Chapter 441: Life in Danger
After a moment of contemplation, Sebastian said nonchalantly, “There’s no point in forcing things. They have to make their own decisions in matters of the heart.”
“Hmm. You do have a point,” Madelyn agreed.
It seems I have been too hasty. From now on, I should take things one step at a time. However, if Harriet truly has designs on Sebastian, I won’t stand by and do nothing.
Then, the two of them returned home, washed up, and went to bed.
In the following few days, Madelyn began taking over the large project arranged by her father. Given that this project was an international collaboration, the stakes were high. Madelyn dared not make any mistakes. She was utterly dedicated, pouring every ounce of her attention and effort into it.
Upon seeing his daughter’s determination, Derek was filled with pride.
At noon, in Ingram Manor, Janessa felt incredibly restless after being grounded by Rachel for three days. Every day, alone in her room, her mind wandered. She thought about the company’s transfer, and the more she thought about it, the more indignant she felt.
On that day, Janessa finally managed to get out and share a meal with Rachel. As they ate, Rachel advised, “Janessa, although I was upset with what happened, I grounded you for your own good. Have you reflected on what you’ve done?”
“I have,” Janessa nodded after taking a bite.
Seeing Janessa had finally calmed down, Rachel was satisfied. “It’s good you’ve come to your senses, but your sister has already taken over the company. We’ll have to plan our next move carefully.”
Upon hearing this, Janessa felt indignant, but she had no other choice.
Meanwhile, after finishing their work, Cheryl and Caleb went to the hospital to visit Rupert. Upon arriving at the hospital room, they saw their mother, who had spent the night keeping vigil by their father’s side. The dark circles around her eyes had notably deepened.
Suddenly, Cheryl felt a pang of sadness. She recalled that in the past, her mother was particularly fond of visiting the beauty salon for treatments. Whenever her skin seemed even slightly darker, or if there was a single strand of white hair, or the faintest hint of a wrinkle, her mother would worry to the point of screaming. But now, her father was critically ill, and her mother was no longer in the mood to fuss over her appearance. Every day, she sat by Rupert’s sickbed, her complexion sallow. Her mental state, too, seemed… truly exhausted. Scarlet simply nodded and took a seat beside them.
“Did Dad show any improvement these past few days?” Caleb asked.
Scarlet wearily shook her head, then sighed deeply. “There’s no improvement at all. The doctor is still trying to figure out what’s wrong with your father. How can they treat him if they don’t even know the cause? Your father has been surviving solely on IV fluids. It’s hard to imagine how thin he has become. Even if he recovers, his physique will definitely not be as robust as before.”
As she spoke, Scarlet suddenly grew angry. “I really don’t understand what has gotten into Janessa. Even if she despised my daughter and me, she shouldn’t have harmed her own biological father! Just as expected of a child without a mother. Without anyone to guide her, she’s disregarding even her own family.”
After venting her resentment on Janessa, Scarlet felt a great deal of relief.
Upon hearing this, Caleb was outraged. “Thankfully, the company is back in our hands now. Otherwise, who knows what else Janessa could have done?”
“Enough, what’s the use of talking about all this now?”
Listening to these words, Cheryl sighed, not fanning the flames further. “I just hope Father gets better soon. All that matters is that he’s healthy.”
During this period, Cheryl had matured significantly due to work. The youthful aura about her gradually faded, evolving into a more mature, feminine presence. Finally, she was no longer as flustered as before when faced with challenges.
At that moment, someone unexpectedly walked in. Upon hearing footsteps, the three of them turned around and realized it was Rupert’s doctor. Without hesitation, they respectfully cleared a space for him.
“Excuse me, which one of you is related to the patient?” the doctor asked, looking at the three of them.
Scarlet swiftly stood up. “Doctor, I’m the patient’s wife, and these two are my children.”
Upon hearing this, the doctor nodded. “Since you are the patient’s closest kin, I’ll speak candidly. I have both good news and bad news to share.”
His tone was slightly grave, indicating he was about to discuss something of great importance. Scarlet and her two children turned their attention to the doctor, eagerly awaiting his words.
“The good news is, we thoroughly examined the patient this morning. In reality, he doesn’t have an incurable disease. He consumed a toxic substance, causing his brain to go into shock, leading us to mistakenly diagnose it as a life-threatening condition,” the doctor explained flatly.
He added, “The bad news is, while this poison won’t kill, its effects can be severe. The patient will need treatment before recovery is possible. His physical and cognitive abilities may not be as good as they once were. There’s even a possibility of permanent organ malfunction.”
After the doctor spoke impassively, his professionalism prevented a sympathetic gaze.
“If you are willing to accept the consequences, we will commence treatment. Afterward, the patient will need to be transferred abroad for recovery. So, what are your thoughts?”
Once the words were spoken, Scarlet and her two children stared blankly at each other. No one anticipated the surgery’s high risk, inevitably causing unease.
“I forgot to mention that without treatment, the patient’s condition could worsen. The toxin may spread from the brain cells to the limbs, and we can’t predict the outcome. Therefore, I suggest you consent to the surgery and sign here.”
At this point, the doctor casually produced a surgical consent form.
“I can’t believe it’s that serious…” Scarlet was stunned, mumbling to herself and stumbling back a couple of steps. For a moment, she was at a loss for what to do.