After hanging up, Dorothy asked Germaine to watch over Belle. She hurried out of the ward and ran into Juelz at the elevator.
The white lights shone down upon them, making Juelz’s face seem to be covered in a light mist. It was hard to clearly identify his expression.
Juelz’s assistant had just told him that he’d successfully transferred the Scott Group shares to Dorothy’s name, and he was in a good mood. When he saw that Dorothy had changed out of her hospital gown, and she had her bag with her, obviously intending to leave the hospital. He hurried over to her and gently said, “Dory, where are you going? I’ll send you.”
“Juelz, are you free now? I need to go to Jonathan’s hospital! He just told me that Credence isn’t doing too well, and I have to go see him.”
In her hurry, Dorothy was a little out of breath. She felt a little dizzy and quickly reached out to steady herself by holding on to the elevator’s door. Then, she heard Juelz’s voice ring out, seemingly a little crestfallen.
He said, “Dory, I’ll always be free for you!”
His words were so affectionate that Dorothy did not know how to reply.
She smiled awkwardly and replied, “Thanks, Juelz.”
Just a few days ago, Juelz had personally handed her over to Jeremy, which led to her being handed over to Hugo. This had led to Credence almost dying to save her, and he was still lying in the hospital in critical condition. It wasn’t possible for her to treat Juelz exactly the same as before.
However, she recalled how Juelz had stayed by her side for so many years. If not for him, Rosalie and the others would’ve gotten her killed a long time ago. She wouldn’t even have had a chance to have her darling Belle.
Therefore, her feelings towards Juelz were extremely complicated.
She was grateful for him, but she was also upset.
An hour later, Juelz dropped Dorothy off at the entrance to Jonathan’s hospital. She was just about to get out of the car when she felt Juelz place his hand on her shoulder. He didn’t use much strength and it didn’t hurt, but Dorothy stiffened.
She slowly turned back and looked into Juelz’s dark eyes. She asked softly, “I’m getting out. Is there anything else?”
“No, there isn’t.”
Juelz shook his head and pointed at her bag that she’d left behind. He smiled gently, “Dory, don’t be too worried. He’ll make it through, for your and Belle’s sake.”
“It is not just for Belle and I.”
Looking at the infinite affection in Juelz’s eyes, Dorothy’s heart hitched. She picked up her bag with one hand and placed her other hand on her flat abdomen. She smiled and said, “The doctor told me today that I’m about one week pregnant, and the baby’s very healthy.”
Her voice was soft and gentle, and it was filled with joy. Her smile reached her eyes, and she looked beautiful.
However, her beauty and gentleness was mostly because of Credence. It was also because she’d gotten pregnant again, and there was hope to cure Belle’s leukemia.
Since she was a week pregnant, the baby obviously wasn’t conceived on her birthday, when she’d been intimate with Credence at the balcony.
It had to be before that. She’d been intimate with him several times even before that.
When Juelz realized this, he felt a dull pain in his heart.
However, what could he say?
Apart from congratulating her, he could not do anything else.
This was the woman he’d protected, cared for, and loved for close to eighteen years. Yet, her heart was filled with another man, and Juelz had been left behind.
“Dory, congratulations. Belle will surely be saved this time.”
Juelz just barely managed to suppress the pain in his heart and smiled at Dorothy. “I still have some work to do, so I won’t go in with you. Credence ending up in the hospital is partly my fault, so please apologise to him for me.”
Dorothy got out of the car, then turned back to look at him. She raised an eyebrow and said, “Juelz, let’s let bygones be bygones. We’re still good friends, and we’ll be friends forever, right?”
Juelz closed his eyes, then opened them again and looked into her dark eyes. He smiled gently and replied, “Yes, of course. Friends forever!”
“Okay, then I’ll head in. You be careful.”
Dorothy’s speech and body language were less intimate and natural than before. She was more distant with him, and she turned to leave.
In the end, their relationship had changed.
Behind her, Juelz sat in the driver’s seat, his eyes focused on her figure. Pain and regret rose in the deepest parts of his eyes.
He was the one at fault. He didn’t have the right to blame Dorothy for acting differently.
….
Under Jonathan’s instructions, Dorothy rushed into the VIP ward.
A group of white-haired experts, Jonathan, and Marvin were all waiting inside. When Dorothy rushed in, Jonathan quickly walked up to her and told her how Credence was doing.
“Dorothy, Credence’s situation was steady after receiving a major blood transfusion during the operation.”
“However, soon after that, there was a bacterial infection. He also had some remaining blood clots in his brain from the accident six years ago. Adding to that the fact that he had some head injuries in the ocean, the pressure in his head has increased, resulting in greater damage to the head.”
“Because of this, we can’t stick to the conservative treatment that we’d originally planned on doing. He has to undergo brain surgery immediately.”
“If something goes wrong during the operation, Credence will be ruined for sure. He’ll either become mentally retarded, or he’ll become paralysed.”
“Therefore, Marv and I need to hear your opinion on this.”
When it came to serious matters, Jonathan shed his usual cheeky act and was completely solemn.
At this, Dorothy’s mind went blank. The risks that came with brain surgery were extremely high, and she couldn’t help feeling so anxious that cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
She truly hadn’t expected Credence to throw his life aside for her safety.
She licked her dry lips and asked hoarsely, “What happens if we don’t do the surgery?”
Marvin, who’d been standing opposite her, took over. He said coldly, “If we don’t do the surgery, Credence will stay in a coma. He’ll become a vegetable, like his father.”
Was it really that serious?
Dorothy gasped, and she felt cold air seeping in from her feet all the way to her heart. She almost collapsed.
“Then… then, what can I do for him?”