached out her hand in a gesture of support, her voice hoarse, "Please don't do this. I'll try."

Keira walked into the hospital room alone.