Chapter 7
Blood gushed from my mouth as I coughed.
Gerald snapped back to reality, his face etched with fear as he frantically asked, “Eleanor, who’s the father of this baby? Eleanor, tell me! Who’s the father?” My only answer was more blood, pouring from my lips like a fountain.
Drenched in perspiration, the director hit the emergency button. shouting, “Patient in Bed 32 is bleeding heavily! All departments – internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, anesthesiology, critical care, and emergency – report to Operating Room 1001 immediately!”
Upon hearing this, Gerald went mute, his mouth moving without producing any sound.
With a loud smack, Gerald slapped himself, attempting to shake off his daze. He struggled to speak, pleading, “Director, I… I’m the emergency department head. Let me… let me handle this…”
His voice was laced with desperation, reminiscent of a novice salesperson desperately trying to make a sale.
He implored, “Director, please, allow me to do it…”
The director’s face darkened at these words, “Gerald, are you aware that Eleanor has a blood clotting disorder? Do you know that just thirty minutes ago, we used every resource in this hospital to save her life?”
“Are you aware that the baby she’s carrying is nearly five months along? If you, as Eleanor’s husband, knew even a fraction of this,
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you wouldn’t have committed such a brutal act against a woman!” He reprimanded Gerald, “There’s more than one lead doctor in the emergency department. You’re fired, effective immediately. Get out now!”
The arriving medical team swiftly attached various life–support devices to me, and the previously quiet operating room gradually filled with the faint beeping of the heart monitor.
Gerald, looking utterly defeated, grabbed the director’s hand, insisting with a quivering voice, “As long as I’m still employed here, I have the right to operate on Eleanor! Director, you’re not the decision–maker at Cedar Hospital. You can’t fire me…”
“He can’t, but I can.” The operating room door opened once more as Alma was wheeled in.
Her authoritative presence, even from her seated position, dominated the room, “As Cedar Hospital’s owner and the Barren Family heiress, I, Alma, hereby inform you, Gerald Riverton, that you’re terminated, effective immediately. You’re prohibited from touching Eleanor again.”
Gerald stood motionless, as if struck by a bolt of lightning. His bewildered eyes darted between Alma and me, struggling to comprehend the unfolding situation.
He slumped against the wall like a deflated balloon, his blood–covered hands shaking uncontrollably.
“What have I done… What have I done…” Before he could say more
security personnel and nurses arrived to escort him out.
Despite her weakened state, Alma forced herself up from the
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wheelchair, clutching my hand tightly, “Eleanor, hang on. I’ll do everything in my power to save you.”
My faint smile fogged.up the oxygen mask as I whispered, “Miss. Barren, I saw my brother. He apologized, saying even the ruby pendant couldn’t protect me.”
A warm teardrop landed in my palm. I wiped away Alma’s tear and managed a weak smile, “Don’t cry. You’ve just given birth, it’s not good for your health.”
Alma’s reddened eyes welled up even more, her voice choked with emotion.
In a haze, I felt as if I were dreaming. I dreamed of the day my brother died in a car crash. I had desperately tried to reach Gerald, but he kept hanging up.
He only texted me back after my brother was declared dead, [It’s Joanne’s birthday. Don’t bother me unless it’s important.]
Regret washed over me. If only I had realized everything sooner, could things have turned out differently?
Tears rolled down my temples, soaking into my hair as I gripped
in a car accident/ Alma’s hand, “Miss Barren, my brother didn’t die Joanne killed him.”
Alma’s eyes widened in shock and sympathy, her voice trembling; “Eleanor, I’ll ensure justice is served. Is there… is there anything else…” I understood what she meant. She, too, was uncertain about my chances of survival.
“I turned my gaze away, looking coldly towards the door, “If I survive
this, Miss Barren, please announce to everyone that I died from
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severe blood loss during the operation”
I simply wanted to cut all ties with Gerald. In this life, the next, and for all eternity, we would have nothing more to do with each other.
The Barren Family mobilized all the city’s medical resources, pulling me back from death’s doorstep once again. But the baby
was lost.
Touching my now–flat stomach, I felt an odd sense of relief. Alma arranged for me to stay at a postpartum recovery center in the same room as hers, under the care of a private physician.
