Chapter 119: Chapter 119

Chapter 119:

Ruby was her lifeline, the person she would do anything to protect.

Bryan quietly held her hand as he listened. When she finished, he took a deep breath and said, “You’re lucky to have had a kind-hearted stepmother. My experience wasn’t quite like yours.”

His tone was casual, almost as if he was discussing something minor, yet his words effectively shifted Eileen’s focus. She looked up, her eyes slightly tear-filled, and gazed at him in surprise.

She knew little about Bryan’s family, but his words made her wonder… Did he also have a stepmother?

Her train of thought was cut short as the ICU door burst open, prompting her to rise quickly, her nerves rattled.

However, the nurse called for someone else, unrelated to Ruby.

This brief interruption not only severed Bryan and Eileen’s ongoing conversation but also helped Eileen regain her senses.

Pulling her hand away, she reverted to her typically reserved expression and said, “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have shared all this with you. It’s getting late. You should head home.”

She then moved to the ward’s exterior and looked through the window at Ruby.

The diminishing sound of footsteps made her assume Bryan had departed, causing her heart to tighten.

Yet, when she turned around after standing tiredly for some time, she spotted a lone figure at the corridor’s end, a silhouette defined by the glow of a cigarette.

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com takes you on a journey It was unmistakably Bryan.

With the arrival of dawn’s first light in the corridor, Bailee and Huey showed up, bringing breakfast.

Eileen managed only a few bites before Bailee firmly persuaded her to leave the hospital.

Bryan then drove Eileen to the tranquil setting of Springvale Lane. Worn out in every way, Eileen offered no resistance.

Despite the exhaustion of an all-night vigil, sleep remained elusive. Eileen tossed and turned in bed, unable to find rest.

Eventually, Bryan’s lighting of a sleep-inducing aromatherapy candle helped her finally unwind and sink into a deep slumber.

The atmosphere at Warren Group was fraught with tension. Early in the morning, in a fit of rage, Kian had scolded several top executives.

Returning to his office, he threw the documents onto his desk and loosened his tie. He then turned to Benjamin and demanded, “How is the situation at the hospital?”

“Ruby remains in a coma, under observation for seventy-two hours. Her waking up is now a matter of fate,” Benjamin answered.

Kian leaned back in his chair, lost in thought for a moment.

Then he said, “Where is Bailee? Bring her here.”

A heavy feeling settled in Benjamin’s chest, and he paused before responding, afraid that it wouldn’t be easy. “Bailee has a strong dislike for you, and the moment she hears you’re looking for her—”

Before Benjamin could finish, Kian, with a cold stare, swept the documents from his desk to the floor. “No matter what, find a way to bring her here!”

“Given Ruby’s condition, Huey has been at her side every day, making it difficult to find a suitable moment,” Benjamin explained, his head slightly bowed.

Benjamin’s words triggered a scornful laugh from Kian. “You don’t understand my request? I need to see Bailee as soon as possible, or you might as well be fired!”

Kian was visibly angered.

After a moment, Benjamin nodded. “Yes.”

He turned and left, making his way back to his office where he sat pondering deeply, glancing repeatedly at his brief WhatsApp exchanges with Eileen.

His frown deepened as he recalled seeing a marriage certificate in Eileen’s bag on the night before her graduation.

Without further delay, he dialed a number. “Keep a close watch on Bailee and inform me the moment there’s an opportunity.”

With the seventy-two-hour critical period behind her, Ruby had been moved to a standard ward. Her already thin hair, due to chemotherapy, had been shaved off, and she was now connected to various medical tubes.

Emilio delivered a significant update. “We’ve initiated treatment with the static drug following the critical period. We expect it to take effect shortly. The primary research facility for the targeted drug is in Wish Land. Transferring her there could be advantageous as those hospitals will likely be the first to use the new treatment once the drug trials are finalized.”

“Thank you, doctor. I’ll give some thought to moving her to Wish Land,” said Eileen, holding back from making any immediate decisions. She averted her eyes from the imposing figure next to her.

Inside the room, Ruby rested silently, her expression serene under the oxygen mask that covered her pale lips.

Apart from the mechanical sounds of medical equipment, the room was quiet, creating a stifling atmosphere.

Previously, conversations with Ruby in the hospital had filled Eileen with joy and a sense of fulfillment.

But now, with Ruby unresponsive, a void had formed in Eileen’s heart. She longed for the days when she could hear Ruby’s voice and share stories. Ruby would always place a warm egg near her bag and remind her to eat more. Memories of the past flooded Eileen’s mind, knitting her brows in sadness.

“Eileen, I’m heading to Huey’s to pack my things. I’ve resigned and rented another house. You stay here to look after Mom, and I’ll be back before dark,” Bailee announced, her face showing signs of fatigue and her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.

Eileen, taken aback, asked, “Why did you resign? Why would you make such a big decision without discussing it with me? And what about the money you owed Huey?”

“Mom has given me that money. I thought she had asked you for it, but it turned out…” Bailee’s voice trembled, and she nearly cried, “Mom has given me her own medical funds.”

Outside the ward, at the end of the corridor, Bryan stood smoking while Huey sat on a bench, his darkened face indicating he was probably troubled by Bailee’s decision to resign.

.

.

.