Chapter 180 I Will Jump If You Leave
When Olivia and Owen arrived at Robert’s office as summoned, he directed them to the sofa. When they had settled down, he said solemnly, “Olivia, Owen, there’s something I have to discuss with you.”
Olivia answered briskly. “Robert, did you call us here to talk about Amelia?”
Robert glanced at their expectant faces, then nodded. “That was my intention. Amelia’s injuries from the accident were more severe than I expected. We’re lucky that the baby survived and is unharmed. However, Amelia has multiple fractures all over her body, and a few of her organs have been damaged. Most significantly, there’s a blood clot in her brain that’s compressing her nerves. If the blood clot doesn’t disperse on its own, even if she regains consciousness, she remains at risk of going blind.”
In that instant, Olivia felt as if her blood was draining from her body. She felt her hands and feet grow clammy.
“Robert, you’re not serious, are you?” The woman tried to summon a smile but succeeded only in producing a hideous grimace. “This isn’t a joke.”
Reluctantly, Robert affirmed, “Olivia, I wish it was too. We’ve known each other for so many years. You should know that I never joke about these things.”
Olivia was now used to regulating her emotions, so when she felt despair rise within her, she managed to contain it.
“Robert, tell me honestly. What’s the probability of Amelia going blind? And even if she does, is there any of treating it?” Olivia asked.
“If the blood clot in Amelia’s brain manages to disperse, she won’t go blind,” the doctor said thoughtfully. “Otherwise, a cornea transplant is the only way to heal her blindness. The only difficulty is in finding a matching pair of corneas for her.”
Olivia clutched wildly at the tiniest shred of hope, crying, “Robert, the Clintons have lots of money. No matter how expensive it is or how many mountains we’ll have to move, we will find that pair of corneas for Amelia. I only want to ask, can’t that blood clot be removed from her brain with surgery?”
Robert shook his head. “The blood clot is in contact with too many nerves. If we forcefully operate on Amelia, we might land her in terrible danger. We can only wait for it to disperse or move.”
Olivia’s heart grew cold.
If Amelia indeed went blind, there was a likelihood that she’d remain that way for the rest of her life. After all, corneas were not an easy thing to acquire. Few people were lucky enough to find a matching pair within years. The majority, however, continued hunting for years. It wasn’t a problem that money could resolve.
Olivia dared not imagine the woman’s reaction to this news. She would be devastated.
“Robert, you’re the chief of Principal General Hospital. You’re also a dominant figure in the medical field. You must have a way to save Amelia! Don’t you?” Olivia’s voice caught as she gazed at the family friend seated before her.
Robert smiled ruefully. “Olivia, I’m only human. I may be a dominant figure in the medical field, but all the patients I’ve saved were those that I could. I’ve done my best, but Amelia’s injuries are really too grievous. It’s all in the hands of fate now. I’m sorry to be so frank with you. If there was anything I could do, I would have done it. Perhaps it’s best if you prepared yourself for the worst.”
At that remark, Olivia burst into tears. She did her utmost to restrain them but resulted only in quaking uncontrollably.
Owen hugged her in an attempt to provide her some sense of comfort. Mildly, he said, “Don’t cry, Olivia. Robert’s just talking about the worst-case scenario. Nothing’s happened to Amelia yet, has it? There are still so many medical experts that we haven’t consulted. We’ll find someone to save her.”
Owen spoke confidently, but his heart was racing nonetheless. Each minute that passed was another added weight to his heart. They were all conscious of the forty-eight hours Amelia had. If she doesn’t wake up then… He did not want to think of Amelia lying in a vegetative state or even dying.
Olivia, however, continued crying. Owen looked at Robert, then said weakly, “Robert, we’ll leave Amelia in your capable hands. Nothing can happen to her, no matter what.”
Robert let out a dry laugh. “Owen, Olivia, don’t be like this. Principal General Hospital will do its absolute best to save Amelia.”
Owen was fervent in his gratitude. “Robert, let me express my thanks to you now. When Amelia has fully recovered, I’ll surely throw a banquet for you to show my appreciation.”
Robert chortled, and the tension in the room lifted somewhat. “Owen, is there really a need for such formalities between us?”
