The nurse frowned and wanted to say something. But when she caught sight of Molly lying on the
operating table, she swallowed what she had wanted to say and nodded silently.
Soon, she returned back into the room with the drug in her hand. It was an anesthetic made from the
combination of a few mild drugs which Elias had developed when he was researching on numbing
drugs. This might just be the kind of anesthetic which might bring the least amount of harm to the
human body.
Dr. He stretched out his gloved hand and took the drug tube from the nurse. The crystal clear drug
shone brightly in the light.
At that moment, someone entered the room from outside.
Dr. He raised his head and saw Felix closing the door behind him. After Dr. He put the drug in a box
carefully, Felix asked him with a serious look, "Is there any news from Mr. Brian Long?"
Dr. He shook his head in reply. In fact, they all knew that it wasn't easy to find someone who was willing
to donate their eyes in just five hours. However, they had no other choice but to wait-- wait for a miracle
to happen.
*
Brian had sent out all his men. All the staff from Emp and the Grand Night were searching for healthy
eye donors all over A City. Their urgent move caused doubts in those who were watching them
secretly.
"Is she here yet?" asked Edgar, who showed no interest when Bill told him about Brian's actions. He
guessed that they were doing it because of Becky's illness.
Bill paused for a while until he figured out who 'she' was, "Miss Xia hasn't shown up yet."
Edgar tapped on the office table with his slender fingers. After he got the news that the letter had
reached Molly, he hadn't moved a step away from his office in the City Hall. As he knew well about
Molly, he guessed that she would surely come to confirm the contents of the letter. And then, he would
persuade her to leave Brian and come back to him.
However, she hadn't come yet.
Edgar was usually patient and enduring, but he gradually lost his patience. As time went by, he even
grew suspicious of his understanding about Molly. Finally, he commanded, "Send someone to the
Empire Hospital and see what's going on."
"Okay," Bill replied as he left the office quickly. He didn't understand why Edgar wanted to see Molly so
badly. He wondered, 'Shouldn't he be worrying about Major General Zeng right now?'
Actually, Edgar wasn't in the mood to pay any attention to the conflict between the conservative faction
and the reformist faction. He knew that after the event at the Phoenix Mountain, the Governor of the
Dragon Island had already visited the State Parliament in the name of a usual state affair meeting, but
their real purpose was to exert pressure. The Dragon Island played an important role in the domestic
economy, but the military had attempted to murder its future Governor. Obviously, that incident was
bound to affect the domestic situation profoundly.
Edgar stood up from his seat and went to the window. The dull weather outside was similar to the
sullen look on his face. He told himself firmly, 'This is the only chance I've got. I must use it!'
The depression radiating from Brian was no less grave than that of Edgar. It was almost impossible to
find a donor in such a short time. As far as he was concerned, it was absolutely fine if he could just find
someone with suitable eyes on the streets and give his eyes to Molly. However, he knew he couldn't do
that. He didn't want Molly to hate him because of that, nor did he want her to blame herself.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and his knuckles creaked because of the strength he was
exerting on it. His black eyes were already filled with a heavy haze. He stole a quick glance at his
watch and his heart trembled as the second hand moved without mercy.
Suddenly, the car phone rang, breaking the silence.
Taking a deep breath, Brian answered it.
"Mr. Brian Long," Dr. He's voice came from the other end, "I must operate on Miss Xia in twenty
minutes. If not, the extravasated blood in her after-brain would cause neural sclerosis in her brain
nerves. And if that happened, her brain would cease to function normally, and she might enter a
permanent vegetative state."
After Brian heard those words, the expression on his face darkened. He gritted his teeth, and the
choking feeling in his throat dropped tremendous sadness upon him. His usual self-centered arrogance
gave way to the deep sense of powerlessness in his heart right now.
He closed his eyes in agony. After a while, he opened his thin lips and said slowly, "If I fail to find the
eyes in twenty minutes, then... just operate on her."
"I got it," Dr. He replied in a heavier voice.
Hanging up the phone, Brian leaned back against the seat wearily. He felt his heart wrenching violently,
and it ached so much that he felt breathless.
"Mol..." Brian called out her name. There was great anguish in his faint voice. "If... if you lose your
eyesight, will you blame me?"
He was always so aloof and confident, but at that moment, he felt totally powerless. He hadn't felt that
way since he was very young. Over the years, he had managed to do everything he wanted, and he
had even dared to challenge his father. However, he had never thought that there would be such
helpless moments in his life.
*
"Dr. He, we have only ten minutes left." A nurse looked at the electronic timer and reported with a
serious look.
Felix and Dr. He both looked at the clock on the wall. They exchanged a glance, then they stared at the
door simultaneously. They were still hoping for a miracle.
The atmosphere in the operation room was getting more and more intense. Maybe they had been
moved by Molly's sorrowful plea and the heart-stopping bloody tears on her face. Or maybe it was
because they knew that the operation would decide the fates of two young girls. Everyone just held
their breaths and waited for Brian to get back, although it was almost the eleventh hour.
The number on the electronic timer kept counting down, and the time left changed from ten minutes to
nine minutes... eight... seven... Three minutes... Everyone's cheeks tightened because of their tension.
When they had only one minute left, disappointment grew in their eyes.
Finally, there was a beep from the timer as the number on it turned zero.
Everyone felt their hearts sinking when they heard the sound.
"Prepare for the operation," Dr. He suppressed the strong emotions in him and passed the instructions
professionally, "Dr. Felix, please start the operation immediately."
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