Chapter 311 - In The Hospital Room
Journalists immediately gathered upon the release of the news to the incident to get as much information as possible. The manager in the building's lobby also reported the case to the police.
However, for various reasons, the news was temporarily suppressed and not disseminated. The perpetrator of the attack was still detained at the police station without further legal proceedings.
According to Jean, this incident was secretly instructed by someone, and the culprit was within the Hartanto family. It could be said that Chris was the first victim in the family's internal conflict.
Through the ICU observation room's window, Lilia looked at Chris who was lying on a hospital bed. She was used to the arrogant and stern appearance of the second grandson of the Hartanto Family that it made her feel very uncomfortable looking at Chris's pale face.
"Lilia?" There was a hoarse and exhausted voice from the corner of the observation room. When she turned her head, the person said, "You are here too!"
Only then did Lilia notice Jenny Hartanto. The woman was seen pacing back and forth with a tired and worried face.
Her posture was still so elegant in her plain pastel dress. But today, she didn't wear a single piece of jewelry, which was unusual. Her eyes also looked red, showing how tired the woman was.
Since Chris was injured to save her, Jenny might be the one shaken the most by this incident. Lilia had heard that Chris had a close relationship with his aunt.
Lilia turned around and approached Jenny. Seeing the middle-aged woman stretching out her hand, she didn't hesitate to hug Jenny.
Lilia said, "Aunt Jenny, sorry that I can only come here now. But I want to visit Brother Chris,"
Jenny sighed and patted the back of Lilia's hand. The woman seemed amused by Lilia's presence. "You don't need to apologize. I've heard you're having a busy schedule with your filming. I'm sure the kid will be happy that you came to visit," Jenny said with a weak smile.
Jenny then let go of Lilia's hand and walked to the ICU window. She looked at Chris lying unconscious with an expression of sorrow.
Then Jenny muttered as if speaking to herself, "The doctor said he was lucky. Even though the knife stabbed the heart, it mostly missed a vital part. The knife pierced the muscular tissue lining the outer layer of the heart. However, the small coronary arteries were still damaged. It'll be a miracle if he can wake up,"
Lilia's body trembled as she listened to Jenny's indistinct muttering. She looked at the woman who was more than fifty years old. In just a few days, her well-groomed cheeks had now sunken deep into her cheekbones. The woman looked much older than before.
"Aunt Jenny..." Lilia whispered a word with a helpless expression.
After hesitating for a moment, she raised her hand to gently embrace the middle aged woman's thin shoulders. Lilia didn't say anything else. She just kept silent while rubbing the woman's back.
After a while, Jenny sighed and took her eyes off Chris. She wiped the corner of her eye and said, "Lilia, sorry I look so pathetic right now,"
Over the years, as the wife of the Hartanto Family's eldest son, Jenny had never shown the slightest bit of vulnerability in front of outsiders. But this situation was beyond her control.
Chris had always been closer to Jenny and her family than the man's own family. Jenny had thought that it would be better for her to be the one who was injured this time than to have Chris on the brink of death like this.
"Aunt Jenny, please don't say things like that. Brother Chris is still very young and strong, he might wake up in a few days," Lilia tried to comfort the woman.
Hope came back in Jenny's eyes because of Lilia's words. She nodded in agreement and said, "I hope so. I really hope so..."
A few minutes later, Lilia brought Jenny back to the high-rise ward downstairs. During this time, Jean walked behind them without saying a word. The man only accompanied them and tried not to interfere with their conversation.
Inside the ward, Alex and Alan were already there. In the last few days, both of them could be said as living in the ward. They would go outside the ICU to check on Chris from time to time. They hoped that the man would be excited by their presence and wake up soon. They wanted to be there to greet Chris when he finally woke up.
Neither of them thought about work. To them, their friend's life was more important than money.
When Jenny, Lilia, and Jean together entered the ward, Alex and Alan immediately got up from the sofa.
Alan frowned and said, "Mom, why are you here again? Why don't you rest at home?"
While speaking, he nodded at Lilia to greet her. Then Alan stepped forward to lead Jenny to the sofa. While Alan was helping Jenny, Lilia and the others took their seats.
Jenny leaned back on the chair, propping her forehead with one hand. "I know, but I can't sleep, Alan. Every time I close my eyes, I can only think of Chris laying covered in blood that day,"
Hearing that, Alan lowered his gaze without speaking again. Alan was also there when Chris was rushed to the hospital that day. He saw Chris being carried in an ambulance with a large patch of blood staining his shirt.
Just like Jenny, the horrible sight refused to disappear from Alan's mind. He couldn't stop thinking about how the once arrogant and cunning man lay on the stretcher as if he was lifeless.
If Chris got hurt elsewhere, Alan could still lighten the mood by teasing him about it. But the part where Chris was badly injured nearly killed him.
For a moment, the entire ward fell into a state of suffocating depression. No one spoke.
After some time, Jenny rubbed her forehead with her fingertips. She looked up and looked at the several people in front of her. "I have troubled you a lot during these two days," Jenny said apologetically.
Alex looked into Jenny's red eyes and he shook his head slightly. "Aunt Jenny doesn't have to say that. Chris is like our own brother. We won't be able to hang around when something happens to him,"
Jenny nodded silently, then slowly closed her eyes. The ward was engulfed in silence as everyone was deep in their own thoughts.
Not long after, Jean broke the silence.
"Shall we take a walk outside for a moment?" His gaze was fixed on Alex and Alan. His dark blue eyes looked like a bottomless ocean.
Seeing this, Alex tapped Alan on the shoulder and beckoned toward the door. "Let's go,"
When Jean got up from his chair, the man looked at Lilia questioningly.
But Lilia shook her head slightly and smiled faintly. "Go on, you guys look like you need some fresh air. I'll stay here with Aunt Jenny,"
She knew they had something to talk about. However, Chris was seriously injured now. He had been unconscious since the stabbing incident making everyone's hearts restless ever since. There must be some things that his friends need to discuss.
After the three men said goodbye to Jenny, they left the ward.