Chapter 81
When Sophia came out of the operating room, Oscar was still inside. Everyone left with the doctors, and I could finally have some quiet.
I don't know how long it was before the operating room lights went out. Oscar was lying face down on the operating table, eyes tightly closed, the oxygen mask pressed against his face, leaving deep marks.
I rushed forward, gently helping him adjust to a more comfortable position while asking the doctor, "How is he? Is he okay?"
The doctor still had traces of sweat on his forehead: "He has burns covering fifty-five percent of his back. The middle section is especially bad - some of the skin fused with his clothes, so the removal took a lot of time. For now, he needs to recover, and later on, he'll probably need some skin grafts."
My heart clenched with pain. Oscar's face became blurry. I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand. Now wasn't the time to cry - his health was more important: "Okay, doctor, thank you."
I had more important things to do. Before Oscar woke up, I called Samuel, the cosmetic surgeon known as the best in the field. He could completely transform my face, so burn injuries like this should be even easier for him. Even though it was Oscar's back that was damaged, I wanted him to recover perfectly, without a trace.
"Hello, this is Emily. I need your help." Samuel was currently working at the hospital Michael built. I just didn't know if I could get him to come.
"Ms. Wilson, long time no see. I heard from Mr. Johnson that you went to Lumaria. Whatever you need, just ask." He immediately agreed when he heard me.
I briefly explained the situation and said sincerely, "You're probably the only one who can promise scar-free recovery. I really need your help. I hope you'll agree - money is no object."
Samuel quickly agreed: "No problem. Since you're asking, he must be very important to you. Let me hand over my work here, and I'll come right away."
After hanging up, I returned to the ward. Oscar was still lying in the same position on the bed. His brow was slightly furrowed, seemingly from pain, showing signs of slowly waking up.
I walked over and held his hand to prevent him from accidentally rolling over and pulling at his wounds while half-awake.
With my other hand, I gently stroked his brow and eyes. It must hurt so much, right? Once the anesthesia wore off completely, he definitely wouldn't be able to stand it.
Under the gauze on his back, patches of yellowish-red liquid were seeping through - blood mixed with traces of medication. He shouldn't have had to suffer like this. It was all because of me.
Guilt grew wildly in my heart. I prayed for him to get better quickly. If he could recover, I...
What could I do?
Did I really want to be with him?
I wasn't even certain he truly wanted to be with me. After we had been together that long, I had lost track of what was real and what was fake when he spoke.
The phone rang suddenly. I withdrew my hand from his cheek and touched my face - it was ice cold. I wiped away my tears, took a deep breath, and pulled out my phone. It was Robert calling again.
"Emily, which room are you in? I'm already at the inpatient building." Robert said anxiously.
I gave him the room number. Five minutes later, he walked in shakily, supported by his butler. He looked at the person on the bed with furrowed brows, his voice trembling: "Why isn't he awake yet? What did the doctor say?"
I could only try to comfort him: "The doctor said the burn area is quite large and he might need skin grafts. I've already called a cosmetic surgeon from Novaria. He's the foremost authority in cosmetic surgery, specializing in all kinds of scar repair. He can get here in a day or two, and then he'll consult together to find a better treatment plan."
Robert sighed deeply, walked forward, and looked at Oscar with heartache in his eyes: "Even with the best doctor, he's still the one suffering. This boy..."
I kept my head down, my voice low but my tone determined: "That's why I will never let the person who hurt him get away with it. Sophia will pay the price."
Robert looked at me, waved his hand to send the butler out first, and after a while finally asked: "Emily, you and Emma... you're more than just acquaintances, aren't you?"
I didn't know what he was trying to say: "What difference does it make whether we know each other or not?"
Robert stared at me seriously, his tone tinged with sadness: "You've suffered too."
His words confused me even more, but his gaze made me somewhat afraid to meet his eyes. Had he discovered something? How was that possible? Even my parents and brother hadn't recognized me. He had only met me a few times during my relationship with Gregory. How could he tell?
Robert patted the stool beside him: "Come here, dear. Sit down, I've got something to say."
That way of addressing me...
Puzzled, I sat down in front of him. Robert paused before saying, "You've changed your appearance - you must have suffered a lot. In that kind of place, these past three years, how did you get through them?"
I turned my face away, my voice turning cold: "I don't know what you're talking about."
Robert sighed: "Actually, when I first met you, I felt you were very familiar. A person's appearance can change, but their scent never does. My nose is pretty sharp. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but many small habits are really hard to change. When you talk to me, you sit in front of me, tilt your head, smile, and listen. Before eating, you always drink a glass of water first. When you smile, you unconsciously press your lips together and lower your head first. These little gestures don't lie. If all of these were coincidences, when you showed me that photo of Emma, I finally confirmed it - you are her."
"Mr. Lopez, you must be mistaken. Emma and I don't look anything alike. What you mentioned - lots of people do those things." At this point, as long as I didn't admit it, no one could confirm I was Emma. He was Gregory's grandfather. Even with Oscar here, no one would expose my identity.
Robert's gaze toward me became gentle: "It's okay, I won't tell anyone. I just want to tell you that, whether you're Emma or Emily, since you and Oscar are engaged, you'll become part of the Lopez family. Whatever you do, I'll support you. What happened before wasn't worth it - let the past be the past."
"How can it be past?" My eyes filled with anger as the words burst out.
The sharp pain of the blade cutting into my skin, the moment the palm was pierced through, being sold like merchandise - I rebuilt hope through repeated despair, bone shaving, skin removal. All of it - how could it be past?
Anyone telling me to let it go, unless they'd experienced it themselves, had no right to say those words.
There was a sound of something heavy falling at the door. I snapped back to reality and turned to see Gregory standing at the hospital room entrance. At his feet was spilled food.