A Graduation Gift

Chapter 224 Remaining Unconscious

Cassandra had already stopped crying after she saw Rufus open his eyes. But now that she saw her name in his contact list, her eyes started to tear up again.

Was it true that he had already seen her as his family?

None of the Tang family members' names were in this list, but hers was. Was she more important to him than his own father?

Desperately trying to hold back her tears, Cassandra dialed Michelle's number. Once she got through, she told her of the accident.

"We're in the ambulance now, but you'll have to be at the hospital as soon as possible. They won't clear him for sugery unless you sign the waiver."

Cassandra tried to be as calm as possible. She didn't want Michelle to worry too much. If she rushed Michelle, she might panic and risk her safety on the way to the hospital, too.

"What? A car accident? I'm on my way!" Michelle exclaimed.

She immediately hung up the phone and rushed towards the hospital as quickly as she could. While she was on her way, she called Jasper to relay the same information. She asked Jasper to return to the country immediately.

She hadn't been in touch with Rufus recently because of their rather busy schedules. She was busy serving as a judge for a fashion design contest overseas. There really was no time for her to notice what was happening between Rufus and Cassandra.

Michelle's heart clenched, thinking about all the gossips that their relationship must have brought.

Rufus was always so careful and cautious. How could a car accident ever happen to him? Were they having problems that made him reckless?

Michelle shook her head violently. Now was not the time to dwell over such things. She focused on making it to the hospital as quickly as possible.

The ambulance quickly arrived at the hospital. Cassandra's grip loosened on Rufus's hand since he had to be rushed to the emergency room. She watched the emergency technicians run towards the room, leaving her in front of the doorway; her eyebrows scrunched together in worry.

Michelle ran towards the reception desk as soon as she got into the lobby, and signed the waiver that was on hold for her.

"Please do everything you can at all costs. We are willing to do anything to save him!" Michelle pleaded with the doctor.

The doctor simply nodded and entered the operating room. Michelle sighed, finally letting her mind and body relax. However, she found herself frowning when she turned around and saw Cassandra.

"Cassandra, what happened? Rufus would never be so reckless when he's driving!"

Michelle asked in a reproaching tone, sensing that the accident must have something to do with Cassandra.

Cassandra's eyebrow twitched upon hearing her. She closed her eyes and breathed, trying to react as calmly as possible.

"I'm sorry, Michelle. I had a fight with Rufus. I said I wanted to break up. He got very emotional talking over the phone..."

Cassandra's voice started to break as she explained, guilt pressuring her to admit that she was partly responsible.

"What were you thinking, Cassandra. Do you know how much he's done for you?"

Michelle asked angrily, her face contorted in frustration.

When Rufus first fell in love with Cassandra, Michelle thought that it was inappropriate. However, as Rufus's family, she eventually gave her blessing to whomever Rufus's heart loved. She believed Rufus when he said that Cassandra was simply forced into the arranged marriage with the Tang family. Michelle didn't really care that Cassandra was married at the time.

But Cassandra's influence on Rufus had been so great that he had even gotten into a car accident. Michelle wasn't able to tolerate it anymore.

"I know...I'm sorry. It was my fault. I'm sorry..."

Tears came down from Cassandra's swollen, red eyes, blurring her vision severely.

She cocooned herself as she was apologizing to Michelle. She blamed herself for everything.

"He has always ignored what everyone has said about you. He's always stayed by your side. He never cared about the gossip and he even took the effort to publicly recognize your relationship. You can't even begin to understand the pressure he's been going through. You don't know what he's sacrificed for you, Cassandra!"

Michelle knew that she was being harsh but she couldn't tolerate such influence. She couldn't treat Cassandra as a friend any longer if she was going to risk Rufus's life.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry..."

Cassandra knew she was in the wrong but she couldn't do anything except apologize. She could only apologize and wait. She wasn't sure about Rufus's wellbeing.

Her heart clenched as she thought of Rufus, all alone, with no one there to accompany him. She thought of the moment when he finally opened his eyes, wanting to say something to her but couldn't make a sound. It was so painful that she felt like a part of her soul had been ripped away.

