The doors of the operation theater swung open, and the doctors emerged. The Cela family, who had been waiting anxiously outside the theater with worried faces, promptly stepped forward to inquire about Mr. Allen's condition. Mark, asked the doctor in a worried tone, "Doctor, how is he? Is everything alright?"
The doctor's gaze swept over Mark before asking, "You are the patient's...?" Mark quickly clarified, "I'm not related to the patient, Doctor. We just brought him in." He understood that the nurse might have already informed the doctors about the patient's identity, which is why they were being cautious before sharing the patient's condition.
The doctor nodded, seeming to piece together the information. "Oh, it's you. Don't worry, the patient is alright. It was just a minor surgery. Given his age, he'll need to take good care and follow his medication regimen diligently. With proper care, he'll be perfectly fine."
As the doctor spoke, the Cela family exchanged relieved glances, the tension in their bodies easing slightly, and they felt a collective sigh of relief wash over them.
"Thank you, Doctor," Mark said with a nod of appreciation. The doctors nodded in response and departed, their white coats fluttering as they walked away. Following the doctor's exit, the hospital staff efficiently shifted Mr. Allen to the VVIP ward as per the prior instructions. The officers who had been left earlier returned to guard the Mr.Allen.
The Cela family waited until Mr. Allen was safely settled in his ward. Once they were certain that there were no further complications and that Mr. Allen's family members were on their way, they decided it was time to leave. The police officers were already stationed there to ensure Mr. Allen's security.
As they prepared to depart, Mark turned to the officers and said, "Officers, we're going to take our leave now." The officers exchanged a brief glance and nodded in approval. "Thank you for your help," one of them said.
The Cela family smiled, and Lily added, "It was what we could do. And, if you don't mind, could you just mention that a citizen helped, without mentioning our names? We'd prefer to keep it discreet." Her voice was polite but firm, and the officers nodded understandingly. "We'll take care of it," one of them assured her.
With that, the Cela family bid the officers farewell and left the ward, they made their way to the elevator. While waiting for it to arrive, Lily's phone suddenly rang, piercing the silence. She retrieved it from her pocket and glanced at the Caller ID, her eyes locking onto the name flashing on the screen.
A subtle change washed over her, like a shift in her demeanor. The gentleness in her eyes vanished, replaced by a focused seriousness. Her parents, standing beside her, sensed the shift in atmosphere and noticed the change in her expression.
Lily excused herself, her voice low and polite. "Dad, I'll take this call. You two go ahead." Her parents nodded and stepped into the elevator as it arrived, the doors closing behind them. They knew Lily well enough to recognize that she wouldn't keep them waiting unless it was something significant.
Lily stepped aside to answer the call, her voice firm and controlled. "Hello~" she said, the warmth and softness she usually carried replaced by a hint of strictness.
"Did you reach there?" a voice inquired from the other end of the call, the tone direct and to the point.
"Yes, I'm here," Lily replied, her voice maintaining the same level of formality. The response was met with silence from the other end and then the call was abruptly disconnected. The line went dead, leaving Lily standing alone with the phone still pressed to her ear.
Lily didn't mind the caller's behavior and slipped her phone back into her pocket before heading to the elevator to leave. She pressed the button to summon the elevator, and a few seconds later, it arrived on her floor with a gentle ding. As the doors slid open, she noticed that the doors of a second elevator also opened simultaneously. Lily stepped into her elevator, while a person emerged from the second one.
The doors of Lily's elevator closed behind her with a soft whoosh, and she pressed the button for the ground floor to head down. Meanwhile, the person from the second elevator walked purposefully towards the VVIP ward, his footsteps echoing softly down the hallway.
He found the ward where his grandfather was staying, easily identifiable by the officers guarding outside the room. He approached them directly, his tall, lean frame and intimidating aura drawing their attention. Given the patient's high-profile status, the officers could guess that he might be a relative.
"Sir, you are...?" one of the officers asked politely, their eyes narrowing slightly as they took in his imposing presence.
