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In horror, Natalie stumbled backward involuntarily and almost fell.
Shane quickly let go of the hospital bed and gripped Natalie in alarm, pulling her into his arms. “What's wrong?”
Natalie looked after the departing hospital bed, then composed herself. When she turned to smile at Shane, it was
almost a grimace. “It's nothing. I was just surprised by Ms. Graham's scars.”
Shane nodded in understanding.
To the unsuspecting eye, the scars indeed presented a rather horrifying image. When Shane had first encountered
them, he'd also been rather stunned.
Afterward, when he had gotten used to it, they'd ceased to bother him.
“Jacqueline got her scars from multiple operations,” Shane explained to Natalie as they walked towards Jacqueline's
hospital room.
Natalie had almost recovered her wits entirely by then. She tilted her head and looked at Shane curiously. “Has Ms.
Graham really gone for so many operations?”
“Yep. A tumor grew in Jacqueline's head when she was in a vegetative state. Due to its location, No doctor dared to
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtremove it completely. The portion of the tumor that was left behind kept growing, so multiple surgeries had to be
done to keep it in check,” Shane said, sighing.
“Ah, I see.” Comprehension dawned on Natalie, and she nodded. “Then, has the tumor in Ms. Graham's head been
completely removed by Stanley?”
Shane nodded again.
One had to admit that Stanley's surgical skills were unparalleled.
His character, however, was an entirely different matter altogether.
Natalie and Shane eventually arrived at Jacqueline's room.
Shane entered first, with Natalie in tow. Jacqueline had woken up by then and was sitting in bed propped up by
pillows. Jackson was waiting on her with water.
When Jacqueline saw them enter, her face darkened. She pushed the cup of water away from her lips brusquely.
Jackson resignedly returned the cup to the bedside table and threw the straw away. He turned, beaming, towards
Shane and Natalie. “What took you both so long?” he asked.
“We were held up on the way here,” Shane answered briefly. Turning towards the pale Jacqueline and, his
expression softened. “Are you feeling better?”
Jacqueline shook her head but did not reply.
Perceiving that Jacqueline was in a disagreeable mood, Shane pursed his lips and said to Jackson and Natalie, “You
two head out first. I'll have a chat with Jacqueline alone.”
Natalie guessed what was on Shane's mind and left the room. Jackson followed behind her.
The two of them walked over to some seats along the corridor and sat down.
“When did you start dating Shane?” Jackson asked casually, reclining in his seat with his hands crossed behind his
head.
Natalie darted a glance at the hospital room they'd just come out from. “Last night.”
“Last night?” Jackson blinked. “I thought it would at least have been a few days ago. After all, Shane hasn't come to
the hospital to visit Jacqueline for a few days at least.”
Not even once?
Natalie was taken aback by this information. She ruffled her hair to conceal her astonishment, then commented,
“He was probably too busy.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Perhaps,” Jackson replied. He shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. His gaze, however, was fixed steadfastly on
the floor, and Natalie couldn't guess what was running through his mind.
Natalie was not too familiar with Jackson. She remained beside him in companionable silence.
The long wait, however, made Natalie feel rather restless and uneasy. Thankfully, the door of the hospital room
soon opened, and Shane walked out.
Natalie and Jackson sprang to their feet.
“Is it over?” Natalie asked anxiously, looking up at him.
Shane nodded. “Jacqueline wants to say a few words to you.”
“To me?” Natalie pointed at herself, nonplussed.
Shane nodded again. “Go on in.”
“All right,” Natalie said hesitantly. She walked past Shane and entered the hospital room.
Jacqueline was sitting up in bed. She hastily wiped the tears from her face the moment she caught sight of Natalie.
Turning to Natalie with swollen eyes, Jacqueline said, “Congratulations on getting together with Shane.”
Natalie could detect more than a hint of bitterness in Jacqueline's voice. She sighed wearily. “Thank you.”
Jacqueline looked at her haughtily. “Why are you thanking me? What do you have to thank me for? Do you really
think I'm congratulating you?”
Bemused, Natalie replied, “I knew that you weren't really...”
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