Dylan’s expression was grim. “She’s stable, but critical. She suffered severe internal injuries. His voice was low and measured. “We’ve done everything we can, but the next 24 hours are crucial. We need to wait and see how she responds to treatment.”
Raymond’s face felt like it had been punched, his eyes stinging with tears. He felt like he was going to collapse. Lucas and Nicholas stepped forward, their faces etched with concern, and supported him on either side.
Dylan placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll do everything we can, Raymond. I promise.”
Raymond nodded, his eyes never leaving Dylan’s. “Can I see her please?” His voice was choked with unshed tears.
Dylan nodded. “Sure you can. She will be pushed out of the emergency room soon. She will be sent to the VIP ward.” Dylan felt pity for his friend. He had never seen him like this before.
Raymond nodded, waiting for his Lina to be wheeled out of the emergency room.
****
A week later.
A week trickled by and Lina was still unconscious. ‘Why hadn’t she woken up?’ Raymond paced around her hospital room anxiously. He was growing impatient. He was told she would wake up in the next 24 hours and now? He felt frustrated as he ran his hands through his disheveled hair many times out of frustration.
He had a hard time sleeping for the past week. His mind was occupied with Lina. The composed, domineering and calculating CEO image was nowhere in sight. Raymond was beyond exhausted. His eyes were covered with dark circles. The big bags under his eyes showed how little he had slept for the past week.
He gaze at the motionless woman lying peacefully on the hospital bed. His heart prickled seeing her beautiful eyelids were shut as usual. He couldn’t help thinking of that night he saw her almost lifeless body in that warehouse. His eyes burned remembering the pain his heart felt that particular moment.
The relief he had felt to have her still alive in his arms was replaced by extreme fear, when she became unconscious, and no matter how he tried making her shut eyelids open, it wouldn’t budge. He had never felt so terrified of losing someone before, until that night.
That night, she was frighteningly pale, her fingers were almost turning blue. She suffered from severe internal injuries. Her head injuries were also severe. He was told her head had been repeatedly hit on a hard surface, making him gritting his teeth harder.
He couldn’t help thinking about how to punish whoever made his woman like this. Though Jayden had reassured him not to worry about petty stuff like that, since he would take care of it, but he couldn’t reconcile with himself until he punished them himself, to avenge Lina.
This incident made him come to terms with his feelings for her. He now understands how much he truly loves and wants to cherish her. If the people that caused this incident knew that their actions didn’t ruin Lina, but it also made the two closer, understanding their feelings for each other, they might die of anger.
Lina’s VIP hospital room door was pushed open by Dylan. He came to check up on his sister in-law, who had become his patient overnight. He sighed remembering how this past week had been filled with terror. Raymond had lashed out on him many times. He understands his friend was frustrated and scared of losing his wife.
Raymond stops pacing back and forth seeing someone entering the room. Seeing it was Dylan. His gaze was piercingly cold. His tightly shut lips opened before saying. “Dylan, what the hell is happening? For a week now, she is still unconscious.”
Dylan’s expression was somber, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and reassurance. “Raymond, I know it’s been a long and difficult week, but we need to be patient. Lina’s injuries were severe, and it’s going to take time for her to recover.”
Raymond’s face twisted in frustration, his eyes blazing with intensity. “Time?” he repeated, his voice low and menacing. “I don’t have time, Dylan. I need her to wake up now.”
Dylan sighed, his expression understanding. “I know, Raymond. But we can’t rush this. We need to let her body heal, and that’s going to take time.”
Raymond’s gaze locked onto Dylan’s, his eyes burning with intensity. “What’s the worst-case scenario?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Dylan hesitated before speaking. “The worst-case scenario is brain damage. We won’t know for sure until she wakes up, but there’s a possibility that she may not be the same person she was before.”
Raymond’s face felt like it had been punched, his eyes stinging with tears. He felt like he was going to collapse. The thought of losing Lina, of losing the woman he loved, was too much to bear.
“No,” Raymond shook his head, “Dylan, you can’t let that happen. She can’t forget about me. She can’t forget who she is. No matter what, her brain must function as usual. He held Dylan shoulder, his blue eyes gazing into Dylan’s brown own pleadingly.
