Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Notice of a medical crisis…

Samantha looked at the thin sheet of paper in a daze. She was unable to understand the meaning of those words and it was as if her comprehension had been taken away from her.

Corey finally managed to escape their parents’ grip and his freedom had just only started. After that, he just had to take good care of his body and wait until a suitable heart was available. Once the operation was done, he could finally become an ordinary person.

Why…was God so cruel and ruthless? Why was Corey being taken away so soon?

The doctor looked at Samantha’s pale face and could not help but lament as well. However, life and death had become the norm for him. At that point, he could only comfort her mechanically. “Please sign it quickly, Ms. Larsson. We’ll do our best.”

‘Do our best…’

Samantha grabbed the doctor’s hand and she looked at him firmly, as if he was the last silver lining she had. Her voice was already muted when she said, “I’m begging you, Doctor. Please save Corey. He’s still young. He can’t die.”

Having already lost her parents and her home, she could not lose Corey too.

The doctor repeated the same sentence, “We’ll do our best.”

Samantha’s hands trembled as she wrote down her signature stroke by stroke at the signature column. She wrote so slowly that the tip of her pen nearly pierced through the piece of paper at the last stroke.

With tears in her eyes, she watched the doctor take the piece of paper away, then turned and walked back to the operating room. The door closed slowly and a red light was lit.

She remained rooted to the spot as she stared at the door intently without blinking her eyes. It was as if she would miss something if she blinked.

Time passed slowly, and each second almost felt like an eternity.

She had no idea how much time had passed when the door to the operating room opened.

Samantha opened her mouth hurriedly, intending to ask about the situation. However, she noticed that it was a nurse who came out instead of the doctor.

Her heart sank suddenly and she could not help but step forward and ask, “Excuse me, is Corey… How is he now?”

The nurse recognized Samantha and shook her head sadly. “Things aren’t looking good. His heartbeat went missing for a brief moment…”

Those few words seemed to have sent her falling into an ice cellar. Her entire body felt so cold that she was trembling all over and even her teeth were chattering uncontrollably. Her legs turned limp and she collapsed.

The nurse caught her in the nick of time and helped to sit her down on the bench in the corner. Concerned, the nurse advised, “You’re in very bad condition, Ms. Larsson. I suggest that you inform your family or loved ones and have them come over to accompany you. At least there’s someone to take care of you if you can’t take it.”

She had no time to say anything else to Samantha and immediately left after saying that.

Samantha leaned against the cold wall as panic filled her mind. The dread she felt was akin to the whole world crashing down on her, and she had no control at all over her own body.

She could not think of anything else after hearing the nurse’s words and unconsciously took her cell phone from her bag.

Her hand was shaking so much that it took her some time to hold the phone firmly.

When she wanted to dial a number, her hands froze again and her expression became even more confused.

Family…

She and Corey no longer had any family from the moment they walked out of the Larsson residence.

Loved ones…

Timothy’s figure appeared out of nowhere in her mind. At the same time, her fingers had already entered into the virtual keyboard the 11 numbers she was so familiar with.

When her fingertips were about to press the dial button, she froze yet again.

Would Timothy be willing to come over if she called him?

Or…would he mock her for not knowing her place in wanting him to come over and accompany her?

If it was the latter… She did not think herself capable of bearing any more shock.

What if it was the former?

If Timothy had even the tiniest sliver of feelings for her two years ago, he ought to be willing to come over and check on her right?

As slim as that hope might be, Samantha closed her eyes and pressed the dial button like a red-eyed gambler.

The dial tone sounded only thrice when the light above the operating room went out all of a sudden. The door was then pushed open.

Upon hearing that movement, Samantha immediately ended the call, stood up, and staggered toward the room.

The doctor walked out while taking off his mask and watched as Samantha walked up to him. Her red lips were moving and she wanted to ask the result, but fear of hearing bad news made her hesitate to say even a single word.

The shattered glimmer in her eyes was distressing to look at.

The doctor did not beat around the bush and immediately told her the result. “Corey isn’t in any more danger for the time being!”

Samantha instinctively covered her lips with her hand, and only then did tears slide down from the corners of her eyes.

“However, this heart attack is very dangerous. Even if he wakes up later, it might recur again at any time. You have to be mentally prepared, Ms. Larsson.”

Bad news immediately followed the good news.

Samantha opened her mouth but she needed a long time to find her own voice. Her voice faltered tremendously with every syllable she spoke. “Won’t he be okay if his health is well taken care of, Doctor? Isn’t there a better way? Wasn’t it said before…that he can make it until he’s at least eighteen years old?”

Corey was 17 that year but his birthday had not passed yet. It would be more than a year before he would turn 18.

There was nothing the doctor could do either. “Ms. Larsson, the current medical resources in our hospital are only barely capable of maintaining Corey’s life. If his health is to improve, then…then the only recourse is to invite the renowned cardiologist, Professor Arthur Louie. Under his hands, Corey might be able to live for a few more years.”

As he said that, he shook his head again and added, “It’s a pity that Professor Louie lives in seclusion ever since his retirement. No one knows where he went.”

The doctor patted Samantha on the shoulder to comfort her. “You may keep Corey company once he’s transferred to the ICU.”

…

That night.

Samantha wore the personal protective equipment and sat in the hospital ward. Tears started welling in her eyes when she looked at Corey lying motionless on the bed with various tubes attached to his body.

She hated being fragile and loathed tears even more, but there was no way to control those emotions during moments of sadness.

Samantha raised her head slightly and used a little effort to blink and force back all her tears. She then spoke in a hoarse voice, “I won’t let you lie down on this bed forever, Corey. I’m going to find Professor Louie and ask him to come and treat you.”

Corey lay quietly without responding. The only sound was the cold beeping from the machines.

Samantha spoke with Corey again for a greater part of the night, but later got up and left the intensive care unit.

Her first stop was the hospital bathroom, where she washed her face and wiped away the tears on her face. After waking herself up, she proceeded to take out her cell phone from her bag.

There was a missed call on the phone.

She could not help remembering the phone call she made to Timothy earlier. She hung up before it was connected because the operation was over.

Could Timothy have seen her call and decided to call her back?