Crossroads

"So, how is he?"

Outside, it was clearly noon, and the sun was blazing, but the hospital room felt cool and gloomy. The sharp scent of disinfectant hung heavy in the air, making it hard to stay alert. Worry and anxiety gripped everyone's hearts.

Leaning on a cane, George looked towards the hospital bed, his voice raspy as he asked.

The accompanying dean looked uneasy and carefully replied, "His fever has come down a bit..."

"I asked about his intracranial pressure!"

George's face suddenly turned sullen as she bit ou out these words.

He knew the dangers of acute high intracranial pressure all too well - brain hemorrhage, coma, dilated pupils... It could be a matter of life and death.

The typical symptoms included severe headaches, irregular breathing... migraines. They knew it all along, but they just never expected it was because of intracranial pressure.

This punk actually hid it from everyone...

George looked away, his hand trembling slightly as he gripped his cane. "What are the odds of a successful operation?" he asked, his voice strained.

"George, what operation are you talking about?" The door suddenly swung open, and Mary looked at George and the dean with a confused expression.

"Didn't Dominick's surgery already finish? Is something wrong..."

The dean wanted to explain, but George's frosty gaze silenced him instantly.

This was clearly not something to be discussed lightly.

"George, what's

's going on?" Mary's voice was thick with worry, "The doctors said Dominick was going to be okay. That he was just in a temporary coma..." She could feel something wasn't right.

George's brow furrowed deeply. He didn't even look at her. "Leave," he coldly said.

Mary bit her lip and didn't want to get out. She glanced at Dominick, still unconscious on the bed.

"George," she pleaded, "I know I've messed up in the past, but no matter what, I'm Dominick's mother..."

"I said get out!" George snapped, glaring at her.

Mary tightly pressed her lips together, her expression darkening. She hesitated for a moment. Her son was her world. Nothing could happen to him.

But she seemed to be very wary of George. In the end, she lowered her head slightly and reluctantly left the room.

The bright lights cast down on George's aged face, revealing his weariness and grief. "You do not tell anyone about this," he sternly warned the director.

"Understood," the director replied solemnly, nodding George didn't stay long. With a heavy heart, he walked out of the ward, leaning on his cane.

Thudi

"Be careful"

A bottle of injection fluid accidentally fell to the ground.

Right outside the ward, a nurse hurriedly crouched down to pick up the fallen bottle. The dean and George just happened to come out of the room, looking displeased at the nurse and reminding her.

The nurse, seemingly new and a bit timid, didn't say a word. With her back to them, she quickly gathered the syringes and tidied the cart, maintaining a respectful, slightly bowed posture.

"Take this inside, and from n now on, your head nurse will be in charge of this," the dean instructed her. He couldn't risk any more mistakes.

The young nurse seemed too intimidated to look directly at him, only nodding humbly.

was growing Irritated and had no patience for the nurse. He urged the director, "Lay out the plan as soon as George, walking ahead, w possible..."

"Don't worry. We will do our best to....

rin

"Just get it done," George snapped, cutting him off. He was no longer in the mood to listen to flattering words.

The nurse pushing the cart paused for a moment, glancing sideways at George and the dean as they walked away, her brows furrowing. Something felt off.

"What's going on?" Stephanie didn't understand why George's behavior was so strange.

Dressed in a nurse uniform, she pushed the small cart and stood in front of the room door, taking a deep breath before slowly stepping inside.

Dominick was in there.

Maybe she was wrong, but Stephanie felt that the smell of disinfectant in this room was particularly strong, as if this were an isolation ward devoid of any warmth or life.

The beeping of the machines filled the room, their data flashing constantly. Stephanie slowly moved closer to the bed. It had been days since she'd seen Dominick.

He had been so strong before, able to pick her up with ease...

e approached. When her eyes finally landed on his familiar, stern face, she froze.

The guilt in her chest swelled as she Dominick's face was ashen and drawn. He lay motionless, eyes closed, his body connected to numerous wires monitoring his condition.

"Dominick..." Stephanie stood by the bedside, looking down. Her eyes were filled with overwhelming emotions.

"Dominick, please wake up...

She didn't dare to get too close. The guards outside were still watching. She discreetly reached out and grasped his cold hand, squeezing it gently, "Dominick, it's me, Stephanie."

'Dominick, I'm so worried about you...

As Stephanie watched the once-powerful man now so vulnerable, her eyes reddened. She bit her lip, fighting the urge to cry out.

"Dominick, wake up soon, I miss you so much..." As the words reached her lips, a tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

Suddenly, a loud bang came from behind, startling Stephanie. "Dominick!" someone called out from the doorway. Somehow, maybe driven by some sort of emotion, she immediately withdrew her hand.

"Are you the nurse here to change the IV?"

The voice was clear and bright. The woman quickly walked up to her, looking thoughtful. "You can leave now. His current IV isn't I'll call you later,"

Stephanie didn't know how to respond. She wasn't ready to leave so soon,

"Dominick, you've been asleep for days. The company needs you. Wake up.

Vincent and I can't keep this up much longer."

finished yet.

The woman moved to the other side of the bed, grabbed some damp cotton swabs from the gounter, and dabbed at Dominick's parched lips with a practiced tenderness. Her voice was casual as if their relationship was very solid.

"Come on, Dominick, we're all counting on you. You can't slack off forever," she chuckled lightly as if she was chatting with the man in the bed.

Her words caught Stephanie's attention, drawing her gaze. "Who is she?"

She had smooth skin, accentuated by an expensive black skirt suit. Her hair was impeccably styled, and shem exuded the sophisticated air of a mature woman.

"You're not a nurse here, are you?"

The woman was indeed smart. She quickly noticed that Stephanie's appearance did not match the photo on the small name tag of the nurse's uniform.

"Who are you?" she demanded, instantly on guard. Then, she stepped in front of the hospital bed, shielding Dominick with her body.

"L.. I'm..." Stephanie looked at her, u unsure of how to respond.

"Guards! Come in!" the woman urgently called out towards the door.

Who you are

"I don't know who you are or what you're doing here, but you better get out now." Her voice was cold, and her eyes were sharp as she scrutinized Stephanie.

woman snuck in there pretending to be a nurse. Get her out of there and find out who she is..."

Stephanie felt nervous under their hostile gazes and tried to explain, "I am......."Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.