Chapter 277 A Vegetative State?

Chapter 277 A Vegetative State?

Katherine's POV

I glanced at my phone, puzzled. Kevin had called, but it rang only twice before disconnecting. Strange...

"Kevin, what's going on?" I muttered, calling him back immediately.

No answer. I tried again. Still nothing. Each unanswered ring sent a wave of unease through me. My eyelid started twitching—that old nervous tic I could never control.

I was starting to worry about Kevin. What if something had happened to him?

I sent him a quick text: [Hey, saw your missed call. Call me back when you can.]

Setting my phone down, I tried to focus on Alexander's birthday preparations, but that sense of foreboding wouldn't leave me. Kevin and I had always been close; this silence felt wrong somehow.

My phone rang, and I lunged for it eagerly, only to see it wasn't Kevin but the hospital.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Jordan?" A woman's voice came through. "This is Nurse Wilson from Seattle Private Hospital. I'm Benjamin Hudson's assigned nurse."

My heartbeat quickened. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, actually. Anthony is having a rare moment of clarity today. He's asking to see you."

I couldn't hide my surprise. "Really? He wants to see me?"

"Yes. If you're available, he specifically requested your presence."

"Of course," I said, my voice catching slightly. "I'll come right away. Thank you for letting me know."

I hung up, a mixture of emotions swirling inside me. Relief washed over me knowing Anthony was finally doing much better—I was so happy about that.

But my brother Kevin still wasn't answering his phone, which was making me anxious. I shook my head, telling myself I needed to stop overthinking things.

I grabbed my purse and keys, stopping briefly to pick up some fruit and a few of Anthony's favorite treats from the kitchen before heading out.

While driving to the hospital, I texted Alexander: [Anthony asked to see me. I'm heading to the hospital now. Planning to invite Kevin for dinner tonight. Love you.]

The message sent just as I pulled into the hospital parking lot. I stepped out of the car, balancing the fruit basket in one arm while reaching for my phone to check if Kevin had responded.

That's when I noticed it—a strange shadow falling from above.

Then came the sickening thud.

My ears filled with the sound of shattering glass and screeching metal. I looked up in horror just in time to see a body bounce off a car and roll onto the pavement, leaving a trail of red.

The fruit basket slipped from my fingers, apples and oranges scattering across the asphalt.

"No," I whispered, my legs suddenly weak. "No, no, no..."

I recognized the clothes. The profile. The watch I'd given him for his birthday.

"KEVIN!" I screamed, my voice tearing through my throat.

My brother lay in a growing pool of blood, his body twisted unnaturally on the concrete. This couldn't be happening!!!

I tried to run to him but my legs gave out. I collapsed to my knees, my entire body shaking uncontrollably.

"This isn't real," I whispered, my breath coming in short gasps. "KEVIN!!!This can't be real..."

Reality came back in jagged pieces. My trembling hands somehow managed to dial 911. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, I couldn't stop them from flowing.

"This is Seattle Private Hospital," I stammered into the phone. "My brother fell from a height. His condition is critical..."

Two minutes later, hospital staff rushed toward us. I looked up at the roof, only to see the railing trembling against the blue sky. The bright sunlight seemed like a cruel mockery of the darkness that had just fallen over my life.

When they lifted Kevin onto a stretcher, I tried to follow, but firm hands held me back.

"Ma'am, please don't disturb the scene. Bystanders need to step back."

"I'm his sister," I pleaded, my voice breaking. "Let me through. Please secure the scene and keep everyone else away! Send someone to the rooftop immediately—my brother likely fell from there. Something must have happened. Please, save him. I'm begging you..."

The security guard's expression softened. "We've already sent people up there. Don't worry, we'll investigate this thoroughly."

As they wheeled Kevin away, my mind raced. What was Kevin doing at the hospital? He wasn't here to visit a patient—he would have told me. Then I remembered—he'd mentioned feeling unwell days ago. Had he come for a checkup? Had they found something serious? Something that would make him...

No. I refused to believe that thought. Kevin would never take his own life.

Never!!!

The emergency room waiting area felt like a prison. Minutes stretched into hours as I waited for news, my clothes still stained with Kevin's blood.

Finally, a doctor emerged, his expression grave.

"Ms. Jordan?"

I immediately stood up. "Yes! Yes. How is he?" My eyes reddened as tears flowed directly down my face.

"The patient's condition is extremely critical. We're doing everything we can." He paused. "Fortunately, his fall was partially broken by the building's safety net, giving him a chance of survival. You need to stay strong. However, we can't guarantee the outcome."

"Please, doctor," I grabbed his arm desperately. "Do whatever it takes. As long as my brother survives, nothing else matters. I'm begging you to save him. He absolutely cannot die!"

The doctor looked at me with sympathy. "We'll do our best, Ms. Jordan. But you need to prepare yourself. Even if we save his life, he may remain in a vegetative state."

What? A vegetative state? I swallowed hard, the reality of his words hitting me like a physical blow.

"If that's the best outcome possible," I whispered, my voice trembling, "then I... I can accept it."

The doctor nodded and returned to the operating room. The surgery light remained on, a constant reminder that my brother was fighting for his life.

Two police officers approached me shortly after.

"Ms. Jordan?" one asked.

I nodded, too numb to speak.

"We've examined the rooftop. Initial assessment suggests your brother attempted suicide," he stated clinically.

"What? No, that's impossible!" I blurted out, my voice shaking with shock.

I shook my head, refusing to accept this absurd conclusion. My brother loved life, he had plans, dreams—he would never choose to end his own life!

"Impossible!" I shouted again. "Absolutely impossible! Why would my brother commit suicide?" My throat tightened with emotion. "Officer, please investigate more thoroughly. My brother is naturally optimistic. He has no major problems in his life. How could he possibly commit suicide?!"

The officer raised a calming hand. "Ms. Jordan, I know this is difficult to accept. Please be assured, this isn't our final conclusion. We will investigate thoroughly and give you answers. Please cooperate with our investigation."

I took a deep breath, trying to center myself.

"Before this happened," I explained, "my brother called me, but it only rang twice before disconnecting. When I called back, there was no answer, and my text went unanswered. That's suspicious, isn't it?"

"We found your brother's phone," the officer replied. "It's completely damaged, but our tech team managed to access some data. It shows he only contacted you before the incident."

"He went to customs earlier today," I recalled suddenly. "He was picking up a bracelet to give to me. Did you find a bracelet?"

The officer shook his head. "Not yet. And why was your brother at the hospital today? Did he have an appointment?"

I shook my head. "I'm not sure. Possibly for a follow-up check, but it seems unlikely."

"Our security cameras only show your brother alone on the rooftop," the officer continued. "And the hospital has no record of any appointment for him. This does support the suicide theory."

I remained silent, unwilling to accept their conclusion.

After the police left, I sat alone, staring at the surgery light, my thoughts spiraling. Kevin wouldn't hide anything important from me. We told each other everything. And that bracelet he retrieved from customs—it couldn't simply vanish.

Even if—and this was a thought I couldn't bear—even if Kevin wanted to end his life, he would have ensured the bracelet reached me first. That's the kind of brother he was.

"Kevin," I whispered, tears streaming down my face, "who wanted to harm you? What happened to you?"