Dorothy gazed at her son, Langston, in shock as he flashed a row of tiny and even teeth, winking at her.
"You've got to bring him back, Mom. I'm wasting away here without his cooking!" "I will... I promise I'll find him." Kenneth and Karen couldn't make out what the mother and son were discussing, but the smile finally breaking across Dorothy's face was enough to let them breathe a sigh of relief.
The relentless toil of recent days had aged Kenneth by more than a decade.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Kenneth, leave this to me. You need to get some rest!" Karen, too, felt for her cousin. The weariness in his eyes was unmistakable, his clothes unchanged for days. He'd been Dorothy's steadfast guardian, and nobody could keep up that pace forever.
"But she..." "Don't worry! Before you wake, I'll be right here.” Karen patted his shoulder. "You resting now means you can take better care of Dorothy later." Kenneth glanced at Dorothy lying in the bed and nodded reluctantly. Before leaving, he couldn't help but fuss, "She's emotionally fragile right now, so don't upset her! Call me immediately if anything happens, and keep an eye on her bandages for any bleeding." "Jeez, | can take care of her! Plus, we've got the doctors here." When had he turned into such a worrywart? Helpless, Kenneth managed a half-smile, then approached Dorothy's bedside and spoke gently, "I'l just crash at a nearby hotel and come back once I've rested. Have a good chat with Karen and Langston." Dorothy nodded and murmured her thanks, which Kenneth wished he didn't have to hear. It only reminded him that he was still an outsider.
Outside the operating room, the anxious wait continued.
It felt as if a single door separated two different worlds! Jonathan was finally feeling the strain. He summoned a doctor to administer nutrient solutions to keep him going.
His wife had been sent to rest, mainly to spare him the irritation of her worry.
Who would have thought that Jonathan, who'd sailed smoothly through life, would face such a trial in his golden years? The doctors had emerged several times with grim updates: Everett's condition was critical without signs of improvement. If things continued this way, they feared the worst.
Panic was creeping up on Jonathan, though he maintained a facade of calm.
After much contemplation, he decided to prepare for every outcome and made a call, "Bring the two kids Dorothy had for the Lopez family to Swevia Country." In the event of a tragedy, the Lopez family would still have an heir.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut Dorothy couldn't be the one to raise them. Her status was not suited for the future head of the Lopez family.
If their origins leaked, it would tarnish the family's reputation.
"Understood, Jonathan." "Also, prepare a check for fifty million for Dorothy. Then, by whatever means necessary, get her to sign the agreement to relinquish her parental rights." After hanging up, Jonathan exhaled deeply, his hand drooping. For the first time in his life, he felt truly powerless.
Wealth was of no use here as he faced the prospect of losing his son.
Suddenly, the doors to the operating room swung open! This time, the doctor burst out with excitement plastered across his face.
"It worked! His heart stopped beating several times. In my desperation, | told him Dorothy was still waiting for him. Incredibly, it actually worked!"