Hope
“I missed you. While you were away, I’ve never stopped thinking about you,” she admitted.
How could she be so selfish as to abandon him and leave everything behind? The very man who had been the reason she could step out of her shadows.
She had let go of his hand when he needed her the most. The thought of not being there to witness his final moments was so agonizing that it felt like a sharp pain was piercing through her heart, leaving her breathless.
Nina wiped away her tears and assured Jayden, “I’m here now. And I’ll never leave your side.”
Without waiting for his reply, she expressed her intention to speak to his doctor.
As she left the ward, a streak of worry flashed across Jayden’s face, “Nina…”
In the doctor’s office.
Closing the door behind her, Nina anxiously approached the doctor. “Doctor, how is Jayden’s situation?”
The doctor furrowed his brow. “Who are you?”
“I’m his wife, Nina Luxton,” she declared. She was his wife in this life and she would be his wife even after he died.
The doctor’s expression shifted, and he shook his head. “His situation is not very positive.” With a heavy heart, he disclosed the complications that lay within Jayden’s case.
Actually, Jayden’s condition wasn’t serious and he might not even have to undergo surgery. However, someone had drugged him with an unknown substance, aggravating his condition.
“We’ve tried all the treatment methods,” the doctor sighed, the gravity of the situation clear in his words. “Although we’re doing our best to save him, if the current treatment doesn’t improve his condition, Jayden could only wait for his death. It’s already a miracle that he can hold on this long. However…”
His words hung in the air, shrouding any glimmer of hope.
A deafening bam echoed through Nina’s world as the doctor’s words sank in.
The room spun around her, and her mind turned blank as she staggered out of the doctor’s office.
Like a robot, she made her way toward Jayden’s hospital ward.
She was afraid.
It felt more terrifying than the times she endured abuse from her mother.
Standing outside the ward, she collected her emotions and forced herself to remain calm.
She couldn’t let her fear affect Jayden.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
She needed to be his pillar of support, not a burden.
With a deep breath, she pushed open the door, entering Jayden’s hospital ward.
“I’ve talked to the doctor,” Nina forced a smile. “He said that as long as you continue with the treatment, there’s a chance for recovery.”
A self-mocking smile crept onto Jayden’s lips as he recognized Nina’s effort to comfort him.
He understood his condition best and was aware that he had little time left.
Beckoning her over, he pulled her into a hug. He held her so tightly that it was as if he wanted to pull her right into his body.
“You shouldn’t have returned, Nina,” Jayden choked.
At least this way, they wouldn’t have to witness each other’s pain.
Beads of tears fell on Jayden’s shoulders.
Nina didn’t utter a word, but her suppressed cries cut through his heart like a dagger.
He blamed himself for entering a relationship with her when he couldn’t provide the happiness she deserved.
His inability to let go of their relationship had led them to their current situation.
In his thirty years of existence, Jayden had encountered and achieved many things in his lifetime.
Yet the one thing that filled him with regret was the luxury of time to stay by her side.
Nina lifted her head from Jayden’s shoulder. “Jayden, do you believe in miracles?”
Her eyes brimmed with hope as she looked at him eagerly.
Before he could respond, she continued. “You are my miracle.”
Hearing her words, Jayden felt a lump forming in his throat.
“In my darkest moments, when I thought I could not hold on anymore, you appeared like a miracle,” Nina confessed, her voice trembling. “Time and time again, you gave me the happiness I never even dreamed of.”
She clutched onto his shirt tightly with both hands, tears streaming down her face as she cried, “We should not give up as long as there is still a trace of hope around. Who knows what the outcome will be if we persevere? Let’s not be pessimistic, okay?”
Jayden looked at her deeply, but Nina could not fathom what was going on in his mind.
After a brief silence, he said, “Okay.”
An hour later, Nora arrived at the hospital.
Now that the truth was out in front of Nina, they didn’t have to pretend anymore.
As soon as she received the call from Liam, Nora was so scared that she immediately rushed over.
Nina glared at Nora furiously as soon as she entered the ward.
She could not believe the person she considered her closest friend would betray her! “Don’t blame us. We were only following Jayden’s orders,” Nora replied innocently.
Nina then directed her glare at Jayden and stabbed the fork at the apple.
Jayden gulped when he saw that the apple was cut in two.
Having stayed up for a while, Jayden was exhausted.
Nora and Liam excused themselves and left the room.
After they left, Nina sat by Jayden’s bedside, her concern etched across her face.
Once certain Jayden was in a deep slumber, Nina tiptoed out of the room, closing the door behind her.
She made her way to the lounge, where Liam and Nora had been waiting.