Dylan sighed. “I will try my best.” Dylan reassure his friend.
***
Two days later.
Beep, beep, beep. Lina groaned, growing agitated at the obnoxious sound disturbing her sleep. Why can’t it shut up? Just as she tried sitting up, she winced in pain. It felt like her body had been run over by a truck. Everywhere hurts badly, especially her head.
She heard the sound of something colliding with the wall, still wincing in pain. The impact was so big that she felt scared. ‘Where am I?’ She looked around her surroundings. That was when she noticed she was in a hospital. Memories of that night came back rushing in. She felt she would die that night, who knew she would be safe.
She remembered a tall figure entering her view before she fell into darkness. She saw the fear in his eyes. It was like he was scared of losing her just like she was. He rushed into the warehouse to save her that night, looking like a knight in his armor. Her eyes couldn’t help the tears that were filling them.
A loud crash sounded again, making her cowered in fear. What is happening again? She was traumatized by that night that she thought any small sound might frighten her.
“It’s been a week and two days, and she still hasn’t woken up. How incompetent and useless you are.” A familiar voice roared, resembling that of a wounded beast.
“Mr Walton, you have to calm down.” Lina heard another familiar voice. It was Ria’s.
“Raymond, please calm down, Lina will wake up soon. If she wakes up and sees you this way, she will be sad.” Jayden’s voice echoed.
Ray, that’s enough. We all know you are worried about your sister -in-law’s condition, but that doesn’t mean you should downgrade Dylan’s professionalism. Nicholas also chimed in.
“How could you tell me to calm down?” Raymond snarled and roughly hit his bleeding fist against the wall again.
“Raymond, stop it.” Nicholas, Jayden and Dylan were surprised at Raymond’s behavior. He had encountered many obstacles in the business world, yet this was the first time they had seen Raymond lose composure like this. Bloodshot eyes, disheveled hair, and crooked suit. He looked like a mess.
“Dylan, you are incompetent. You told me 24 hours, and here we are. It’s more than a week. Your license should be revoked…”
A quiet and weak voice spoke out. “That … wouldn’t be … necessary.” Lina could barely speak, her voice sounded weak and timid because of her dry throat, due to dehydration.
All heads snapped toward the weak woman on the bed. Lina also gazes at them with her barely open eyes. Ria was on the verge of tears, her hand flung to her mouth, covering it in disbelief. Lina also saw three unfamiliar men gazing at her with curiosity. Though she knew these men due to their famous background, she wasn’t familiar with any of them.
As Lina’s gaze swept across the room, her eyes landed on the three unfamiliar men standing beside Raymond. The first one, Dylan, caught her attention with his crisp white doctor’s coat and stethoscope draped around his neck. His chiseled features and piercing blue eyes seemed to radiate confidence and professionalism. A hint of exhaustion lingered in his eyes, but his overall demeanor exuded a sense of calm authority.
Next to him stood Nicholas, a man whose reputation as a famous artist and playboy preceded him. His dark hair was perfectly messy, and his piercing green eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. A charming smile played on his lips, and his lean, athletic build seemed to radiate an aura of effortless charm. Despite his polished appearance, there was something about him that suggested a deeper complexity, a sense of hidden depths beneath his suave exterior.
Finally, Lina’s gaze landed on Jayden, a man whose rugged, rough-hewn features seemed to belie a sharp intelligence and calculating gaze. His dark eyes seemed to bore into her very soul, as if sizing her up with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. A scar above his left eyebrow and a sharp jawline gave him a rough, battle-hardened air, and his broad shoulders seemed to radiate an aura of quiet power. Despite his intimidating appearance, there was something about him that suggested a deep sense of loyalty and protectiveness, a sense that he would stop at nothing to defend those he cared about.
As Lina’s eyes met Jayden’s, she felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something about him that seemed to resonate deep within her, something that made her feel like he could see right through her. She quickly looked away, her gaze shifting to Raymond, who was also sizing her up, looking at her in bewilderment.