Chapter 188: Chapter 196

That fearless figure seemed to have become one with the fire. As if shielded by armor, he bravely dashed through the flames toward Angeline.

Seeing that, Angeline felt relieved. She gradually closed her eyes, and before her consciousness ebbed away, she could hear a man’s anxious voice. “Angeline!”

When Angeline came to, all she saw were white walls surrounding her. She was in a quiet space with the only noise being the sound of dripping liquid.

Angeline groaned upon feeling a sharp pain in her waist while she tried moving her body.

“Angeline, you’re awake?” Nancy, who fell asleep at her bedside, was awakened by Angeline’s groan.

With a surprised look, she reached out to caress the other woman’s forehead, her voice laced with joy.

“Thank goodness the fever finally subsided.” Nancy heaved a sigh of relief.

“What’s going on? I had a fever?” Angeline muttered in confusion, her voice hoarse from the dehydration.

Nancy was taken aback when she saw the puzzled look on Angeline’s face.

She held Angeline’s shoulders and shook her, trying to help her remember. “Angeline, please don’t scare me. Did you forget that you were trapped in the fire? Can you remember being rescued by Mr.

Golding?”

Growing nauseous from Nancy’s movement, Angeline pushed the other woman away and sighed.

“Calm down. I would’ve been a lot more flustered if I had lost my memory. I’m just curious about why I had a fever.”

“You scared me to death!” Nancy patted her chest and sat back down before she began peeling an apple.

“What do you think could have caused your fever? The doctor said you were traumatized after being trapped in the fire, resulting in a fever. You’ve been unconscious for the whole day.”

“What? That long?” exclaimed Angeline.

I’ve wasted so much time!

Angeline furrowed her brows. She asked solemnly, “How are Evander and the child? They’re safe, right?”

Nancy stopped peeling the apple when she heard Angeline’s question. She then looked at Angeline grimly. “Mr. Golding sustained an injury on his arm. He was hit by a falling wooden plank while carrying you and the child out of the fire.”

Upon hearing that, Angeline’s face turned pale immediately. She lifted the blanket and wanted to rush out of the ward. “How did this happen? Tell me which ward he is in. I want to see him now.”

Nancy hurriedly grabbed her arm and stopped her from going anywhere. “Calm down. Look at yourself!

You should be resting in bed. Don’t worry about Mr. Golding. His injury isn’t serious, and it’s not life-

threatening.”

Angeline let out a sigh of relief. She could never forgive herself if anything terrible happened to Evander because of her.

“However, the child you saved doesn’t seem to be in good condition.” Nancy did not elaborate further.

Taking in Nancy’s look of hesitation, Angeline began panicking again. Trying her best to calm her rapidly beating heart, she said, “What do you mean? Tell me.”

“The child’s abusive parents should be sent to hell. The child’s skin is in poor condition, and his organs are damaged too. The doctor mentioned that you need to sign a notice of critical condition when the need arises.”

“No. I’m not signing it.” Despite already bracing herself for the worst, Angeline still felt her heart lurch when she heard the news.

“It’s all my fault. If only I’d rescued him earlier, none of these would have happened,” Angeline muttered remorsefully.

I shouldn’t have listened to Jonathan and chose to wait for the best opportunity to act. A person’s life is more important than anything else.

Noticing that the IV bag above her was empty, she bit her lip and removed the infusion tube attached to the back of her hand.

Subsequently, she endured the discomfort and was determined to get off the bed to see the child.

“Calm down, Angeline.” Knowing there was no way she could stop Angeline, Nancy sighed resignedly and accompanied her to the ICU.

The pair could only wait outside upon arrival, for the doctor was tending to the child in the ward.

Angeline looked through the door’s glass panel and had a clear view of the child’s face.

The child had a pale complexion probably due to malnutrition, but he had sharp facial features, and there were various scars on his cheeks.

He’s still so young and ignorant of the ways of the world. Why does he have to suffer such unfair cruelty?

With that thought in mind, Angeline frowned, and her heart wrenched.

Right then, the doctor walked out of the room. She hurriedly stumbled over and queried anxiously, “Doctor, how is the child’s condition?”

“The child’s external wounds are not an issue. What’s tricky is the cleansing of his internal organs. After the initial examination, we found some sticky substance in his stomach, and we suspect it’s super glue.”

At this point, the doctor could not help but sigh. “What a poor child. I can’t imagine the trauma and fear that he experienced.”

Angeline’s body was already frail. Unable to bear the bad news, she began coughing non-stop and felt lightheaded.

As she staggered, Nancy hurriedly supported her and said anxiously, “Hang in there, Angeline.”

“Don’t worry too much. We’ll do our best to treat the child. There’s still a huge possibility that he will regain consciousness.” The doctor remained hopeful.

Angeline looked at the doctor pleadingly. “I’ll be leaving the child in your care then. Please, you must save him at all costs. Give him the best treatment. I can pay for it.”

“Don’t worry, Ms. Sorelle.”

The doctor patted her shoulder assuringly and reminded her before he left, “The child was filthy when he was brought in. To prevent his wounds from being infected, remember to keep him clean.”

“Okay, I’ll take note.”

As Angeline watched the doctor leave, the look in her eyes turned grim as she said resentfully, “Nancy, get me a lawyer. I’m going to sue that couple and see that they get the harshest punishment they deserve!”

Since that drunkard of a father was cruel enough to beat the child up and even force glue into his mouth, that means he’s not the child’s biological father. If that’s the case, I’ll make him pay the price for what he has done!

“Okay, I know a good lawyer. I’ll call him right now,” Nancy replied and left the room first.

Although Angeline was not feeling well, she didn’t have the heart to return to her ward and rest.

Instead, she borrowed a sterilized plastic wash basin and towel from a nurse and went to get hot water.

With the wash basin in her hands, she pushed open the door to the ICU ward and walked to the child’s bed.

That was the first time she saw the child up close. His eyes were tightly shut, and he looked adorable while asleep.

A glint of tenderness flashed across Angeline’s eyes. She wrung the wet towel and gently wiped off the blood stains on the child’s face.

All the while, a pucker remained between the child’s brows, and it didn’t disappear no matter how many times Angeline tried to smooth it out. He seemed so insecure and fearful even in his sleep.

That wasn’t his fault. To suffer such inhumane abuse at the tender age of five, any child would have reacted the same way. Angeline couldn’t imagine how desperate he had been.

Now, he could finally have a new lease on life after being rescued. Angeline decided that she would bear full responsibility for this child regardless of whether they were blood-related or not.

“You look like a loving and caring mother now.”