When it came to acting, Leila was an expert. Her intention was to make Melissa feel sorry for her. She couldn't wait to see Melissa drenched in guilt.
When she saw the sadness and tears on Leila's face, Melissa's heart began to break into a million pieces. She felt extremely sorry for Leila.
"Leila, please, rest assured. Once Charles wakes up, I will tell him everything, without missing any details. I assure you that Charles will take your side once he gets to know what Sheryl has done to you. He will never forgive her! Moreover, he will teach her a lesson which she will never forget!" Melissa firmly promised Leila.
By now, Leila was used to Melissa's lip service. Hence, she didn't seem even a tiny bit comforted by her words.
What was worse, Charles was now staying in the hospital. Leila wondered if she could get back to the Shining Company again.
And she knew with certainty that if she didn't succeed at becoming Charles' wife, all of her efforts would be in vain. But her only ray of hope was that, as Melissa was on her side, Leila could still stay in the Dream Garden. Melissa was the only person who could help her now. Thinking about this, Leila pulled herself together, although she wasn't quite satisfied with Melissa's words. She said gently, "Aunt Melissa, I trust you. Isla's slap is not a big deal at all. I am willing to take more slaps from her if it means that Sheryl will leave Charles forever. Even if I get disfigured because of that, I will still consider it worth it!" Leila looked into Melissa's eyes and spoke with feigned sincerity.
"Bite your tongue, Leila. Don't you ever utter such words! You won't be disfigured! I won't let anything happen to you. Don't worry, I will always be on your side. And in my presence, nothing of that sort will happen to you!"
Melissa then continued to promise how she would help her through thick and thin. Listening to her blabber, Leila became fed up. 'Do you hear yourself, Melissa? You're making me sick!' Leila thought with a sneer.
If Leila hadn't needed Melissa to help her consolidate her position in the Lu family, she wouldn't have tolerated Melissa. She was already sick of all these empty promises.
"Uh-huh, I know. Thank you, Aunt Melissa. I appreciate it."
Leila wiped away the tears from her face and walked to the ICU with Melissa.
The nurse had just changed a wound dressing for Charles. Melissa asked the nurse about Charles' condition.
But Melissa's question was too technical and tricky for the nurse to answer. The nurse decided to ask for the doctor's help.
"You're a nurse. Aren't you supposed to know this? If you are not clear about it, how can you change the wound dressing? Since you're so unqualified, I wonder whether you haven't made a mistake just now?" Melissa roared angrily at the nurse.
The nurse looked both annoyed and hurt after hearing Melissa's remark. She shook off Melissa's hand. "If you don't trust me, then you are free to do so. But the question you just asked was too tricky for me. I won't pretend to be a know-it-all to give you the wrong answer. I think asking the doctor for help, is what responsible medical staff would do,"
the nurse replied in a composed and professional manner. Melissa was breathing heavily after her outburst. Hence, she decided to remain silent as she watched the nurse leave.
Seeing the frustration on Melissa's face, Leila patted Melissa's back and comforted her by saying, "Aunt Melissa, don't get mad. She is just a nurse. I think we should go find the doctor."
Leila was too tired for yet more drama, so she tried to calm Melissa down.
Melissa listened to Leila and decided not to hold a grudge against the nurse. She walked to the doctor's office with Leila.
They knocked on the door and the doctor called them in. Once they were inside, Melissa dumped numerous questions on the doctor. And when the doctor finally told her that Charles might never wake up, Melissa fell on the floor.
Leila was dumbfounded. She blankly stared at Melissa and then fixed her gaze on the doctor.
"What do you mean, doctor? Charles might never wake up?" Leila had never thought that such a situation could arise.
The doctor nodded to Leila before he said, "If the hematoma in his brain dissolves, he has a chance to wake up. But we are not sure when that will happen. It depends on the patient himself. But please don't worry. As long as he is discharged from the ICU, he will recover. As for when he will wake up, we need to give him a further check-up to confirm that. Once we get any further updates, we will inform you."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Apple of My Eye