Two minutes later, the wail of sirens filled the air as two white police cruisers pulled up in front of us.
Spotting Liam's car, the patrol vehicles quickly swung around and began clearing a path ahead.
Christopher immediately hit the gas and followed close behind.
A remarkable sight unfolded on the city's congested streets. Every private car pulled to the side, creating a wide-open lane. Traffic lights were all manually controlled by two officers, allowing Liam's car to glide smoothly all the way to Brookhaven General Hospital.
The moment Emma stepped out of the car, doctors and nurses rushed forward, took Emilia from her arms, and hurried her straight into the emergency room.
Outside the operating room, Susan had just finished a phone call with Emilia's mother. She was already on her way to the hospital.
Susan paced anxiously back and forth in front of the operating room doors, her mouth dry, her heart offering up a thousand silent prayers. Emilia, you have to be okay. Please, don't let anything happen.
Liam sat on a bench in the hospital corridor. Though his expression remained calm, worry gnawed at him.
As time dragged on, nurses rushed in and out of the operating room, their faces tense with urgency. Several times, Susan wanted to ask for an update.
Afraid of disrupting their work, she could only stand helplessly by the door, her anxiety mounting.
Just then, a masked male doctor stepped out. "Which one of you is the patient's family? The hospital's Type B blood supply is exhausted. I need your cooperation."
"Her family hasn't arrived yet, Doctor..." Susan's voice trailed off, her face etched with deeper worry.
Wait a minute.
Type B blood?
Wasn't she Type B?
Emma quickly extended her arm, her voice trembling with urgency. "Doctor, take mine. I'm Type B. There's no need to wait for her family."
The doctor paused, then nodded.
Just as he was about to take her for the transfusion, Liam rose swiftly from his chair and pulled Emma back. He said calmly, "Take mine. I don't think she's fit to donate. I'm Type O, universal donor. Is that acceptable?"
The doctor looked Emma up and down, considering Liam's words. He nodded and gestured for Liam to follow him for the transfusion.
"But... how can this be? Liam, you've already done so much for me. Now..." Before Emma could finish, Liam walked away without a backward glance.
"It's alright, ma'am. Mr. Williams is in excellent health. A little blood donation won't hurt him. You've been standing for so long, you must be tired. Why don't you sit down and rest?" Christopher said considerately.
In Mr. Williams' absence, it was his duty to look after the missus.
He could see how much she meant to his boss, clearer than anyone.
From that phone call just now... to this moment...
Emma pursed her lips and nodded, her eyes dull and unfocused.
A short while later, Liam returned, holding his arm. Emma noticed his face was pale, and he looked weak. She was about to ask how much blood he'd given when she saw the doctor carrying a large bag of blood into the operating room. Emma nearly ran over, her voice loud with alarm. "Don't tell me... 400cc? All at once? How can anyone bear that?"
"It was his own request. We were worried the patient might lose too much blood. What if the patient's blood volume is normal and we run out before the waiting time is up?" the doctor said flatly before disappearing through the doors.
Emma turned to look at Liam's exhausted frame, and tears began to well up again. Was he trying to kill himself?
She wanted to say something, but felt that nothing she could say would be adequate. Words of concern? Gratitude? Sorrow?
Emma only knew that at this moment, all her feelings paled in comparison to what Liam had done.
She was afraid she could never repay everything he had done for her.
Emma lowered her head and walked over to him, step by step. She wanted to say, thank you.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
A flurry of footsteps echoed in her ears. She looked up to see Susan Clark rushing toward them.
Her face was a mask of worry. As soon as she saw Emma, she reached out and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. "Miss Johnson, how is my daughter? Tell me... what happened to my daughter."
Liam glanced at Emma, who was trembling with panic. He wanted to stand up, but found his body too weak to cooperate.
Christopher saw Liam's movement and understood what he intended to do. He stepped forward and gently pried Susan's hands away. "It's okay, ma'am. The doctors are still in surgery. They'll be out soon. Don't worry."
Emma was too afraid to speak. She could only nod weakly, the guilt and pain in her heart pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe.
It felt as if, at any second, she would be suffocated by the tense, heavy atmosphere.
After a long moment, Susan finally calmed down. She looked at Emma with disappointment in her eyes.
It wasn't resentment. It wasn't anger. It was just... disappointment. She should never have entrusted her daughter to Emma.
Susan didn't look at her again. Instead, she lowered her head, stared at her own feet, and walked slowly to the door of the operating room without a word.
"I'm sorry, Susan... I'm so sorry..."
Emma's voice was so soft that even Liam, who was closest to her, couldn't hear her clearly.
She knew that saying sorry couldn't change anything.
If something happened to Emilia...
What kind of torment and suffering would await her in the future?
Finally, it came to an end.
Half an hour later, the operating room doors swung open, and the doctors and nurses filed out one by one. "The patient is out of danger now... but she'll need to stay in the intensive care unit for observation for a few days. Her family can go in and see her. She's awake."
"Thank you, Doctor." Before Susan's voice had even faded, she pushed open the door and rushed inside eagerly.
Out of danger!
Hearing those words, the heavy weight on Emma's heart finally lifted.
She's okay. She's going to be okay.
Liam also breathed a sigh of relief. He slowly looked up at Emma, who was standing in front of him. In his usually cold eyes, there was now a hint of tenderness and exhaustion.
Liam supported himself with both hands on the chair. He stood up with some difficulty, pretending to be relaxed. "I told you, with me here, everything would be fine... Go in and see her. Don't blame yourself. Let this be a lesson learned."
His tone was like a father teaching his daughter—a little serious, and a little patient.
Emma didn't move. She just stood there.
Liam stood tall and straight in front of her, his face pale, his eyes gentle.
Suddenly, she took a step forward. Before he could react, Emma gently wrapped her arms around him.
She knew Liam must be exhausted right now. He had given so much blood, and he had worried himself sick over her.
It was good to have him.
Thank goodness he was here.
[Author's Note: The activity was supposed to start yesterday, but I forgot, so there are two exchange codes today. One is wbpx2h, the second is kw3j6f. For how to use them, check the top post in the book's discussion circle!]
[PS: Only the top 100 subscribers can redeem them. Each code can be exchanged for 11 reading cakes. First come, first served!]