"I'm Mr. Felix Allen's grandson, Elisha Allen," he replied, his deep, hoarse voice commanding respect. As a formality, he pulled out his ID and held it out for verification. "Here's my ID. You can check it. I'm family." The officers nodded, their expressions professional, as they took a moment to verify his identification.
The officers nodded their heads and stepped aside, allowing him to enter the ward room. Eli stepped into the room, his eyes immediately falling on his grandfather, who lay unconscious in the bed. A bandage was wrapped around his head, and another around his leg, a stark reminder of the injuries he had sustained. A saline drip was attached to his hand, the clear liquid flowing steadily into his vein. Eli's gaze lingered on his grandfather's face, his expression a mix of concern and worry.
Eli walked towards his grandfather's bed and gently took his hand, his fingers wrapping around it with a tender touch. "You're always worrying us," he uttered, his voice laced with a hint of complaint and affection. He held his grandfather's hand for a few minutes, the warmth of his skin a slight comfort.
After a while, Eli gently placed his grandfather's hand back on the bed, his eyes never leaving his face. Despite the plush chair beside the bed, Eli chose not to sit, instead he leaning against the wall opposite his grandfather's bed. The VVIP ward was luxuriously appointed, with high-end medical equipment and comfortable furnishings. The soft hum of the air conditioning and the muted beeps of the monitors created a soothing atmosphere, but Eli's gaze remained fixed on his grandfather, his expression etched with concern.
After Lily finished her phone call, she headed down to the car, where her parents were waiting for her. As she slid into the backseat, the soft leather creaked beneath her, and she said, "Dad, we can leave now." With a nod, her father started the engine, and the car smoothly pulled out of the hospital parking lot.
As they drove away, the chaos of the hospital faded into the distance, the sounds of sirens and chatter gradually replaced by the hum of the engine and the gentle rustle of the wind. With her family by her side, Lily settled back into her seat, feeling the warmth and comfort of being home with her loved ones beside her.
•••••••••
In the hospital, two middle-aged men entered Eli's grandfather's ward. They were Felix Allen's second son, Noah Allen, and his third son, William Allen. Eli who was already in the room, greeted them. Their eyes were fixed on their father, who lay in the bed, surrounded by the sterile hospital environment.
Upon learning of the patient's family arrival, the doctor visited the ward of Eli's grandfather. Normally, they wouldn't make a special effort, but given the family's respectable military background, the doctors felt obligated to follow the protocols set by their higher management.
As the doctor approached, Eli's uncles, Noah and William, greeted him. "Doctor, how's my father's condition?" Noah Allen, Eli's second uncle, asked.
"Mr. Allen, we've done a minor surgery on his leg, and he sustained a head injury, but it's nothing to be overly concerned about," the doctor explained. "He may experience mild headaches for a couple of days. With proper rest and recovery time, he should be fine." The doctor then outlined the necessary precautionary measures for the family's awareness.
Just then, Grandfather Allen regained consciousness and slowly opened his eyes. It took him a moment to adjust to the light before he opened them fully. William, noticing his father open his eyes, immediately said, "Doctor, my father is conscious." Then the doctor checked on Grandfather Allen. "Hello, Mr. Allen, How are you feeling?"
"Not so good," Grandfather Allen replied calmly. "I'm feeling pain everywhere." His face, however, remained stoic, a testament to his military background and remarkable endurance. The doctor nodded understandingly. "I'll give you a painkiller, but the discomfort might persist until tomorrow." With a swift motion, he administered the shot.
After the doctor left, William and Noah exchanged a concerned glance before William asked, "Dad, why did you went out alone without taking anyone with you?"
Grandfather Allen's expression turned stern, and instead of answering, he fired off questions. "Why are you all here? Did I ask you to come? Who's that idiot, informed you I was here?" His furious tone commanded attention, echoing his former life as a respected military commander.
The room fell silent, punctuated only by the soft beeping of the hospital equipment. Noah and William exchanged glances, familiar with their father's temperament. Especially after their mother's passing, his father adventurous spirit and strong will often led him to take risks, disregarding security measures despite his influential position.
