Chapter 11

Selena hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Alright. Yarrick, I have the keys to Hailey's house, and there's a car there too. Why don't you stay there? After all, you two are already married." "No, thank you, Selena. As long as Hailey is still alive, I'll be visiting her regularly. By the way, her condition is improving. When I saw her today, her eyelids fluttered for a while. It seems like she could wake up at any moment." Yarrick once again graciously turned down Selena's offer. The reason he was willing to go through the trouble of sitting with Hailey and talking to her was simple. It was a sense of responsibility that he couldn't shake. After all, they were already married. She was his wife. So, he felt it was only right to accompany her. Money and material possessions, as well as Selena's help, didn't concern him. "Hmm, I'm already aware of all that. The doctor has informed me. Thank you so much, Yarrick. You're truly kind. It would've been fantastic if Hailey had met you sooner." Selena conveyed her gratitude once more, her words hinting at deeper emotions. ... The following morning, after enjoying breakfast with Michael, Yarrick started to pack his luggage. He had also arranged for a small van to assist with their transport. By the time they finished moving, it was already 11:00 am. "Yarrick, let's grab a drink?" Now that they had graduated, secured jobs, and rented a place, it felt like the perfect opportunity to celebrate. "Holy shit! It's already 11:00 am." Yarrick glanced at his watch, surprised that it was already close to noon. He started panicking. "Michael, I need to go to the hospital, so I won't be able to join you for lunch. I'm so sorry." "Not a problem at all! Go ahead. I noticed there are several shops near the neighborhood entrance, so I'll find something to eat myself." "Haha... Alright, enjoy yourself!" Yarrick rushed to the master bedroom's bathroom and swiftly freshened up. Moments later, he and Michael left the house together. ... Yarrick didn't even bother with lunch. He quickly hopped on the bus and headed straight for the hospital. He couldn't quite explain why, but he just felt the need to see Hailey as soon as possible and talk to her for a little longer. Perhaps it was due to their marriage or perhaps it was because of that two million dollars. Yarrow Heights Residence was very close to the hospital, so it didn't take long for him to arrive. "Honey, I'm so sorry. I was moving this morning, and as soon as I finished packing, I came straight here. I didn't even get a chance to eat lunch." As he stepped into the ward, Yarrick sat by the bedside, gently taking Hailey's hand. "Huh?" Her hand radiated warmth, and her face appeared slightly rosier than before. In his moment of surprise, Yarrick instinctively touched Hailey's face, which felt noticeably warmer. "Honey, are you recovering?" Yarrick glanced toward the door. The doctor and nurse were not around. He wondered whether they had noticed this obvious change. Surely, it would have been apparent during the temperature check. As he was pondering, the door to the ward opened. A nurse walked in, smiling warmly. "Miss, she..." "Yarrick, what did you notice?" The nurse looked at Yarrick, her eyes sparkling with a smile. "I noticed her hands and face are a bit warmer. Could it be a fever?" The nurse couldn't help but chuckle at his concern. "No, no, your wife doesn't have a fever. We've been monitoring her temperature, and it's all normal. I've got some good news for you. She woke up for a little while this morning. We even fed her some food, and she ate quite a bit." At these words, Yarrick couldn't help but suddenly turn his head toward Hailey. She was truly making remarkable progress. She actually woke up and even had a good appetite. At this rate, it appeared that surviving for an additional three months wouldn't be an issue at all. "Does this mean she's about to recover?" "Probably so. As long as she continues to wake up like today and eats more, she shouldn't need to stay in the ICU for much longer." "I see." Upon hearing this, Yarrick couldn't contain his excitement. He had never anticipated such a moment. A true miracle was truly unfolding before him. "When she arrived at the hospital, her bodily functions were severely compromised, and she was in a serious coma. She was previously only sustained by nutritional injections and glucose water. Dr. Waller noted that it appeared she had lost her will to live. However, he emphasized that if we could reignite her desire to survive, there would be hope for her recovery." "Yeah, I know." The doctor had previously explained these matters to him, so Yarrick had a general understanding. However, he simply couldn't fathom how a woman so mature and beautiful could lose her will to live in such a way. Surely, she must have endured a significant trauma—one that was profoundly impactful. "I'll let you two continue talking." The nurse stayed for a moment, then finished her checks and left the room. "Honey..." Yarrick gently stroked Hailey's hand, suddenly feeling a little nervous. What if Hailey woke up at any moment? He had been calling her "honey" repeatedly. Would she scold him for teasing her when she woke? She probably didn't even realize they were married yet. If she suddenly heard a young man affectionately calling her "honey", would she be frightened? "Honey, can you hear me? If you can hear me, could you squeeze my hand?" Yarrick leaned in closer, his voice as patient and gentle as ever. Yet Hailey did not respond. "My sweetheart… Hails..." Yarrick's words took on a more intimate tone as his hand softly caressed Hailey's face. Her skin felt even warmer under his touch, and a delicate flush spread across her cheeks. In an unexpected moment, Hailey's hand jerked slightly before settling into stillness. "Sweetheart, the doctor told me you woke up this morning and even ate a lot. I'm so happy. Let's keep pushing, okay? Once you get better, I'll make you delicious food every day. Hails, do you know? You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met. Really, I'm not lying." As he was speaking, Yarrick suddenly felt Hailey's hand tighten around his.