Owen merely smiled.
At this moment, however, Olivia straightened up and suddenly enquired about Cassie’s condition.
Robert sounded rather vexed as he said, “I think Cassie is making a mountain out of a molehill. She’s threatened suicide and self-starvation for a while now, and none of the doctors and nurses here in the hospital can do anything for her. The hospital can’t get rid of patients, of course, but sometimes I wish we would. I’ve never seen such an uncooperative patient in all my years of being a doctor. I didn’t approve of Oscar getting into a relationship with her from the beginning. It looks like she’s eventually revealed her true colors. If Oscar really marries her, I’d fear for the Clinton family’s peace of mind.”
Olivia and Owen were incensed.
Oscar, away in Cassie’s hospital room, was similarly seething.
He’d just arrived. Cassie, who had been lying ailing on the hospital bed, had immediately struggled to sit up in her agitation.
Her impulsive movements startled Charlie and Elizabeth, who had been sitting by her bedside.
Elizabeth quickly fussed, “Cassie! Are you really intent on worrying me to death? Stop moving around! Oscar, can’t you come over? Are you trying to drive her mad?”
Oscar felt an immediate loathing for Cassie. The demure, sweet, occasionally impetuous girl that he knew her to be seemed to have been from another life. The woman before him now was a stranger to him.
Annoyed, Elizabeth remarked rudely, “Oscar, aren’t you going to come over? Do you really want to watch Cassie die?”
Oscar, however, remained where he was. He was neither a child nor a greenhorn but a manager of Clinton Corporations. He had thousands of employees and their livelihoods under his charge. He was not about to be swayed so easily by Elizabeth’s mere scoldings.
Charlie sighed as he looked upon this scene. He then said wearily, “Oscar, take a look at Cassie. She’s evidently still hung up on you. Even if you don’t love her now, you’ve been friends since you were little. On account of you two having been childhood sweethearts, are you willing to see anything happen to her?”
Hearing this, Oscar slowly crossed the room.
Cassie ceased her struggling.
She looked up at him dazedly. “Oz, you’re finally here. I knew I was still the most important person in your heart.”
Oscar’s forehead wrinkled as he said curtly, “I’ve been busy these few days, so I didn’t manage to find the time to visit you.”
The woman lifted her head and held onto Oscar’s arm earnestly. “Oz, I know you’re busy with work, but I’ve really missed you. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have slit my wrists. I couldn’t bear the sight of you and Amelia behaving intimately. When I called you, she answered the phone and irritated me with her infuriating replies. I believed her and acted foolishly. I’ve since reflected on my actions. Don’t be angry with me anymore. Don’t ignore me! I really do love you,” she declared.
Cassie’s defensive speech merely inflamed Oscar’s irritation at her.
He roughly shoved her hand aside and replied in a hostile tone, “Cassie, I see that you’ve recovered pretty well. You’re not as fragile as Mrs. Yard tried to portray. I can rest knowing that you’re doing fine. I have other things to do now. When I’m done with them, I’ll come back to visit you.”
Cassie turned frantic upon hearing that he was leaving. She tried to grab Oscar’s waist and tore the IV drip on her arm in her frenzy. Seeing the spot of blood that appeared on Cassie’s arm, Elizabeth quickly tried to constrain her. “Cassie, don’t move! Calm down. I promise Oscar won’t leave.”
Once Cassie had been appeased, Elizabeth turned to her husband furiously. “Charlie, aren’t you going to get the nurse?”
Charlie meekly got up and left the room. Shortly after, he returned accompanied by two nurses.
Due to their previous interactions with Cassie, the two nurses wore sour looks on their faces when they entered. However, only a neutral expression remained when they arrived at Cassie’s side. The Yard family was influential, and the nurses weren’t willing to offend them and risk losing their own jobs. They would remain cool and professional at all costs.
After replacing the IV drip, the nurses advised, “Ms. Yard, please be careful. Don’t move around too vigorously.”
The nurses then quickly took their leave.
Cassie leaned against her pillow and commanded, “Oz, sit down. Let’s talk.”
Despite her instruction, Oscar remained standing defiantly.
Cassie cast a pleading glance towards her mother, who softened and quipped, “Oscar, I’m begging you. Please talk to Cassie.”