"Dad, but—" William tried to interject, but Grandfather Allen cut him off. "No buts, William. I'm fine. I can take care of myself. You two should leave."
Just then, a knock at the door interrupted the tense atmosphere. After receiving permission to enter, the officers stepped into the room, uniting in a crisp salute to Grandfather Allen. "Sir!" they greeted in unison. Grandfather Allen nodded curtly, his expression still stern. "Who called you here?" he demanded, his gaze pointedly shifting to his sons.
His sons shook their heads, exchanging glances. One of the officers replied, "Sir, we're just here to check on you." Grandfather Allen's face reddened with irritation. "Is something wrong with me for you to be checking on me? What's going on with all of you? Everyone, just get out!" he thundered, his voice echoing off the hospital room walls.
The room fell silent again, the only sound the soft beeping of the machines and the officers' shuffling feet as they awaited further instructions. The tension was palpable, and the air seemed to vibrate with Grandfather Allen's authority.
The officers filed out of the room, leaving behind one to take Grandfather Allen's statement about the accident. Before proceeding, however, Grandfather Allen turned his attention to his sons. "You two want me to repeat myself? Leave now," he commanded, his voice firm but controlled.
Noah and William exchanged glances, sensing their father's growing irritation. Even in his current state, he still exuded authority. They looked at Eli, who was watching the scene unfold with a quiet intensity. "Eli, take care of your grandfather," Noah said, and William nodded in agreement, signaling to Eli. Eli nodded reassuringly, and the two brothers departed, leaving Grandfather Allen alone in Eli's care.
With the room finally quiet, Grandfather Allen cooperated with the officer, calmly recounting the details of his accident and providing his statement. As the inquiry concluded, Grandfather Allen's thoughts turned to the family who had saved him. He vividly remembered their kindness, even in his blurry state—their faces, their voices, their concern. "Officer," he said, his voice softer now, "I remember a family helping me. Who were they?"
The officer hesitated, recalling Lily's request for discretion. "Sir, it was some citizens who witnessed the accident—a family, actually. They were here until your surgery and left once they knew you were stable. However, they prefer not to reveal their identities." Grandfather Allen sighed, his expression understanding, and nodded. "I see," he said softly, his gaze drifting into thought.
As the police officer departed, Grandfather Allen's gaze finally settled on Eli, who had been silently observing the scene. "Did you inform your father to not to come here?" he asked, his tone firm but measured. Grandfather Allen suspected his eldest son might have gotten wind of the situation and could be on his way.
"I didn't," Eli replied calmly, his voice low and hoarse. Grandfather Allen's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then tell him not to come, and call David to be here." Eli's piercing gaze questioned the necessity of these instructions, as if asking, "You're capable of taking care of yourself, so why do I need to?" Grandfather Allen caught the unspoken query and responded, "Then why are you here?"
Eli chose not to retort, considering his grandfather's health condition. Instead, he calmly complied with the request. He first called his father, relaying the message and fielding a few concerned questions about Grandfather Allen's condition. The sound of Eli's voice was steady and reassuring as he spoke with his father. After hanging up, Eli dialed the butler, David, and summoned him to the hospital.
Grandfather Allen's gaze settled on Eli, and he said, "Do something for me." Eli's eyebrow arched slightly, curiosity piqued as he wondered. "What is it, Grandfather?" he asked, his tone tinged with skepticism.
With a calm demeanor, a stark contrast to his earlier gruffness, Grandfather Allen replied, "Help me find the family who helped me. I want to thank them." Eli's expression softened, and he nodded in agreement. He felt a sense of gratitude toward the family as well, knowing they had saved his grandfather's life.
"I'll look for them," Eli said, his words a promise to his grandfather. Grandfather Allen's eyes seemed to hold a hint of appreciation, and he nodded slightly, a small smile playing on his lips.
Please read to know how Eli's fate going to reunite with Lily after finding her.