Chapter 1365 - 1305: The Queen’s Return (9)

"Why do you say that?"

The Queen Mother couldn’t hide her delight. If Paige could die right now, the Queen Mother would be overjoyed.

That woman, she had long disliked her. The Queen Mother had driven her out of the Imperial Palace, but she returned and even gave Kiya a daughter.

That scheming, cunning woman leaving the palace was just a façade; she never gave up on seducing Kiya.

—Wretch!

"The car was completely deformed. When Paige was pulled out, she was covered in blood—it was terrifying.

The Driver died on the spot. How could Paige possibly survive?"

The Queen Mother knew the principle of eradicating the root. She wasn’t overjoyed just because Paige might die.

The Queen Mother said viciously, "Keep a close watch. If Paige doesn’t die, help her along the way!"

Charlene’s eyes were venomous as she whispered, "Yes, Queen Mother!"

...

Two hours into the surgery, Adrian received the news and called to inquire about the situation.

"...There was a car accident, she’s in the middle of a rescue." Kiya stated briefly.

Adrian frowned, "How did a car accident happen?"

"I don’t know. Don’t ask me anything now; I can’t focus on who’s at fault. I just want to see Paige’s surgery succeed and her come through healthy..." Kiya hung up on Adrian and turned off his phone.

After a while, Gavin’s phone rang again. He told Kiya, "Sultan, it’s the young prince calling."

Kiya answered, "Dylan, what’s wrong?"

"Dad, why haven’t you and Mom come back from hiking? Little sister is crying from hunger."

Only then did Kiya remember the two children. Dylan being older was manageable, but Ella was still a little baby who couldn’t be left alone.

"Dylan, give Oni your sister and let Oni feed her some milk powder."

Dylan said, "Sister won’t drink milk powder. Dad, you and Mom should hurry back. It’s too much; you’re off having fun and leaving sister alone."

"Dylan..." Kiya wasn’t sure how to tell his son that Paige was in a car accident, a very serious one at that.

"Dad, what’s wrong?"

"Dylan..."

"Did you and Mom fight again?" Dylan picked up on his father’s odd tone, guessing. Every time they argued, his father sounded like this.

"No, Dad and Mom didn’t fight."

"That’s good. Don’t always fight; fighting is bad..."

"Yeah, no more fighting, Dad and Mom won’t fight anymore."

"Dylan, Dad and Mom can’t go back right now, can you take good care of your sister?"

Dylan replied dutifully, "Of course, I’m her brother. Brothers are supposed to take care of sisters."

"Good boy."

...

At the Johnson Family,

"Paige was in a car accident and is in the hospital for emergency treatment. I need to go see." After talking to Kiya, Adrian decided he had to make a trip to Abyanabad.

"Mm, that’s a good idea."

Sienna had to look after the twins, otherwise she would have gone with Adrian. "You go check it out first. If it gets too much, I’ll go over too."

"It should be fine." Adrian didn’t want Kiya to worry too much and downplayed the situation.

"Paige seems like someone blessed, she’ll turn danger into safety." Sienna comforted Adrian.

Adrian nodded, wearing his clothes.

"Don’t go out, it’s cold outside."

"I’ll just see you to the door." Sienna didn’t change her clothes; she just layered a thick down jacket to send Adrian off.

Adrian hugged her and kissed her hard, "Be good, wait for me to come back."

"Okay."

Abyanabad was Adrian’s home, the Desmond Manor had Adrian’s clothes, so Sienna didn’t pack a change for him. Adrian just left.

...

The night was destined to be sleepless, spent in anguish and waiting.

Seven hours into the surgery, the doctor finally emerged, taking off his mask to reveal a weary face.

Alan looked at the motionless, statue-like Kiya and stepped forward to ask, "Doctor, how was the surgery? How is the patient?"

The doctor said, "The blood clots in the patient’s brain have been mostly cleared. She’s now in ICU. The first three days are critical. If she can make it through, she can be moved to the General Ward."

Gavin said, "Thank you, Doctor."

"You’re welcome, it’s our duty."

After seven hours of surgery, even the doctor was exhausted, being helped away by a nurse.

The young nurse from before looked at Kiya and said, "You can put on sterile scrubs and go see the patient, but only for a few minutes."

"Really?" Kiya asked in surprise.

"Of course it’s true, why would I lie to you?" The young nurse gave him a glare.

Paige was transferred to the ICU.

Kiya washed his hands thoroughly, put on sterile scrubs and shoe covers, and followed the intensive care staff inside.

The ICU had more than a dozen people and wasn’t divided into sections. At this point, Kiya didn’t think of using his authority to get Paige a private room or anything like that.

Paige was hooked up to various devices, with monitors precisely reflecting her vital signs.

The place was filled with the breath of impending death. Kiya felt suffocated, each step was particularly heavy.

"Paige..."

Paige was still unconscious, her head wrapped in gauze, neck stabilized by braces, covered with a blue blanket. Her face had been cleaned of blood, but it was swollen, one eye still puffed, her face marked by multiple cuts...

"Paige..." Kiya felt heartache at the sight, never having seen Paige so severely injured.

The thin mist in the respirator reminded Kiya that Paige was still alive and hadn’t abandoned him.

There were no chairs, so Kiya just stood by her bedside, watching her.

He didn’t dare to get too close or touch her, fearing any tiny movement might affect the machines and cause irreversible damage to the fragile Paige.

"Paige, Dylan just called saying Ella was crying. You need to get better quickly...both the kids and I need you..."

"..."

"As long as you can recover, I’ll let you go back to Sileria City, settle there, I won’t insist anymore."

He stiffly moved a step forward, gently lifted the sheet beside her, her fingertip clasped a pulse oximeter, palm up, loosely curled.

"I’m not lying to you! As long as you wake up and recover, I’ll agree to let you stay in Sileria City."

Seven hours teetering between life and death had scared Kiya.

He suddenly realized nothing else was important, only that Paige stays alive, he would let her stay long-term in Sileria City.

"Paige, the doctor said the first three days are critical, you must hold on...think of the kids..." he said softly.

Kiya’s hand clenched tightly at his side, slowly releasing, he slid his forefinger into her hand at the base, her hand cold and without warmth.

"Paige..."