Semua Bab Leaving You Bereft: Bab 301 - Bab 310

Julian felt around for a while before touching something warm. Was Willow crying?She caught his fingers and asked again softly, "Have things been too hard for you?"He shut his eyes, seemingly thinking about it. "The inner world of someone who can't see or remember anything is barren, even terrifying—because I know nothing about what will happen tomorrow. I can't do anything aside from sleeping and eating according to a strict regimen. I don't think there's anything else I'm capable of."However, I would much rather lie in the darkness. It makes me feel safe and at ease. I know that's not what I used to be like, though. I had to have been charming—why else would you have married me?"Julian opened his eyes. "I'm just a little tired now. I don't know how long I have to live."His eyes were deep and unfathomable, like an abyss. Willow gently touched his eyelids with trembling fingers. After a while, she buried her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. Instead of pus

Gabriella said, "We already have a lot of money."Landon flushed. "I'll be a doctor, then."Gabriella was silent before whispering, "Mommy said she'll handle that. She just wants us to grow up happily."Noah couldn't help feeling moved as he listened to them. He wiped his tears, thinking that Willow had truly raised them well.…The atmosphere at the Ziegler residence was subdued because of Julian's condition. However, since it was Good Friday, Dexter bought some sparklers to celebrate Easter.He got out of his car in the twilight. He and Julian were cousins, so they had similar builds and features. Gabriella mistook him for Julian because of the shadows and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. "Daddy!"Dexter didn't correct her. She deserved to have something to be happy about. He himself had a daughter—Eleanor had given birth to Maisie for him—but he rarely got the chance to see her. Eleanor had a heart of stone.It took Gabriella a while to realize she had the wrong per

Melanie was even more upset at the mention of Julian. She became choked up and said, "He's been like this for days—he sleeps almost round the clock. But whenever he wakes up, he asks whether you and Liam are back. He might not remember anything, but he still worries about you guys."Willow's face was pale as she looked up at the tree branches that reached up to the second floor of the main wing. She'd only been gone for over a month, but it was as if she were in a different world.There was no time to waste. She turned to Leonard and said, "Let's head upstairs so you can check on Julian."He nodded. He was both guilt-ridden and grateful. He'd been trapped in Kono—if Willow and Liam hadn't arrived to save him, he would never have gotten away. It was highly likely he would've died there.He owed them his life, and there was nothing he could do to truly repay them.Everyone headed upstairs with Willow and Liam bringing up the rear. Melanie tearfully held them both as they approached

Two days later, Julian underwent surgery. It went on for a long time, and Leonard gave it his all. His scrubs looked like they'd been soaked in water, and the other doctors and nurses were no better off. They, too, gave the surgery their best.Even until the evening, the Zieglers waited in the corridor outside the operating theater. None of them dared to leave, especially Liam and Melanie.Willow's waist was injured, so Karen got her a chair and told her to sit while they waited. Landon and Gabriella clung to Heather, looking tearful.Evelyn was the only one who smiled sweetly—she had no idea what was going on, after all. Karen pressed their faces together, looking worried.Just then, hurried footsteps rang out at the other end of the corridor. Everyone turned to see Esther hurrying toward them.She nodded in greeting before approaching Willow and bending down. She whispered, "Someone leaked the news of Mr. Ziegler's operation. All the shareholders are now waiting for news. What i

It was late at night when Willow arrived at the hospital. Julian had been under observation in the operating theater for about half an hour before being transferred to his VIP ward when the doctors were sure he was fine. He was still asleep, and a nurse was putting him on an IV.Liam was speaking to Leonard. Melanie sat by Julian's bed and wiped his face with a towel while drying her tears. Tyler and Karen had left—they'd brought Evelyn home with them. After all, she was a baby and needed to sleep.Landon and Gabriella were still around. They clung to Julian's bedside and looked at him expectantly.Leonard chuckled. "He'll probably only wake up tomorrow."They didn't want to leave, though. They wanted to stay at the hospital and pleaded tearfully for permission.Willow entered the ward and rubbed their heads while instructing Esther to arrange for a room to be set aside for them. They could rest there when they grew tired. That delighted them.Then, they went back to staring at J