Chapter 229 Joanna Awakens

Chapter 229 Joanna Awakens

"Joanna?"

Justin called out softly, leaning forward as his warm palm gently caressed Joanna's face.

Joanna's lips moved, but no sound came out. Her eyes were unfocused.

Noticing something was wrong, Justin immediately called for the doctor.

Soon, Joanna saw Justin backing away in his wheelchair as a group of doctors in white coats surrounded her.

She couldn't hear what they were saying clearly, but in her peripheral vision, she saw the smile on Justin's face growing brighter and more beautiful.

She drifted back into unconsciousness.

When Joanna opened her eyes again, she didn't know how much time had passed. Her bedside was filled with familiar faces.

"Joanna, can you recognize who I am?"

Joanna turned toward the voice, her gaze gradually clearing. "Cathy."

Her voice was a bit hoarse.

"Yes!" Cathy answered cheerfully, smiling through her tears as she excitedly grabbed Diana beside her.

Diana also asked, "Joanna, what about me?"

Joanna smiled at her, her voice weak. "Diana."

She looked behind Diana to see Kevin and Brandon.

Then she saw Karen, Elizabeth, Hazel, and Justin sitting in his wheelchair.

Joanna withdrew her gaze and looked at Karen and Elizabeth. "Mom, Grandma..."

She called out to them.

"Yes!" Karen and Elizabeth answered simultaneously, tears welling in their eyes.

Karen turned excitedly to Willie behind her. "She recognizes us! She can speak!"

It had been two days since Joanna first woke up.

During those two days, Joanna's consciousness had remained clouded—she couldn't recognize anyone or speak.

Willie said it was normal for her to be disoriented after being unconscious for so long.

In about two or three days, she should return to normal.

So they all stayed by her side.

"Her brain has recovered very well, with no residual lesions. However, after lying down for two months, her cardiopulmonary function needs time to recover. For the next week, she must rest in bed."

Willie continued, "During this time, as long as there's no cerebral edema or infection, her condition should stabilize."

Joanna looked at Willie, her voice soft but sincere. "Thank you, Dr. Quinn."

Karen shook hands with Willie. "Thank you so much, Dr. Quinn. The Lawson family will unconditionally support any research project you lead in the future."

After the doctor left, everyone continued to surround Joanna, asking if she felt uncomfortable anywhere and if there was anything she wanted to say or do.

Joanna had been unconscious for too long, and her head was still foggy.

But she remembered that before she lost consciousness, Justin had been severely injured.

She looked at Justin, noticing the wheelchair beneath him.

She'd been lying here for two months, and Justin was still in a wheelchair.

Looking at his face, thinner than before, Joanna's lips moved.

But before she could speak, Justin said first, "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

Hazel's eyes widened, glaring at Justin with frustration before anxiously explaining, "What do you mean 'fine'? You nearly died! Joanna, Justin paid such a heavy price this time—you have to make it up to him."

"Don't talk nonsense," Elizabeth interrupted, pushing her aside and squeezing Joanna's hand. "Don't listen to Hazel's nonsense. We're family—there's no such thing as compensation. As long as everyone's okay, that's what matters."

Elizabeth covered her mouth and coughed twice. "Seeing you both recovering puts my mind at ease..."

Elizabeth's coughing grew worse. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, bending over as she coughed continuously.

Karen gently patted Elizabeth's back. "Mom, let me take you home first."

She looked at Joanna. "Your grandmother has been ill since you both had the accident. She shouldn't have come today, but she insisted on seeing you."

Karen looked at Cathy. "You stay and talk with Joanna. I'll take Elizabeth home first."

During this time, Cathy had witnessed Karen's dedication and treated her with great respect.

"Grandma, Mrs. Lawson, don't worry. We're here with her. You should go home and rest. I'll walk you out."

Cathy helped Elizabeth out with Karen.

Watching Elizabeth lean on her cane, moving slowly with a bent back, Joanna frowned with concern.

Both Elizabeth and Karen had lost weight.

Elizabeth looked noticeably haggard, and Karen had even grown many gray hairs.

It was because of her, wasn't it?

They'd both been so worried. She could feel it.

A warm hand touched Joanna's forehead, gently smoothing the furrow between her brows.

Justin looked at her tenderly. "Don't overthink it. Just focus on recovering."

Joanna lowered her eyes, neither resisting nor responding.

Sensing Joanna's discomfort, Justin withdrew his hand.

Cathy had just returned.

Justin wheeled himself to the window, giving the others space.

Diana leaned against the bed, eyes red as she spoke comforting words.

Joanna smiled faintly and looked at Kevin and Brandon. "I'm sorry for making you worry."

"You're welcome," Brandon replied with a gentle smile.

Kevin turned his face away proudly. "Don't give me that. If I hadn't figured out something was wrong myself, I'd probably still be in the dark."

Joanna's face flushed slightly with embarrassment as she wrinkled her nose apologetically.

Cathy elbowed Kevin. "All right, don't make my Joanna upset."

Kevin raised an eyebrow, indicating he was just teasing.

Cathy rolled her eyes at him, then looked at Joanna.

Seeing that Joanna was running out of energy and seemed to want to say something, Cathy guessed proactively, "You want to ask about your grandparents, right?"

"Yes."

"You've been gone too long, and they were getting worried. But I told them the project would be finished in another week, so they have something to look forward to."

Cathy smiled. "In a week, you should have recovered enough strength to contact them and give them a call."

"Okay, thank you."

Joanna breathed a sigh of relief.

The hospital room fell quiet for a moment. Joanna's gaze inadvertently swept toward the window, where Justin sat with his back to her.

She asked about the company's situation.

Kevin said that the SO Robotics project had hit a technical bottleneck they were working to resolve, but otherwise, everything was normal.

As for the details, they involved confidential information and weren't convenient to discuss, but Joanna kept them in mind.

"Stop talking about work," Hazel interrupted after hesitating for a long time. "Joanna's tired. Let her rest—stop talking to her."

Looking at the time, Joanna had been awake for nearly an hour. It was time for her to rest, so Cathy suggested they leave.

It was already past three in the afternoon. Cathy said she'd come back tomorrow after finishing work.

Diana glanced at Justin and asked, "Joanna, can I come tomorrow?"

"Of course."

Joanna thought Diana was worried about disturbing her rest, so she added, "You can come anytime."

"Great!" Diana smiled, tilting her head happily, and smugly raised an eyebrow at Justin.

Justin glanced at her, turned his face away, and looked out the window expressionlessly, his lips slightly pursed.

Except for Hazel, everyone left.