With teary eyes and out of breath, Gabriella walked quickly. She completely ignored the commotion behind her back. Amber’s anger was no more important than her brother-in-law.
As soon as she opened the door, the secretary looked up at her with a high arched eyebrow. Without waiting for orders, the girl gave up the chair she was sitting on. “Madam?”
“How is Julian?” Gabriella asked in a low voice.
“The operation went well, Madam. We just have to wait for Master to wake up,” Mia explained as she turned to the man who was surrounded by many tubes.
Feeling doubtful, Gabriella grabbed the girl’s shoulder. “You didn’t lie to calm me down, did you?”
With a face without a smile, Mia shook her head. “I’m telling the truth, Madam. Master has passed the critical period. Now, we just have to wait for him to become conscious.”
“So he’s not going to die, is he?” Gabriella asked, unable to sift through the words anymore.
“Yes, Madam.”
A second later, the woman bent down and sighed in relief. As soon as she straightened her face again, tears were running down the cheeks.
“I’m so scared, Mia. I’m afraid that Julian has to sacrifice his life to save me,” Gabriella sighed with sadness scratched on her forehead. “I won’t be able to live in peace if he has to leave like that.”
Feeling the woman’s bitterness, Mia rubbed the hands that gripped her shoulders. “Don’t be like this, Madam. It’s not your fault. The criminal must suffer the consequences, not you.”
“But, all of this happened because of my stupidity. I shouldn’t have followed that man. Instead of stopping his plan, I caused harm to other people,” Gabriella sobbed before turning to the man and approaching.
“I’m sorry, Julian. I’m really sorry for making you like this,” she said in a trembling voice. “Please, wake up quickly. Your brother and father are waiting.”
Seeing her brother-in-law not moving, Gabriella’s heart grew heavy. Taking a deep breath, she tried to beat the shortness of her breath. “Get well soon, Julian. I have to thank you.”
After a moment of silence, the door to the room suddenly opened wide. A second later, Amber escaped Sebastian’s grip and rushed in along with a commotion.
“Julian …. Why is your fate this unfortunate? You shouldn’t care about others more than yourself. Have you forgotten that we are getting married soon?” the woman cried as she shook her ex-fiance’s arm.
Listening to those words, Gabriella bowed deeply. She didn’t know if Amber was sincere or not. However, the lady had made guilt fill the entire space of Gabriella’s heart and mind.
“It’s all because of you! If anything worse happens to Julian, you must be held accountable!” Amber shouted while pointing her index finger.
Witnessing that unfounded anger, Mia spontaneously stepped forward. “Sorry, Miss. Please don’t cause a fuss here. Poor Mr. Julian.”
“If you pity him, you shouldn’t have let this woman here. She doesn’t deserve to show her face in front of Julian.”
Suddenly, Amber began to push Gabriella’s shoulders, forcing the sobbing woman toward the door. “Go away! You can’t be here. Julian won’t want to see you!”
“Stop it, Miss! Don’t be rude to Madam. All of this is not her fault,” Mia said while blocking Amber’s hand.
Seeing the mess, Sebastian finally snorted and helped to separate the lady from Gabriella. “Please, stop making a fuss. I can’t go to the office if you guys keep causing trouble.”
“I won’t stop until this woman is gone!”
In the midst of the chaos, someone suddenly called out in a hoarse voice, “Mia ….”
Unfortunately, the room was too noisy. No one heard the call.
“Mia …” Julian called louder. However, his efforts had yet to bear fruit. Everyone was busy dealing with Amber’s wrath.
Because the room was so noisy, a nurse finally came to check. As soon as she saw the mess, she immediately sighed. “If you want to fight, please don’t come here,” she scolded in vain. The savage woman was still venting her anger.
Confused about the situation, the nurse grimaced. Right at that moment, her gaze inadvertently fell on Julian’s moving hand. In just an instant, her eyebrows arched high.
“The patient is awake,” she sighed while approaching Julian.
As soon as she made sure the patient’s eyes stared back at her, the nurse suddenly exclaimed, “The patient is awake!”
In just an instant, the room suddenly fell silent. All attention turned to Julian who was in tears. As the nurse rushed out to call the doctor, Sebastian and the women immediately circled around the bed.
“Julian, are you awake?” Amber sighed while shifting Mia’s position who was closest to the man.
After one slow blink, Julian lifted his very heavy fingers. Without hesitation, the lady grabbed and held it.
“It’s okay, Julian. I’m here,” Amber sighed as she forced her lips to curl.
Instead of smiling back, the man’s gaze turned to his secretary. A few seconds later, he spoke again. “Mia ….”
Hearing that name, the expression of the woman closest to Julian, froze. Flickering disapprovingly, she sighed. “Why do you call Mia? Do you need something? You want a drink? Are you hungry? I can get it for you.”
Instead of answering, Julian repeated the call. “Mia.”
“I think he wants to talk to you,” Gabriella sighed as she touched the girl’s shoulder.
After furrowing her brows, Mia finally walked to the other side of the bed. She found it odd that Julian’s eyes kept following her.
“What is it, Sir?” the secretary asked in an unstable voice.
Unexpectedly, Julian opened his hand, asking for a grasp. Knowing the signal, Amber immediately snorted. “Julian, I’m here,” she said, expecting a reply.
As if not hearing the lady’s voice, Julian continued talking to his secretary. “How is the criminal?” he asked in a low voice.
“He has been detained by the police. You don’t have to worry anymore, Sir,” Mia answered, successfully making the man smile a little.
“Then, what about Gabriella?”
The woman whose name was called, came closer. “I’m fine. Thanks to your help, Julian. Thank you very much. I owe you,” she said with teary eyes.
Hearing that sincere statement, the man shook his head faintly. “It’s my duty to save you. I have to make amends for the past,” he sighed carelessly.
After one long breath, Julian again called the secretary. “Mia, do you still think that I am a coward?”
In just an instant, compassion clouded the girl’s vision. “No, Sir. You are very brave. You’re not a coward anymore,” she said with a twitching chin.
Slowly, the man’s hand came up to her. With a blink of not understanding, Mia welcomed the outstretched hand.
“Don’t cry anymore,” Julian whispered, widening the curve of his lips. “I don’t like to see you cry.”
Instead of feeling touched, Amber snorted in annoyance. Just as she was about to destroy the atmosphere, a doctor rushed in. Inevitably, the woman moved away from the side of the bed.
“Sorry, I have to check on the patient,” the doctor said, gently shooing the visitors away.
A second later, Julian was forced to let go of the girl’s hand. Beneath the furrowed brows depicting longing, the man’s eyes remained fixed on the secretary. He just turned his gaze to the ceiling when Mia disappeared from sight, as his heart felt empty and fear hit again.
Julian realized that he had found the source of courage in his life.