Chapter 27: I’m the whole world for her(1)
The next day, late at night.
Helena’s fingers were still painful. She tossed and turned in bed, finally falling asleep with difficulty.
Willis lay beside her, holding her.
Suddenly, the phone vibrated. Afraid of waking Helena, Willis silenced it and gently pulled his arm from under her neck, intending to answer the call outside.
Unexpectedly, as he pulled away, Helena woke up. She opened her eyes, looking at him with a sleepy expression, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Willis pointed at the phone, “I have to take a call.”
“Just answer it here, don’t go out. It’s chilly outside,” she said considerately.
Willis made a sound of agreement and answered the call, “Josh, what’s up?”
Susan’s brother, Josh Varley, politely said, “Sorry for disturbing you so late. Susan’s hand was smashed with a hammer. She has a comminuted fracture in four fingers of her left hand, and her condition is very poor. She has been crying and insists on seeing you. Can you come over to see her now?”
Willis’s expression changed, sitting up straight, he asked, “When did it happen?”
“Over two hours ago.”
Willis frowned and said, “I’ll come right away.”
“Thank you. I’ll send you the room number in a moment.”
“Alright.”
After hanging up, Willis started unbuttoning his sleepwear, doing it quickly.
Seeing him so anxious, Helena had an intuition that he probably wouldn’t be back tonight. Most likely, he would take care of Susan just like he did for her-hugging and comforting her.
Helena’s heart felt like it was being stabbed. Remembering what Yale had said about being tender when necessary, she realized that she couldn’t bring herself to act cute at a time like this. Being fragile was still manageable, after all, vulnerability was a woman’s nature.
She suddenly wrapped her arms around Willis’s waist, burying her head in his chest. The message was clear-she didn’t want him to go.
Willis, halfway through unbuttoning, hesitated and raised his hand, gently prying apart her fingers that were wrapped around his waist.
After changing into his clothes, he left.
Helena stared blankly at the closed door, her self-esteem shattered.
In a few more hours, it would be daylight, and he couldn’t wait.
Regardless of how the substitute acted, he couldn’t compare to the childhood sweetheart, the white moonlight.
Helena laughed self-deprecatingly, enduring the pain in her hand. She got out of bed and locked the door to the ward.
Lying back down, she wiped her eyes. Her heart felt so heavy.
Willis arrived at Susan’s ward.
She had just returned from the operating room, lying on the hospital bed, curled up in pain. Her face was pale, eyes swollen, and she looked miserable.
Four broken fingers were set in splints, the back of her hand was swollen high, and the skin was stretched thin, showing various bruised and battered wounds.
Grace was covering her face, crying uncontrollably.
Susan’s father stood by the corridor window, smoking one cigarette after another.
Seeing Willis arrive, Josh greeted him, “Willis, sorry to trouble you so late.”
“It’s okay.”
Willis calmly replied and walked to the bedside. He bent over, looked at Susan, and softly called, “Susan.”
Susan, who had been staring blankly, turned her head slowly upon hearing Willis’s voice. When she saw his face, she burst into tears.
Willis sat down by the bed, bending over to pat her arm gently, saying, “Susan, be strong.”
Tears streamed down Susan’s face as she cried, “My hand, Willis, my hand is ruined.”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
Willis comforted her, “You’re still young; it will heal.”
“It won’t. Comminuted fracture, piecing together bone fragments bit by bit. My life is over.” Susan cried in despair, her pain echoing in heart-wrenching sobs.
Watching Susan cry so heartbreakingly, Willis couldn’t help but recall Helena’s eyes filled with despair when her fingers were broken.
He tore off some tissues and gently wiped away her tears, coaxing her, “Don’t cry. Be optimistic.”
“I can’t be optimistic, sob.”
No matter how long Willis tried to comfort Susan, she continued crying inconsolably.
Willis felt a bit annoyed. Glancing at his watch, it had been almost an hour since he came out.
Helena must be angry by now.
After some contemplation, he took out a card from his wallet and placed it on the bedside table, saying, “I rushed here too quickly and didn’t bring any gifts. This is a little token from me. The password is 618618. It’s late, and Helena is still waiting for me in the ward. I’ll go back first.”