Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson) novel Chapter 759

Katie felt her legs buckle as she took in the scene before her. She sank into a nearby chair, struggling to catch her breath.

Leonard quickly patted her back. "She'll be fine. I'm sure it's just one of the common complications that can arise during surgery. Ariel's in the hands of top experts. I'm confident there won't be any major problems."

Still, Katie remained visibly shaken.

Janice clung to Chad's arm. "Chad, Ari's surgery isn't going to fail, right?"

Chad looked at her pale face, then turned his gaze to the red light glowing above the operating room door. "It won't. Ari will pull through. The doctors will do everything they can to save her."

Janice's heart was pounding so loudly it was driving her mad. She glanced over at Jayson.

He sat rigidly in his wheelchair, gripping the armrests so tightly that the veins on his hands bulged. He didn't seem to notice or care that the wound on his back had reopened from the strain.

Janice spotted a dark red patch spreading across the back of his hospital gown.

She was stunned. She had always believed Jayson was cold and heartless, someone who had caused Ariel nothing but pain. But now, she saw something different—the ever-cold and fearless man gripped by raw, genuine fear.

Jayson squeezed his eyes shut, his throat dry and aching. He forced himself to stay calm.

He would give up everything he had if it meant Ariel could be healthy again.

The atmosphere was thick with tension.

Finally, the red light above the operating room door switched off. Everyone stood, eyes fixed on the door.

One by one, the surgical team emerged.

Jayson spotted Liam, who had taken off his mask.

He felt rather shaken looking at the bloodstains on Liam's surgical gown. Jayson maneuvered the wheelchair and went up to Liam. "How is she?"

Liam took in the anxious faces around him and let out a breath of relief. "The surgery was a success."

He had always believed he was someone who could keep emotions at bay, especially when it came to relationships. But during those agonizing hours, one thought kept returning. If Ariel didn't survive, he would follow her into the afterlife.

He owed her that much.

If only he had treated her better during their three years of marriage, maybe she wouldn't have suffered so deeply. Thankfully, it wasn't too late.

Even someone like Jayson, who had never been religious, found himself silently thanking the heavens and every divine force he could think of.

"Mr. Larkin, I'd like to speak with you about her condition," Liam said gently, sensing Jayson's emotional state. Still, he asked Jayson to stay behind.

Jayson quickly composed himself and nodded. He asked Katie and the others to accompany Ariel to her ward.

Once they left, Liam continued, "It may take some time before Ariel regains consciousness. She experienced significant hemorrhaging during the surgery. We anticipated this, given how weak she was going in.

"Still, the procedure went smoothly overall. We removed the uterus to prevent any recurrence and to extend her life. However…"