I Ctrl+Alt+Deleted My Ex and Ctrl+C'd His Uncle novel Chapter 74

**Through Silent Meadows We Trace Stories Left Behind Yesterday by Asa Rowan Flint**

**Chapter 74**

The sound of the man’s voice reverberated through the air, simultaneously anchoring Sophie and stirring something deep within her. It felt as if an invisible hand had tightened around her throat, rendering her speechless, a lump forming that she couldn’t swallow down.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of all your worries,” Marcus reassured her, his tone steady and warm.

At those words, Sophie felt the floodgates of her emotions burst open. Soft sobs escaped her lips, each one a release of the pent-up anxiety she had been holding inside. Yet, she was acutely aware of the ticking clock; she didn’t want to let herself succumb to the tears for too long. After a few moments, she managed to regain her composure, wiping her eyes and taking a deep breath.

Glancing at her phone, she noticed the screen still displayed “Call in Progress,” a reminder that Marcus was still on the line.

“You haven’t hung up?” Sophie asked, her surprise evident in her voice.

“I’m not leaving until I know you’re okay,” Marcus replied, his calm demeanor a soothing balm to her frayed nerves.

A sudden warmth blossomed in Sophie’s chest, as if a gentle breeze had stirred a long-dormant butterfly within her, awakening a whirlwind of emotions she didn’t have the time to process. Her father’s precarious condition loomed over her, a heavy cloud that demanded her attention.

“I need to hang up now. I have to tell Mom about Dr. Johnson’s arrival,” she said, urgency creeping into her voice.

“Okay,” Marcus replied simply.

With a mix of gratitude and reluctance, Sophie ended the call and made her way to her mother, who was now regaining her composure.

“Sophie, I lost my cool earlier,” Mrs. Chandler admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “Don’t be afraid; whatever happens, I’ll find a way to handle it.”

“Mom, don’t worry. Dr. Johnson is on his way. He’ll be here in about two hours,” Sophie reassured her, doing her best to inject a sense of hope into the air.

Just as the words left her mouth, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway, a sound that made both women turn in anticipation.

The top heart specialists in Riverland were approaching, their presence commanding and professional.

Mrs. Chandler’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re here…”

“Mrs. Chandler, Miss Chandler, don’t worry,” one of the doctors said, his voice authoritative yet kind. “Before Dr. Johnson arrives, we’ll ensure Mr. Chandler is stable. Leave the rest to us.”

Exchanging brief pleasantries, the doctors swiftly donned sterile gowns and entered the emergency room, determination etched on their faces.

A flicker of hope ignited within Mrs. Chandler. “Your dad’s going to be okay, Sophie. He’s going to be fine!” she declared, her voice gaining strength.

Sophie enveloped her mother in a tight embrace, a sigh of relief escaping her. “Dad will be fine…”

Two hours passed in a blur, and at last, Dr. Johnson arrived at Riverland Medical Center. His silver hair glimmered under the fluorescent lights, but his steps were firm and assured.

As he walked, his assistant hurriedly briefed him on Mr. Chandler’s condition.

Upon receiving the report, Dr. Johnson wasted no time in formulating a surgical plan. “Max Chandler, Miss Chandler, I’ve been entrusted to perform Mr. Chandler’s surgery. His condition is critical, but I will do everything I can,” he stated confidently, striding directly into the operating room.

The assistant lingered behind to explain the surgery’s risks, then handed over the consent form. “Please sign here.”

Mrs. Chandler’s fingers trembled as she processed the weight of the decision laid before her.

Sophie, feeling the urgency of the moment, reached for the pen, but her mother beat her to it.

“I’ll sign,” Mrs. Chandler said, her voice steady, betraying none of the turmoil within.

Signing the form was a heavy burden, a weight that would linger like a shadow—if anything went wrong during the surgery, the guilt would be a lifelong companion. It was a responsibility that only a mother should bear…

After her mother signed, the assistant took the consent form into the operating room, leaving Sophie and Mrs. Chandler to wait anxiously on a bench, the world outside shifting from dawn to dusk. Doctors and nurses changed shifts, but the minutes turned into hours, and Dr. Johnson did not emerge.

Finally, when he did come out, Sophie felt a rush of anticipation. She stood, ready to absorb whatever news he had to share, but then the world around her faded to black, and she felt herself slipping away.

He turned to Marcus, adding, “Since Sophie’s awake now, you don’t have to stay here. Chris from the office is about to pass out from exhaustion!”

Marcus’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “If you can’t keep quiet, then leave.”

“You should go handle things at the company. I’m fine,” Sophie interjected, placing a hand on her belly. “The baby’s fine.”

From Zack Mason’s words, it dawned on her that Marcus had remained by her side for days, leaving the affairs of the company to Chris, who, despite being a competent secretary, couldn’t fully fill Marcus’s shoes.

“Rest a little while. I’ll have the doctor come in to check on you,” Marcus said, his tone softening for the first time.

He stood up, shooting a cold glance at Zack Mason, who suddenly looked uneasy.

Zack’s heart sank, wondering if he had overstepped.

Marcus, radiating an air of cool detachment, left the ward, and Zack followed, the door closing behind them.

The room fell into a heavy silence. Sophie instinctively placed her hand on her chest, something within her feeling distinctly different…

Around noon, Mrs. Chandler arrived to visit, her expression a mixture of relief and exhaustion as she shared updates about Mr. Chandler’s recovery.

Though Sophie hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, her mother’s description painted a vivid picture of her father being pulled back from the brink of despair.

“Sophie, your dad’s much better now. The doctor says he’ll wake up soon,” Mrs. Chandler said, patting Sophie’s hand gently.

Sophie felt a swell of gratitude, but her mother hesitated, as if grappling with something unsaid.

“Mom, what is it?” Sophie asked, sensing the weight of her mother’s silence.

“Sophie, over the past few days, Mr. Morgan has been here in the hospital taking care of you. He also sent the best nurses for your dad,” Mrs. Chandler said, her tone serious. “Sophie, be honest with me. What exactly is your relationship with Mr. Morgan now?”