Chapter 150

Third Person POV.

Elena walked briskly through the sterile, fluorescent-lit corridors of the hospital, her designer heels clicking against the polished vinyl. Her mind was consumed with a mix of curiosity and amusement as she made her way to Kayden's room.

News had reached her while she was in Italy about Marlene's attack on him, and she was eager to see the aftermath for herself. She had been pleased to hear that the man who had tormented her little brother for so long was in bad shape, and now, standing outside his hospital room, she wanted to gauge just how badly he was doing.

As Elena entered the room, she was greeted by Dr. Grant, the doctor in charge of Kayden's care. The middle-aged man, with gray hair carefully combed back and a pair of wire-framed glasses perched on his nose, bowed his head in respect as he greeted her. She was well accustomed to the show of respect, not just because of her last name and her family, but more so because of her long lists of achievements as a psychologist and a philanthropist.

"Doctor," she said coolly, "kindly update me on Kayden's condition."

Dr. Grant sighed, a hint of empathy apparent in his gaze. "As you already know, Mrs. Romero, Mr. Black was in a coma for the first few days after the surgery to repair his neck wound. Thankfully, he regained consciousness recently, but he is not fully alert just yet."

Elena raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Not fully alert? What does that mean?"

The doctor adjusted his glasses, his gaze avoiding hers momentarily. "Well, Mrs. Romero, Mr. Black is only partly conscious. He's not entirely aware of his surroundings or able to communicate effectively for the time being, as it seems that the trauma from the attack has caused some neurological damage."

Elena tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she processed the information. She had expected Kayden to be in bad shape, but the severity of his condition surprised her in a good way.

"Do you believe his condition will improve?" Elena inquired sharply. "Or is this as good as it gets for Kayden?"

"Mrs. Romero, I'm going to be very honest with you about Mr. Black's condition," he started. "The knife wound to his neck had caused significant damage to his cervical spine, and while we were thankfully able to stabilize him during the surgery, there is a high likelihood that even if he regains his consciousness fully and becomes aware of his environment, he may enter a vegetative state due to the damage his spine has endured."

"So you're saying... there's a chance that Kayden might never wake up fully? That he could be stuck in a vegetative state as his best case scenario?" Elena asked.

Dr. Grant nodded solemnly. "Yes, Mrs. Romero. Given the nature of the injury to his cervical spine, there is a significant risk. It's difficult to predict with certainty, but based on the damage and the prognosis, I would estimate a 75 percent chance that he will be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life."

As soon as the doctor finished delivering the news, Elena's face lit up with a smile that bordered on deranged. Her reaction caught Dr. Grant completely off guard, and he stared at her with a mixture of shock and concern.

To him, it was inconceivable that anyone could find joy in such heartbreaking news, and he couldn't fathom how Elena could possibly be happy about the idea of Kayden spending the rest of his life in a vegetative state. He doubted his own ears and wondered if he had somehow misunderstood her intentions for laughing.

Trying to gather his thoughts, Dr. Grant's brows furrowed, and he couldn't help but ask for clarification. "Mrs. Romero, I apologize if I misunderstood, but do you just find this news...pleasing?"

Elena's smile faltered for a moment as she noticed the doctor's wide-eyed gaze fixated on her. She quickly composed herself, understanding that her initial reaction may have come across as bizarre. In an attempt to control her emotions, she leaned in closer, wanting to hear Grant's confirmation again. "Is there really nothing that can be done to reverse the damages, or at least minimize them?"

Dr. Grant nodded, his earlier shock slowly giving way to concern as he tried to understand Elena's unusual response. "Unfortunately, nothing can be done, Mrs. Romero. Even in the best-case scenario, if a miracle were to occur, Mr. Black's spine has already been severely damaged. The chances of him regaining his ability to walk are slim, and he would likely have to rely on a wheelchair for the rest of his life, even if he isn't in a vegetative state. We'll be running a few tests on him to observe his condition for the next few days, and I'll be sure to keep you up to date.”

As Dr. Grant finished explaining Kayden's condition, Elena nodded in understanding. Her mind raced with conflicting emotions. On one hand, she couldn't be sure if leaving Kayden alive would be the wise thing to do, and on the other hand, the sinister joy she had felt from seeing him struggle between life and death was something she wasn't ready to see end.

She could easily have him killed, just to make sure that Richard would never have to worry about him again, but the idea of killing him so straightforwardly no longer seemed like fun.

Before she could delve into her thoughts any further, a question escaped her lips. "Dr. Grant, has anyone else been here to visit Kayden since he was hospitalized?"

Dr. Grant considered her question, and he hesitated for a moment before responding, "His mother has been visiting regularly. In fact, she usually comes around this time every day. I have a feeling she could be here any minute now."

Elena let out a heavy sigh as she stared at Dr. Grant with a serious look on her face. "Dr. Grant, I want to give you a clear and simple instruction," she began. "Given the situation, I don't want anyone to be allowed to visit Kayden, including his own mother. And I also request that he be transferred to the VVIP floor, where visitors are limited."

Dr. Grant's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he tried to process Elena's request. "Mrs. Romero, I believe only his legal guardian is allowed to make such a decision. Also, isolating him from all visitors, including his mother, may not be feasible or in his best interest," he explained, trying to find a balance between legality, ethics, and the well-being of his patient.

Elena's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and disgust as she scoffed at Dr. Grant's concerned expression. "Feasible or not, it's what I want, and in case you haven't heard, Mr. Black is a criminal, so once the police confirm my instructions, you better do as I said. Also, considering the person who stabbed him is still out there, I don't want any potential risks, and transferring him to the VVIP floor will ensure limited access from unwanted visitors."

Dr. Grant hesitated. "Mrs. Romero, it is important to consider the emotional well-being of Mr. Black. Being cut off from all visitors, particularly his family, can have detrimental effects on his recovery. He needs all the support he can get at the moment."

Elena's voice turned ice cold as she dismissed Dr. Grant's concerns. "Just do as I say, and stop trying to get on my nerves, Grant. If you don't want to be held responsible for any consequences that may befall him, then I suggest you follow my instructions. Is that clear?"

As Elena's frustration brewed with Dr. Grant, her phone suddenly rang in her purse, breaking the tension in the room. She quickly fumbled to retrieve it, her annoyance directed towards the interruption.

Seeing that it was her little sister Bianca calling, Elena's impatience turned into concern. Without missing a beat, she answered the call. "What is it, Bianca? Why are you calling me so suddenly?"

On the other end of the line, Bianca's voice trembled as she seemed to be crying profusely. "Elena," she stammered, her voice shaky. "She shot him."

Confusion and alarm surged through Elena. Her heart started to race, and her voice carried a tinge of urgency. "Bianca, slow down. What are you talking about? Who shot who?"

Bianca's tearful voice struggled to stabilize as she gave a trembling response: "Richard... Richard has been shot, Elena. Marlene shot him, and he's dying."

Elena felt her world spin for a moment, the news hitting her like a sledgehammer. Richard, her baby brother, was in a critical condition. Panic welled up in her, but she managed to push it down to remain focused. "Bianca, where are you? Where's Richard?"

Bianca's voice cracked with grief, her words coming out in between sobs. "We're at the family hospital, Elena. It's bad—so bad. Our brother's dying, Elena. He's dying."