Not everything in this world was satisfactory.Even if she prayed with all her whole heart, she couldn't
change life and death on the operating table.
Christina curled into a ball on the chair with her eyes fixed on the red light in front of her which
suggested the surgery was still going on.
Betty sat next to her with reddened eyes.
Mrs.Dickens clasped her trembling hands and kept murmuring prayers.
Several of the executives of the Dickens Group also came.
Connie was in a dark corner on the left.No one spoke.They all waited silently.
"How came he got so sick all of a sudden..." Mrs.Dickens sobbed.
Betty stroked her back soothingly.She didn't know how to explain it and just wanted everything to be
fine.
At this moment, the door of the O.R. was abruptly pushed open.
A bald and slightly fat male doctor in scrubs came out with a medical record in his hand, followed by
two nurses.
The nurse's white gloves were stained with blood, and they all looked grave.
"Doctor, how's my son?"
Mrs.Dickens was closest to them and stood up immediately.
Christina instantly rushed to the doctor.
The doctor looked at her and said in a low voice, "The patient's condition is very bad..."
Everyone's heart lifted into his or her throat.
Mrs.Dickens seemed to lose her strength all of a sudden and flopped to her knees.
Betty quickly helped her up, sharing her dread.It was a huge blow and tears streamed down her face.
"We need his family to sign here."
The doctor looked solemn and handed Christina a notice saying the patient was in critical condition.
Christina grabbed the pen with shaky fingers and signed her name.
"Please, save my father..." She sobbed with a lump in her throat.
"We will do everything we can, but you should brace yourselves for the worst result.The patient's brain
vessels exploded and had a hemorrhage, which is highly possible to disable him.It is also very likely
that he will become a vegetable or even die"
The doctor took back the notice and informed them of the situation concisely.Then he whipped around
and walked back into the O.R.With a bang, the door closed again.
As if death was coming, the door shook slightly.
Christina stood up straight and looked at the door in a daze.
Her vision became blurred, making her feel that what had happened was just a dream.
Mrs.Dickens couldn't take it any longer and gave Betty a push, kneeling on the ground.
She lowered her head and wept hoarsely, "God, we don't want money.We don't want power.Just save
my son's life.I beg you, please..."
"We used to be poor and live in a bungalow.Donald was very hard-working and filial.We lived a frugal
life, but we were happy.We always gathered together on holidays...I was wrong.I've Known long ago
that I don't deserve such wealth.I don't want it now.I just want you to show mercy and bring my son
back..."
Mrs.Dickens cried miserably with her hands on the ground.
She faced the door of the O.R. and prayed in the most pious way.Her husky cry sounded desperate
and full of fear.
Christina's eyes reddened too.She quelled her tears and went to help her grandmother up.Mrs.Dickens
had been snobbish all her life.She wrapped her arms tightly around Christina and kept sobbing, wetting
her clothes.
At this moment, nothing was more important than family.
The operation didn't end until the sun set and night fell.
It lasted six hours, starting from the bright noon.
When the doctors finally walked out again, all of them stood up and rushed forward with worried lights
in their eyes.
Donald was pushed out on a bed.
"The craniotomy has cleared the blood clots in his brain.The operation was successful.He is still in a
coma, and we don't know when he will wake up.The 24 hours from now are very important."
The attending doctor stepped forward and told Christina.
"In addition, because the patient's right cerebral artery ruptured and bled too much, we estimate that
his left hand and foot will be paralyzed.As for whether things will be worse, we need to wait for him to
wake up before we draw a conclusion..."
"Thank you," Christina said in a low voice, her voice cracking.
On the other side, Betty and Mrs.Dickens followed the nurses to Donald's intensive care unit, but they
were not allowed to enter.
"The patient has just finished the operation and is very weak.To avoid unwanted infection, you can't go
in for the time being," Mrs.Dickens craned her neck anxiously and looked into the ward.
"Betty, I'm so worried.I want to go in and take a look..."
"Madam, you really can't go in.If the wound gets infected, he will die at any time"
The nurse bustled around and turned to explain impatiently.Mrs.Dickens had nervously waited outside
the O.R.for hours and her heart raced because of the word die.Her blood pressure soared and her
breathing quickened.
Noticing that something was wrong with the old lady, Betty immediately shouted for help in panic.
Christina was still talking to the doctor about her father's operation.
Hearing Betty's shout, she freaked out a bit and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Did the old lady take any blood pressure medicine this morning?"
"She was hospitalized once due to high blood pressure at the beginning of the year..." Christina and
Betty got rattled again.
Fortunately, this was the hospital.
Mrs.Dickens was put on an oxygen mask and sent to rest on the bed immediately.She'd be fine after
being given IV fluids.
"She's old and shouldn't worry too much.Keep her blood pressure in control and get someone to take
care of her here..."
"Okay.Thank you."
Betty thanked the doctor politely and immediately called a Dickens family's maid to take care of
Mrs.Dickens.
On the other side, several executives of the Dickens Group in suits walked to Christina and talked to
her about the company.
"Miss Dickens, we are all very sorry about Mr.Dickens's illness.We hope that he will get better as soon
as possible.If you need any help, don't hesitate to call us."
Christina simply nodded.She was only familiar with two of them who had worked for Donald for years.
They then asked her to take care and told her that everything would be fine.
"Besides, we want to keep Mr.Dickens's hospitalization a secret because it will have a great impact on
the stock price..""
Christina did not know much about business, but she knew that if her father became inadequate for his
position, these people would definitely abandon him without hesitation.
At last, Christina watched them leave in a hurry.
She knew that businessmen were profit-oriented.
Although the Dickens Group earned much less than it used to do, Donald had started it from scratch
and she wouldn't let it fall into the hands of others.
"Those people will be hellbent on replacing Donald after they leave..."
Connie suddenly walked up to her.
Connie's voice was very cold.She'd washed the tear stains off her face in the bathroom and became
rational again.
Christina looked up at her.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Are you going to stand by and let them take away your father's company? Do you know how much
effort Donald has put into the company? Do you know how many business trips he went and how many
sleepless nights he had?"
Connie said in agitation, "Donald has protected you so well.You have no idea how dirty and ugly the
world is.Now that the Dickens family fell, are you really so cruel as to watch..."
"What can I do!"
Christina looked distraught.She turned to look at her weak and aged grandmother in the ward and
lowered her head.
The Dickens family suddenly collapsed.She wanted to save it, but she was not able enough.She was
physically and mentally exhausted.
Connie looked straight at her side face and said in a callous voice.
"Turn to the Hopkins family.As long as you ask, Patrick will definitely help you."
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