Seeing Nina come out, Nora immediately stood up. “Nina…”
Nina managed a weary smile, despite the heaviness in her heart. “I am fine,” It made one’s heart ache to see her struggling to hold up.
Nora held onto her hand tightly.
This was exactly why they had hidden the truth from her. However, fate had something else planned for them.
With tears in her eyes, Nina reassured them and also herself, “Don’t worry, he’ll be alright.”
Nora couldn’t hold any more. She swiftly moved to pull Nina into a warm, comforting embrace.
The sudden warmth broke down the strong facade Nina had been clinging to desperately.
As soon as she felt Nora’s embrace, tears streamed down her face, and her shoulders shook uncontrollably.
Liam looked away uncomfortably.
Feeling a sense of urgency, he thought he should let her know. “There’s one way-”
“LIAM!”
Before he could finish his sentence, Nora interrupted him. She shook her head, signaling for him to stop.
Nina, still reeling from her emotions, did not notice her reaction. Her attention was fixed solely on Liam’s words.
“What way?” Nina asked.
“Nina, don’t listen to him. He’s spouting nonsense.” Nora intervened forcefully.
“Nora, please.” With tears still glistening in her eyes, Nina pleaded with Nora.
She couldn’t give up on even the faintest glimmer of hope if it meant they could save Jayden’s life. Her heart held onto the possibility, however slim it might be.
Turning towards Liam, she waited for him to continue.
“The doctors are hesitant to perform the surgery on him. They can’t assure a 100% success rate. But there’s someone who can.”
Nina’s heart skipped a beat as a sense of unease settled within her. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked. “Who?”
“Isaac Moore,” Liam replied, his tone solemn.
At the mention of that name, Nina felt the ground beneath her feet crumble. “Him?” She asked in disbelief.
Liam nodded seriously. “Dr. Isaac Moore, the world-renowned surgeon. There’s no surgery he can’t perform. He’s the only one who can promise a 100% success rate. However…”
Liam did not finish because everyone present knew the reality.
One year ago, when Jayden saw the abuse Nina had suffered, he was so furious that he almost burned down the entire world.
Kristen was caught and sent to prison. Jayden made sure that she did not have a good time there.
Through his connections, he instructed the people there to beat her every day until she took her last breath.
David, the man who tried to molest Nina, had disappeared from the face of the world. It was unknown what had happened to him.
No one could escape from Jayden’s wrath.
And the one who had it the worst was undoubtedly, The Moores.
This time, he had unleashed his anger on The Moores without holding back at all.
Jayden not only destroyed their businesses but also subjected them to physical attacks. He kicked them out of Spring City and forbade them from setting foot in the country.
As such, there was no way Isaac would ever agree, even if they held him at gunpoint.
He had been rather happy when he learned about Jayden’s illness.
He felt that the heavens had finally avenged him and his family.
“Coincidentally, he is in New York,” Liam added again.
Hearing his words, Nina’s eyes lit up. She wiped away her tears and looked spirited again.
As long as there was hope, she would not give up easily!
“Nina, Jayden might not approve of you meeting Isaac. The doctor admitted that there wasn’t a better treatment for Jayden at the moment. However, it doesn’t mean there’s no chance to save him. Our medical advancements are progressing rapidly, and we might discover other ways to help him.” Nora tried to reason with her.
“I understand. That’s why I’m going to meet him myself.”
With determination, she left to meet Isaac.
Liam and Nora were worried that Isaac would pull any tricks and hence did not let her go alone.
It could be said that the Moores’ ability to revive was remarkable.
In the last twelve months, they successfully made a comeback, establishing a firm foothold in the bustling city of NYC.
However, Nina couldn’t care less about them.
The trio entered the estate and noticed Isaac in the living room.
Nina’s heart raced as she mustered the courage to speak. “Mr. Moore, can you save my husband?” she pleaded.
Isaac was furious when he saw the uninvited guests.
The room’s atmosphere chilled with his cold gaze as he bellowed. “Who allowed you inside? Young lady, I did not expect you to be so shameless as to ask me to save that bastard. Have you forgotten what he has done to my family? Who gave you the guts to even look for me?” he demanded, his tone sharp with disdain.
“Mr. Moore, please,” Nina implored, her desperation evident in her eyes. “You cannot deny your involvement and blame everything on Jayden.”
The room fell silent.
Undeterred, Nina continued. “Please. As long as you are willing to save him, I will pay any amount of money! No matter what your demands are, I’m willing to fulfill them.” Even if it meant giving up her life!
Nina bit her lip, her eyes fixed on Isaac hopefully.
“Miss, the day he dies, I’ll be the first to offer flowers on his grave,” Isaac declared coldly.