Goodbye, Mr. Regret

As soon as the elevator doors slid open, they came face-to-face with the entire Lawson family.

The Lawsons stared, wide-eyed, at the scene before them-Herbert was carrying Jessica on his back.

Phelps blurted out, voice sharp with accusation, “Jessy, I know you're divorcing Timothy, but you're still married for another week. How could you be clinging to another man like this?"

"Exactly! That sort of behavior just isn't right," Naylor chimed in stiffly.

Herbert's temper snapped. "Will you get out of the elevator already? We need to get upstairs! Timothy's gone ahead for emergency treatment, and Jessy almost passed out from the sight of his injury-I'm just helping her. You all know exactly what kind of person she is; she's been part of your family for seven years. What are you even accusing her of?"

Phelps and Naylor immediately faltered, their indignation turning to panic.

"Timothy's hurt? What happened to Timothy?"

"Come on, get inside!" Phelps grabbed Herbert and pulled him into the elevator.

The surgery wing was on the third floor. When the doors opened again, Herbert hurried down the hall with Jessica still on his back.

The Lawsons rushed after them in a panic.noveldrama

They'd barely arrived at the surgical ward when the doors to the operating room swung open.

"Is Timothy's family here?" a nurse called out.

"Right here!" Phelps and Naylor surged forward, Nola Lawson close behind, anxiety written all over her face.

All three were Timothy's immediate family-here today for Henry's compatibility testing.

"Sign this-Emergency Consent Form," the nurse said, holding out a clipboard. Phelps and Naylor took one look at the words and immediately fainted dead away. Herbert had just set Jessica down, but she nearly collapsed to the floor herself. Nola was terrified. Both her father and grandfather had passed out.

She shouted for help, frantic. The hospital staff rushed in to carry Phelps and Naylor away.

A nurse turned to Nola. "What's your relation to the patient?"

"I'm his sister."

"Then you need to sign."

Nola recoiled, shaking her head. "No, I can't sign that—I'm not brave enough, that's the critical condition form!"

"But the other family members are unconscious. Only you can sign. Please, quickly, don't delay the doctors."

Nola immediately pointed at Jessica. "Let her sign-she's his wife!"

No matter what, Nola refused to take responsibility. She was terrified anything happened while her father and grandfather were unconscious or if her older sister returned, she'd be the one they blamed. She couldn't bear the weight of that decision.

The nurse thrust the clipboard in front of Jessica. "Since you're the patient's wife, please sign here."

Jessica stared at the words "Emergency Consent" in bold print. Her vision blurred; her legs nearly gave out.

"Is it really that serious? Is there any hope?" she asked, voice trembling.

"I honestly don't know," the nurse

ret

admitted: "He's being treated right now Every doctor is doing

everything they can."

Jessica shoved the clipboard away, panic overwhelming her. “I can't sign it. I don't

want him to die-I can't..."

Tears pricked her eyes, held back only by sheer willpower.

She didn't want to care. She didn't want to shed another tear for him.

But she couldn't bear to let him die.

Just like she couldn't stand to see anything happen to Henry.

She could leave Timothy and his son behind, but she couldn't watch them die.

As Phelps was just regaining consciousness, his phone rang. It was Sallie. She'd gotten the call last night, booked the earliest flight, and had just arrived at the hospital. She'd tried Timothy's number without luck and was now calling Phelps, asking which room Henry was in.

"Sallie, Henry's fine for now, but you need to head straight to the third floor-

Timothy's in surgery!"