Chapter 123
Marsha shook her head. "But that's a gunshot wound! It's really complicated to treat. Surgery is necessary, and you don't have sterile conditions here. Aren't you deliberately making things difficult for me?"
She wasn't wrong.
Although the weather had gotten much colder recently, it was still fairly hot at noon. Performing surgery without sterile conditions, especially major surgery like this that involves opening up the body--it would almost be kinder to let William die from blood loss than make him suffer twice.
Emily wasn't a doctor, but she knew that surgery required sterile conditions.
But William had clearly said before losing consciousness that they couldn't go to the hospital. Where was she supposed to find sterile conditions?
"Emily, you need to make a decision fast!"
Marsha urged. "He's injured this badly and bleeding nonstop. If you don't decide soon, he really will bleed to death."
"I..."
Emily hesitated, torn.
What should she do?
Marsha was right--William's situation was critical. She had to make a decision quickly.
"Marsha, we have to save him!"
Emily grabbed Marsha's arm, her eyes wild with desperation.
"We have to save him no matter what. He's someone very important to me. I can't just watch him die. Please help me think of something, okay? There must be a way!"
Marsha was stunned.
From college until now, this was the first time she'd seen Emily this shaken.
Who exactly was this man? Could he be the father of her child? If that was the case, then they definitely had to save him.
"Don't panic, let me think."
Marsha bit her thumb, pacing back and forth in the living room, nodding and shaking her head by turns, her brow furrowing and smoothing out.
Emily waited anxiously.
After several long minutes, Marsha hesitated over and over, then gritted her teeth and slapped her own thigh hard.
"Alright! I'm all in, too!"
"Bring him and come with me. I'll take you somewhere. He can be saved."
"Where?"
"Don't ask. You'll know when we get there."
Marsha urged, "Quick! Don't alert too many people. I'll go downstairs to get the car."
Emily quickly agreed, and they split up to act.
Earlier, Marsha had given William simple bandaging, so his wound was bleeding less, but the situation still wasn't good.
Emily was just about to carry him out when Amelia's knock came from outside. "Emily, what do you want to eat tonight? I'll make it."
She'd almost forgotten about that. Emily carefully covered William with a blanket and left the room.
"Mom, I have to go out tonight. I won't be eating at home."
Oscar and Nina followed Amelia out of the side bedroom and heard this. They quickly ran over and hugged Emily's legs.
"Mommy, where are you going? Will you come back tonight?"
"Of course I will."
Emily nodded quickly. "Don't worry, I'm just going out to handle something. I'll come back when I'm done. Stay home with your grandmother and don't run around, okay?"
Emily no longer worried as much about going out as before. As long as she locked the door from outside, even if Amelia and the children wanted to leave, they couldn't. They could only wait for her to return.
Amelia didn't know what Emily was going to do, but nodded. "Then go take care of your business. I'll look after Oscar and Nina. Everything will be fine."
"Thanks, Mom."
Emily smiled gratefully, ushered the three of them back into the room, and told them not to come out for the time being.
She helped the unconscious William out the door, locked it, and got into the elevator.
Marsha was already waiting downstairs. Seeing Emily arrive, she quickly got out to help.
Only after William was lifted into the car did Emily breathe a sigh of relief.
"Marsha, you still haven't told me where we're going."
Emily looked at her curiously.
Marsha frowned, concentrating on driving without looking at her. "Don't worry, Emily. With our relationship, would I lie to you?"
"Since this man is so important to you, I'll definitely save him. Relax, we're not going to the police station."
She winked at Emily, deliberately teasing her.
Emily scratched her hair awkwardly, a bit embarrassed.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Marsha--she was just curious. But since Marsha put it that way, she didn't feel comfortable asking more.
Marsha drove fast. After about half an hour, the surroundings became more remote. They'd left the bustling city center and driven down to the southern part of the district.
Just as Emily was wondering about this, Marsha stopped the car.
"We're here. Get out quickly."
In front of Emily was a small private hospital.
As Marsha walked inside, she explained to Emily, "This is a private hospital run by a friend of mine. He's the only one running it."
"But don't let the small size fool you--it has everything you need. You can safely leave this man here. He'll definitely be fine. Trust me."
Emily was still a bit worried. "What if he tells people?"
"Don't worry, he won't tell anyone."
Marsha couldn't help laughing. "My friend only cares about money, not people. As long as you pay enough, he'll keep your secret unconditionally."
She glanced at William. "Although your friend's condition is serious, we got here quickly and didn't alert anyone. I don't think his enemies will find out."
"The most important thing now is to save his life. We can only deal with everything else later. Trust me, I won't harm you."
Having come this far, Emily had no choice but to trust Marsha.
As soon as they reached the hospital entrance, a nurse spotted them and quickly got someone to bring out a stretcher. After asking about the situation, they sent William to the emergency room.
Things were exactly as Marsha had said. The people in this hospital seemed long accustomed to similar situations.
Despite William's severe injuries and strange wounds, not a single person looked surprised, as if it were completely ordinary.
Seeing this, Emily felt more at ease.
It looked like William's life could be saved. Next came paying the hush money.
Emily herself didn't have much money. She hadn't worked in a long time. The little money she'd earned from that show had gone toward buying a house, and she'd lost the job she'd just found a few days ago because of Amelia's disappearance.
She had no money left now, but fortunately, William had left Emily a limited edition black card when he left. It had plenty of money.
Emily hadn't touched that card, but now she had no choice.
Anyway, this money was being used to save William. Spending it on him was reasonable enough.
When William was wheeled in for emergency treatment, Emily and Marsha sprang into action.
Ten thousand dollars per person in hush money. Everyone involved was paid off, each tacitly agreeing not to leak any information.