Oscar bit his lip. He looked momentarily disconcerted but sat down after a moment’s pause.
Cassie then turned to Elizabeth. “Mom, can you and Dad wait outside for a while? I want to speak with Oscar in private.”
Elizabeth nodded, then hustled out of the room with Charlie in tow.
Once they left, Cassie focused her gaze on Oscar. “Oz, can you sit a little nearer to me?”
The man showed no intentions to move.
Cassie continued gazing at him, saying pitifully, “Oz, are you still blaming me? I didn’t mean to use my suicide as a means of threatening you. I was merely too distraught at the thought of you being with another woman. Can you forgive me for my foolishness this time? I won’t dare to do such a thing again. If Mom has been causing trouble for you on my account, let me apologize for her behavior. I promise that was never my intention.”
Oscar, however, remained unmoved with a frightening look in his eyes.
Cassie shrank under his hard gaze. “Oz, don’t be angry! I apologize! I promise I won’t do anything like that ever again. Please forgive me this one time. Your silence is scaring me,” she cried.
Oscar turned his piercing gaze towards her. Cassie felt as if he was examining every inch of her and had found her wanting. She flinched.
“Oz, what’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, avoiding his gaze.
Then, Oscar finally spoke. “Cassie, you’re an adult now. I believe you’re mature enough to judge for yourself what’s right and what’s wrong.”
Cassie blinked. She suddenly looked very hurt and small.
“Cassie, don’t take advantage of my kindness. When it finally runs out, I won’t be as patient with you as I am now,” Oscar warned menacingly.
The woman turned as white as a sheet at that warning, and she gulped. “Oz, don’t you love me anymore?”
Oscar replied evenly, “After everything you’ve done, I don’t know if I can still love you anymore.”
Terror flashed across Cassie’s eyes. She lifted her hand to reach for his but abruptly halted at the sound of his low growl. “Don’t move!”
Flustered, Cassie froze. She turned her affecting gaze onto Oscar as if questioning him for his brutality towards her.
“Cassie, we are two very different people with two very different mindsets. I think we should spend some time apart to think about things objectively,” Oscar announced, getting to his feet. He towered over Cassie and looked down at her chillingly.
Aghast, the woman struggled to sit up once more.
Oscar, however, was quick to react. He roughly grabbed her hand just as it flew to tear the IV drip out of her arm.
Cassie, however, clasped his hand in hers and said longingly, “Oz, you still care about me, don’t you?”
That made him scowl. “Cassie, enough. The more you behave like this, the further I want to get away from you. You weren’t like this before. You aren’t the Cassie I recognize.”
Cassie broke into a sob, saying, “If you think I’m being too clingy now, I can change. I’ll give you space. Just don’t leave me, please.”
Oscar felt his head start to throb. He was utterly mystified as to how things had turned out this way. How could everything have changed so drastically within these few months? He fretted. It was entirely beyond his capacity to think or even act.
“Cassie, take care of yourself. Don’t think too much about things. We can talk again when you’re feeling better,” he finally told her.
“I don’t want to talk. I want you to marry me! I want to be the only woman you love. As long as you promise to stay by my side, I’ll do whatever you want and become whoever you want to be,” Cassie implored.
Oscar disentangled himself from her vice grip. Before he could say another word, his phone rang. Fishing it out of his pocket, he saw that it was a call from James.
He immediately answered.
“Oz, I’ve gotten someone to replace me for my surgery here. I’ll board the plane for Chanaea in two hours,” James announced over the phone.
For the first time that day, Oscar found himself smiling with genuine happiness.
“Great! I’ll be waiting for you then,” he said, thanking his friend profusely. The two men discussed a few more logistical details before Oscar hung up.
Cassie looked at Oscar intently. “Oz, who was that?”
The man frowned and said shortly, “There’s something I have to do. Have a good rest. Stop overthinking things. I’ll be back to visit you once I’m done settling matters.”
He then turned on his heels to walk out of the hospital room. In one swift motion, Cassie ripped out the IV drip from her arm and ran over to the window. She turned around and hollered, “Oz, if you dare take a step out of this room, I’ll throw myself out of this window!”
