The Windfalls of Love (Roxanne and Harrison) novel Chapter 308

"Dominic, you've got to pull through."

Evelyn's voice was so low only she could hear herself.

Everyone was gathered outside the OR, watching as Dominic was wheeled inside.

Except for Evelyn. Fearing Dominic would find her presence bothersome, concerned it might upset him before surgery, she stood at a distance, not daring to come closer.

In her solitary corner, she suddenly felt as if the world had abandoned her.

Until Harrison approached.

"Dominic's in surgery. Why didn't you go in and say a few words?" Harrison asked.

Evelyn's heart ached. "I didn't want to upset him before the procedure. You said it yourself, Harrison, matters of the heart can wait. Let's talk after he recovers."

Truth be told, Evelyn wished she and Dominic were legally married.

That way, she'd have the right to sign on his behalf.

To care for him, legitimately and openly.

But Dominic had entrusted Roxanne with the power to sign the consent forms.

To Dominic, she, Evelyn, was just an outsider.

So she refrained from bothering him.

After all, this wasn't a minor surgery; they were operating on his brain.

She'd rather bear the cold shoulder than risk Dominic feeling an ounce of unhappiness before surgery.

This love, which had transformed from exuberance to restraint, was something Harrison understood well.

He tried to comfort Evelyn, "Don't worry too much. The specialist operating on Dominic is his chief physician from back home. Flew in just for this. He knows Dominic's condition inside out. Dominic will be fine."

Evelyn's hands were clasped tightly together, her fingers ice cold.

"I guess I'm a little nervous," she admitted.

The thought of anything happening to Dominic was unbearable.

She had researched the surgery. No procedure was without risks, and it was that minuscule chance of complications that had her as anxious as if her own life were on the line.

Not wanting to burden Harrison, she quickly added, "Harrison, I'm okay. I have faith in Dominic. He's strong-willed. He'll pull through."

"Of course," Harrison replied.

Evelyn continued, "Harrison, Roxanne seems pretty worried. You should go comfort her. I'm really fine."

He always found his little cousin to be the brightest, most capable, and considerate among all his siblings—a true comfort to the family.

Harrison nodded warmly and glanced over at Roxanne but kept his distance.

After Dominic had recounted the harrowing birth of their child and Roxanne's brush with death, Harrison could empathize with her even more.

The guilt and self-reproach Harrison felt were beyond words.

The heart he had broken, that had died within Roxanne, he vowed to nurture back to life, bit by bit.

Angela clung to Roxanne's neck, her eyes as worried as Roxanne's, fixed on the sealed doors of the OR.

"Mommy, will Uncle feel pain when they cut into his head?" she asked innocently.

"He's under anesthesia, sweetie. He won't feel a thing," Roxanne assured her.

"Needles are scary, though."

Roxanne's mind was too preoccupied with Dominic's surgery to engage in child's play.

But Angela, hugging her neck, bravely asked, "Mommy, when Uncle gets better, can he be my daddy?"

"Uncle is uncle, honey. He can't become your daddy," Roxanne said, tickling Angela's nose.

"But why can't I have two daddies? A big daddy and a little daddy. Wouldn't that be nice?" Angela's greedy wish made Roxanne smile despite herself.

Angela's innocence somehow eased Roxanne's tension.

Angela puckered her lips and added, "Daddy says if you agree to let me have two daddies, he agrees too."

"Did Daddy really say that?"

"Why don't you ask him?"

"It's okay, I'll just lower my voice and pretend to be all gruff. Just tell Dominic you hired a 24-hour male nurse for him," Evelyn plotted.

Her determination to win over Dominic was evident.

Roxanne suddenly felt that Evelyn was incredibly brave.

She had been that brave too once.

Night fell.

It was Evelyn’s first day officially taking care of Dominic.

After dinner, she walked him around the hospital corridor a few times for exercise.

Back in the room, she tenderly helped him with his bath and even made sure his feet were cleaned before bed.

Before sleep, Dominic asked politely, "Eve, I need to use the restroom. Could you help me there?"

His vision was impaired due to pressure on the optic nerve, rendering him completely dependent on others.

This 'Eve' was the male nurse Roxanne had found for Dominic. Dominic didn't know his real name, only that he was called Eve and that he was supposedly a couple of years younger.

So Dominic addressed him simply as "Eve."

Evelyn, disguising her voice, replied with a rough tone, "Sure, Dominic, let me help you up. Be careful, okay?"

Once they reached the bathroom, Dominic tapped around with his foot until he found the toilet, "Eve, could you step out for a moment?"

"What's there to be shy about? We're all guys here," Evelyn said with a forced lower pitch. "But you've just had surgery, and I’d hate to see you take a spill. That'd be a real hassle."

Dominic was hesitant.

"Don't worry, I'm not into dudes. I'll turn my back until you're done, alright?" Evelyn continued in her gruff voice.

Then she deliberately made a noise to prove she had turned away.

But as soon as she heard the sound from the toilet, Evelyn couldn't help but sneak a peek.

After all, she wasn't going to let an opportunity pass by.

Dominic would be hers, sooner or later, so why not exercise her privileges a bit early?