Chapter 363: Protecting Together
Wren Sutton raised her eyes to the operating room, its light still a stark red. Her throat felt tight, and a persistent worry gnawed at her heart.
The pitiful sobs of Owen and Nina filled her ears. The children’s brows were furrowed in discomfort, their faces pale, and the sight truly broke her heart.
Wren Sutton took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions swirling inside her. After careful consideration, she looked up at Theodore Lancaster and Claire Sterling.
"I can’t just go home like this, but Owen and Nina are too young. As their mother, I can’t neglect them."
"I’ve decided. I’m taking Owen and Nina to my parents’ house. With their grandpa and grandma looking after them, the children will be calmer."
She paused, her gaze shifting back to the operating room doors, her eyes filled with worry.
"As soon as the children are settled, I’ll come right back."
This was the best solution Wren Sutton could come up with at the moment.
Theodore Lancaster and Claire Sterling exchanged a glance and finally nodded in agreement.
Forcing Wren Sutton to go home would only cause her more anguish and pain. It was better to let her stay at the hospital; at least she could have some peace of mind.
Perhaps, in some unfathomable way, Adrian Lancaster would be able to sense her waiting for him, watching over him from the closest possible place, and it might ignite his will to live.
"Alright. Since you’ve made up your mind, we won’t say any more. Do as you said. We’ll have the driver take you and the children to the Suttons’."
"Once the children are settled, come back to the hospital. We’ll wait here for Adrian together, wait for him to wake up."
Wren Sutton nodded firmly. Wasting no more time, she got up, took the children, and left the hospital for her parents’ home.
...
Night deepened. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton had finished washing up and were about to go to bed.
Suddenly, the sharp, hurried ringing of the doorbell shattered the late-night silence.
"Who could that be so late?"
Mrs. Sutton frowned in annoyance and walked quickly to the entryway. She looked through the peephole and froze.
Outside stood a deathly pale Wren Sutton, holding Owen and Nina. The children’s small faces were etched with lingering fear, and their eyes were still red.
Mrs. Sutton’s heart clenched. A bad feeling washed over her as she hurriedly opened the door.
"Wren, dear, why are you suddenly back so late with the children? What happened?"
"Oh my! Your forehead is so swollen, and what about this injury on your arm!"
Her heart aching, Mrs. Sutton quickly helped her daughter sit down and carefully took the children from her arms.
Hearing the commotion, Mr. Sutton rushed out of the bedroom.
Seeing the unshed tears glistening in his daughter’s eyes and her disheveled, haggard appearance, his heart sank. He, too, was struck by a series of ominous premonitions.
The moment Wren Sutton opened her mouth, tears began to stream down her face uncontrollably. "Dad, Mom..."
"Adrian... Adrian was in a serious car accident. He’s in the operating room right now... they’re trying to save him."
BOOM—The words struck Mr. and Mrs. Sutton like a clap of thunder, exploding in their minds.
Mrs. Sutton’s body swayed uncontrollably, her back hitting the entryway cabinet hard. The trinkets on top of it rattled from the impact.
Her eyes flew wide, pupils constricting violently. Her lips trembled, and for a long moment, she couldn’t form a single coherent sound. All the color drained from her normally gentle face, leaving it a ghastly white.
"Wh-what did you say?" she finally managed to choke out, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face.
"Adrian... he was in an accident? They’re still trying to save him? Wren, dear, don’t scare me like this..."
Mrs. Sutton had been gentle and calm her entire life, but at this moment, she was in a complete panic, on the verge of fainting.
"How could he get into a car accident out of nowhere? Oh, heavens, you’re truly..."
’Just over a year ago, he survived a plane crash, a near-death experience, and came back safely. And now a car accident? What kind of terrible karma is this!’
Mr. Sutton stood to the side, frozen in place. His face was a mask of shock and pain, his eyes visibly reddening as tears welled up. He felt as if his heart were being twisted by a knife.
’Just this afternoon, the family had been together for a Mid-Autumn Festival reunion dinner. His son-in-law had had a few drinks with him, listening to his fishing stories, laughing and chatting.’
’The warm scenes were still fresh in his mind, yet only a few hours had passed before this devastating news of a car accident arrived.’
"He was seriously injured protecting me and the children. I have to get back to the hospital right now. I need to be there, waiting for him."
Mrs. Sutton suppressed the pain in her heart and wiped the tears from her face.
"You’re right. Right now, you need to be at the hospital, waiting for Adrian to wake up."
"Go on. Leave Owen and Nina with us. Don’t you worry about a thing. Your father and I will definitely take good care of the children."
Wren Sutton nodded through her tears, her thoughts constantly on Adrian Lancaster.
Her voice hoarse, she said, "Dad, Mom, thank you for taking care of Owen and Nina. The driver is still waiting downstairs for me. I’m going to the hospital."
Mr. Sutton walked her to the door and said heavily, "Go. Adrian is waiting for you, too. Call your mother and me when you have any news."
Wren Sutton acknowledged him and hurried away.
...
The car sped down the road. The moment it came to a steady stop in front of the hospital, Wren Sutton anxiously shoved the door open. She practically stumbled out and rushed inside, her hurried and panicked footsteps echoing in the hallway.
The elevator doors slid slowly open and then shut. Even the rapidly climbing numbers on the display seemed to move at a crawl.
Finally, with a DING, the elevator arrived at the surgical floor.
The second the doors opened, Wren Sutton all but sprinted out, running toward the operating room, its light still red.
At the end of the hallway, Theodore Lancaster stood with his back to her, his shoulders and back as taut as a fully drawn bow, his expression as cold as ice.
Claire Sterling leaned against the wall, her eyes red-rimmed, her hands clasped together in silent prayer.
Julian Lancaster paced back and forth anxiously.
The air was so heavy it was hard to breathe.
Wren Sutton ran to the group. She had just steadied herself, not yet having a chance to ask about the situation, when the operating room doors opened.
A doctor in scrubs and a surgical mask walked out.
The Lancasters quickly surrounded him, asking nervously and cautiously, "Doctor, how is he?"
The doctor pulled off his fogged-up mask. His face was etched with exhaustion, his expression grave.
He was silent for a few seconds before he slowly began to speak.
"I’m sorry. We did everything we could."