Michelle sighed irritably. She couldn't understand why Rufus and Cassandra had fallen in love.

The surgery was still slowly ongoing. Each second felt like an entire year.

Cassandra could slowly feel her anxiety attack approaching. She tried her best to calm herself down, praying silently for strength.

'Rufus, I'm praying to God that you will be all right. I'd give up anything in this world as long as I ensure that you're well!'

As if on cue, the door of the operating room opened and the head surgeon approached the two of them.

Cassandra rushed to the doctor, her voice shaking.

"Doctor, is he all right?"

Cassandra's cheeks were already stained red and swollen from her endless sobs.

"He's okay now, but we still need to monitor his fractured leg. We're transferring him to the intensive care unit after his surgery. Only if his condition stabilizes can we transfer him to the general ward."

"Oh, thank god! I was so scared. I'm glad he's okay,"

Michelle said, relief washing over her face. She bit back the tears that dared to fall.

Cassandra leaned on the wall and slowly sank down to the floor, her body still trembling from the shock.

'Thank god, thank god. I'm glad you're all right, Rufus.'

However, after the surgery, Rufus was still unconscious. Cassandra was still anxious that he might not wake up.

"Doctor, I thought he was all right. Why hasn't he waken up yet? He was conscious before the surgery," This is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Cassandra asked the doctor worriedly.

"So far there seems to be no major damage. We still have to monitor for signs of concussions and brain Injuries further. It's too early to see if the brain has been affected. We'll have to wait until he wakes up,"

The doctor said straightforwardly. Cassandra whimpered, afraid that Rufus might never wake up.

Once they were in the ICU, Cassandra refused to leave Rufus's side. She would take the shortest naps that would only last a few minutes. She was restless, always checking the screens and monitors to see if there were any changes.

Rufus had been in deep sleep for a long while; his face kept straight during his slumber.

Cassandra relaxed only at the sight of his chest rising and falling, the slightest proof that he was still alive.

She couldn't stop looking at his stoic face. Her tears kept falling down her cheeks.

Cassandra simply thought that she could just leave so that Rufus wouldn't ever have to choose between Amanda and her.

But when she saw Rufus lying in bed, unresponsive, she felt a large stab of guilt in her heart.

Why did things have to turn out this way? She had already made up her mind to leave, but it was as if fate refused to separate them.

She thought that Rufus had seen her as a burden. Why couldn't he just leave her?

Cassandra shook her head disappointingly. Her tears almost ran dry for Rufus, and all this was unknown to him.

She wished that he would just wake up. However, two days later, he still hasn't moved. He had been sleeping quietly with the IV drip hooked up to his hand and the food tube stuck down his nose.

Seeing Cassandra's haggard face, Michelle's heart ached.

"I hired a carer. You can take a break. You should rest, really."

She was still upset with Cassandra, but she wasn't mad anymore.

Cassandra had been taking care of Rufus day and night. She cleaned his body with warm wash towel because he had always liked being clean and tidy.

Michelle was moved by Cassandra's devotion. However, if Rufus remained unconscious, she would still feel resentful towards Cassandra.

"I'm not tired,"

Cassandra said, not even bothering to look behind her to face Michelle. She motioned to the edge of the bed when she noticed the food tube was empty, then called for the nurse to change it.

"I don't care if you're tired or not. You don't want Rufus to see you all haggard and restless like that, do you? Go home. Take a bath and change your clothes."

Michelle sounded distant, but truthfully, she really cared about Cassandra. Cassandra could sense Michelle's concern.

It was obvious that telling her to go home and change her clothes was just an excuse to allow Casandra to sleep in a bed comfortably.

Looking at Rufus solemnly, Cassandra finally conceded.

"Fine. I'll go home and clean myself up. If anything happens, please, please call me at once."

Cassandra quietly left the ward. Staring at the unconscious Rufus, Michelle felt worried.

'Rufus, I know you're deeply in love with Cassandra. But I'm not sure if that's a blessing or a curse.'