Chapter 106
"The patient has acute appendicitis and needs to be operated on right away! Is her family around? We need consent immediately!"
Frederick snapped out of his thoughts and strode towards the doctor as he shouted, "Me!"
He grabbed the pen and signed immediately. "Doctor, how is she? Is she doing alright?"
Flustered from the situation at hand, he gripped the doctor's arm. Carson hauled him away quickly, freeing the doctor to let him be on his way.
"It's just a minor operation, nothing too risky. The procedure won't take long, it'd be done in less than forty minutes. Don't be worried as the hospital now does minimally invasive operations and Doctor Walker is an expert on that. Calm down and wait patiently!"
Only when Frederick heard Carson's explanation was he able to regain his composure.
As anticipated, the operating room light went off promptly, signaling the end of the operation.
Frederick got up and rushed over to Doctor Walker who had taken his mask off.
Doctor Walker stated, "The operation was very successful. Luckily, the patient was sent here in time! She suffered from acute suppurative appendicitis that was complicated with septic shock. This situation is quite common among children and the elderly. However, it is rare in adults! Perhaps she has been under tremendous stress, overworked, and not eating well. All those adding with the sudden emotional outburst ultimately caused her to fall sick. But it was lucky that she was brought to the hospital in time!"
He continued adding, "Her condition is stable at the moment, but she'll have to be monitored for a week. She'll be allowed to eat after she passes gas and her meals need to be light, mainly consisting of liquids and soft foods. Also, she mustn't take part in any strenuous activities."
He left when he was done giving instructions and offering advice.
Hearing the good news, a great surge of emotion swept through Frederick. He felt that he was alive again.
Alicia didn't know how long she was out. Opening her eyes, she made out an unfamiliar luxurious- looking environment with a drip stand on her side. Then, she gave out some gas.
She turned her head around only to realize Frederick leaving the couch. Embarrassed, she held the blanket over her face. "Oh my goodness, did I just fart in front of him..."
She budged and felt throbbing pain pulsing through her body. She couldn't help but let out a cry. Frederick had gotten to her side by then.
"You're finally awake!"
She had been put out for two nights after Carson gave her an injection that helped her sleep.
Doctor Walker mentioned that it would be fine as long as she passes gas within three days. If that didn't happen, it would be worrisome as that could mean a problem had occurred during the operation. Seeing that she was up and looked brighter, Frederick felt happier than ever.
"Don’t move around! Doctor Walker will be coming over soon to check on you!"
As she slowly regained her consciousness, she had a flashback of the day when she was in immense pain that she couldn't even stand. She gave herself a pinch and felt a sting, feeling glad that she was still alive.
Then, she asked timidly, "What happened to me?"
"You had acute appendicitis and you almost died! Why didn't you ever mention you weren't feeling well?"
Frederick stroked her long hair, speaking in a tone with such gentleness! He still couldn't shake off the fear when he thought of the scene where she fell on his back!
Right about this time, Doctor Walker entered with a nurse. They checked on her wound and gave a new dose of medicine.
Doctor Walker said, "You can get out of bed and move around, but be careful not to make huge movements as you might stretch your wound. You'll still need plenty of rest. I see that you're making a good recovery and you have passed gas. Porridge would be great to have in the afternoon, but don’t eat yet for the time being."
After sending Doctor Walker off, Frederick and the nurse helped Alicia move about and then got her back in bed to let her get more rest.
Unaware that she had been sleeping for a whole day because of her foggy mind, she continued lying in bed. She thought of the number of annual leaves she'd be left with and what Frederick said on the day she passed out. The only sentence that she could make out clearly was that he wanted to throw her mother to the streets.
Other than getting some phone calls occasionally, Frederick was with her throughout the day as he worked on his laptop. They didn't talk much all day.
Another day went by in a daze. When Alicia awakened again, she felt so much more at ease. Her body seemed to have regained strength, there were no signs of weaknesses.
She got out of bed and washed up. When Frederick entered the room with his phone in hand, she just got out of the bathroom. Knowing that she got off the bed by herself, he frowned worriedly.
"Why didn't you call for me?" he asked. All it took was a phone call for her to reach him.
He placed his arms around her and helped her back to the bed.
When she sat down, she pulled on the blanket and flicked his hand away. "I can do this on my own!"
As long as she could bear it, she wouldn't want to burden anyone, especially him!
She lost a few kilograms in merely two days. Her hair was let loose, her face still pallid after the operation. Her round and dark eyes looked so large compared to her already small face. She looked absolutely vulnerable yet at the same time, mesmerizing.
He caressed her slightly sunken face and held the back of her head gently while cradling her petite body into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her tightly like she was a lost treasure that had been found again!
She felt suffocated in his firm hug and grew upset. Struggling in an attempt to get out, she placed a pillow in between them. Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
Seeing that she had regained the energy to pull an attitude, he was both glad and speechless. "What's wrong? Are you still mad at me?"
Had she started to draw a line with him as soon as she was beginning to get well?
"Hmph!"
She pursed her lips. She was indeed unhappy, particularly at the thought of him wanting to put her mother out.
He nudged forward and brushed her slightly disheveled hair, muttering, "Let's not dwell on what happened. What's past is past, alright?"
"No!"
She exclaimed in such anger that she felt a sting and pulled a corner of her mouth. In a defeated manner, she whispered, "I was at a disadvantage..."
Obviously, he was the one at fault, not her! He was the reason she fell sick, which was something she didn't ask for!
There was nothing else that could have made him more amused than seeing her bickering with him. He tousled her hair before he lowered his head and kissed her at the corner of her lips.
"I didn't lie! I don't mess around with women. Do you want me to prove it to you?"
If truth be told, this was only one of the reasons she was irritated, but it couldn't be denied that she was pleased with what he had just said.
"How... are you going to prove it?"
Getting another waitress? What was the use of having all the waitresses in the world when all of them were going to side with him and put in a good word for him?
He took her fragile and soft hand in his, placed a kiss, and then started moving his lips elsewhere.
She felt warmth rushing to her palm and immediately retracted her hand. Her face had turned as red as a tomato as she stuttered, "You're...you're a beast!"
Once again, he took her in his arms, gluing her forehead with his.
He then rumbled in a low and husky voice, "This beast in me has been restrained for a long time! Too bad your body is still too weak, or else..."