Chapter 22
An entire night passed before the light above the operating room finally went off.
“Family of Mr. Connor Larsen?” the doctor called out as he stepped out, holding a thick stack of medical reports. His gown was soaked with dark red blood, the stains glaring and grim.
“I’m here… Doctor, how is he?” Holly stood up shakily, her face absolutely ashen, her voice. trembling
“The prognosis is grim. He has multiple comminuted fractures. A ruptured spleen caused massive internal bleeding. We had to transfuse more than 50 ounces of blood during surgery. The most critical injury is a piece of truck debris that had pierced his abdomen.
“What made it worse is that he has a blood clotting disorder. So, the suturing is extremely difficult. And… the deadliest issue is actually his heart. We found a tumor that is about an inch lodged in a highly dangerous area.
“If we try to remove it, it’ll be fatal. His only hope would be a heart transplant.”
The doctor frowned at the surgical records in his band, shaking his head nonstop.
“Can he recover from all this? I have the same blood type. If it’s not enough, you can take mine
Holly was nearly on her knees. Her eyes were swollen and pleading as she desperately clung to this faint sliver of hope.
“Please stay calm. Though we managed to save him for now, the risk of infection is extremely high. His injuries are too severe. Recovery is highly unlikely. So, I suggest preparing for the worst.”
Holly felt as though all strength had been drained from her. She collapsed to the ground,
staring at the bold, red letters that were lit above the emergency room. Her tears had already run dry.
After enduring so much hardship, she had finally tasted the life she’d longed for. Why wouldn’t fate let her have it?
Suddenly, a wild idea took root in her mind.
She temporarily entrusted the kitten to Ella’s family. She huing up a sign on her café door announcing a temporary closure. Her beloved violin, which shone even in darkness, was locked away in the dusty basement.
Holly had made her decision.
She would give up her own life and donate her healthy heart to Connor. After all, he had saved her twice. He had given her a second life filled with new and wonderful experiences.
The past half year had brought her more happiness than the first 20–odd years of her life. Having lived that, she felt it was enough. Now it was time to give it all back.
“I want to give my heart in exchange to save Connor’s life,” Holly said with tears in her eyes, her voice steady. “If possible, I hope he can forget me completely… and start a brand–new life.
The doctors exchanged uneasy glances but ultimately handed her a surgical risk waiver.
One of them asked her again and again, “Are you absolutely sure?”
“Yes,” Holly replied resolutely.
“We’ll schedule a full physical exam for you tomorrow. If your body is in good condition, the surgery will be carried out in a week.”
Holly had returned to the hospital in a daze. Standing in the lobby, she couldn’t bring herself to walk toward the end of the corridor where the operating room was.
She felt herself slipping into a stress reaction. Any sight of hospitals, blood, or ambulances brought back yesterday’s nightmare on a loop. It had become a terrifying vision she couldn’t shake off.
Tears began to fall again. She lowered her head, trying to stay composed. However, her trembling shoulders gave her away. Tear after tear splashed to the floor.
Out of the corner of her eye, a tall, thin man had been staring at her for a while. He walked toward her, his body frail and shaking.
It was Jasper.
He looked worse than ever. His lips were devoid of color, and his body trembled
uncontrollably. His arms were covered in puncture wounds. The countless nutrient injections had left his skin bruised and discolored.
“I went to your café and saw it was closed. The neighbors told me what happened, so I came to find you,” he explained in a broken voice, trying his best to soothe her.
“How long are you going to keep clinging to me? don’t have the energy to argue with you anymore!” Holly snapped.
Her nerves were completely frayed. She didn’t want to waste another moment on things that no longer mattered. All she wanted now was to spend her final week with Connor.
“I’m not here to cause trouble… I just wanted to see you one last time. I won’t bother you again after this,” Jasper said softly.
His eyes were filled with emotion. The pain in his heart overflowed in the form of tears that slowly fell down his face.
chuber of
Their stillness contrasted starkly with the noise around them. Holly’s heart already belonged to someone else. For her, there was no room for nostalgia,
She turned her gaze to the window. In the hospital courtyard, a few teenagers in wheelchairs were basking in the sun, chatting and laughing. Though their mobility was limited, they radiated pure energy and joy.
Holly couldn’t help but think that once Connor recovered, he would definitely be even more lively and full of life than they were.
Jasper stared at her in silence, watching as the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. Even without asking, he could guess what she was thinking.
She could still cry, laugh, love, and hate. But none of it had anything to do with him
anymore.
From this moment on, all the entangled feelings between them were no more. As long as she could live happily, that was enough.
“I’m leaving, Holly,” Jasper said quietly, giving himself one last ounce of dignity.
He wiped his tears, stood up straight, and walked away.
This time, he didn’t look back.
