Chapter 34

“Second Young Master, the condition of Miss Collins’ liver is deteriorating day by day,” The doctor informed Aidan after examining the latter inside the ward that she’d been admitted to, “The longer the delay of the liver transplant procedure, the lower the chances of her survival...Dr Witton will be back tomorrow morning to check up on her again. I...I suggest that you’d better discuss and make the necessary arrangements for a liver transplant procedure as soon as possible.” The doctor then walked away - as he absorbed everything that the doctor had just told him, Aidan’s face turned solemn. Time was running out for Laura - her days would be numbered if she wouldn’t be undergoing the much-needed procedure any sooner. … Travis called Aidan to his office the next morning - the latter couldn’t help but frown at the serious expression on his friend’s face. “Do you think that things aren’t looking too good as well?” Aidan asked in a flat and emotionless voice. Travis set down the test results that he’d retrieved as he sighed, “Well, I’d just ran a few tests and have confirmed that Laura wouldn’t be able to make it should we wait until Miss Rodney recovers and is well enough to donate her liver...the liver transplant procedure cannot afford to be delayed any further.” Aidan pinched the bridge of his nose as he furrowed his brows - he looked as though he was in deep thought, battling the inner turmoil going on in his head. He was silent for a long while before he eventually fished his mobile phone out of his pocket to call Robert - “Robert - it’s me,” Aidan said, “I want you to bring Eliana to the hospital for the liver transplant procedure.” Travis’ eyes immediately grew wide - “What? Aidan...are you really going to do this? Are you...are you sure that you’re not going to regret this?” Instead of saying anything, Aidan got up from where he was seated and stormed out of the room. Travis couldn’t help but frown when he saw the look in his friend’s eyes - as much as he was unwilling to admit it, he knew that Aidan would be devastated should anything happen to Eliana. He sighed, contemplating his next move before finally deciding to take action - he whipped out his mobile phone and dialed a number. “Hello? Yes, it’s me, Travis...I was wondering if it would be alright if I could ask for a favor...please help me, teacher…” … Eliana had already been prepared for the procedure - the only thing that she was worried about was what would happen to her father and brother should something happen to her. And so, the former asked for Aidan as soon as she was done undergoing the necessary preparations. Soon enough, Aidan walked into Eliana’s room, a cold and stoic expression on his face as he stared at the latter. Eliana asked in a soft voice, “Second Young Master, I hope that you’ve calmed down - so, about my family...can you reassure me that they’ll be safe and that you wouldn’t touch them, just like you’d promised? Can you please reaffirm this before the procedure that I’m about to undergo?” Aidan clenched his fists as he growled, “Don’t try to use the procedure against me, Eliana - don’t make it sound as though you’re going to die after the procedure. You’d better remember what I said - I’ll make sure that your father and brother suffer if you die. I will not hesitate to send them off to hell, where you would be waiting for them with open arms.” Aidan then turned to storm out of the room without saying another word, not even bothering to spare Eliana another glance. The latter could do nothing but watch the man whom she’d once loved so deeply walk away and leave her behind as though he’d never really cared about - Eliana couldn’t help but feel tears well up in her eyes as she smiled bitterly, “Aidan, I really hope that you don’t regret the decision that you’ve made.” Aidan paused at the door for a moment before he replied in an icy voice, “I will definitely not regret it - I’ll make sure that you don’t rest in peace if you actually die.” He then darted out of the room and slammed the door behind him. … The next morning, Travis informed Aidan that his teacher would be the one performing the procedure, and that with his teacher’s skills, there would be a ninety-five percent chance of the procedure being a success. Eliana mustn’t die - she mustn’t. Eliana closed her eyes - she couldn’t help but scoff internally. So it looks like I might not die after all...even though I’ve been wishing to for such a long time now… … And so, Eliana and Laura proceeded to be operated on in two separate operating theatres - Aidan stood outside the former’s, his eyes fixated on the lighted up sign on the door which read ‘IN PROGRESS’. Even though he told himself to stay calm, Aidan couldn’t help but pace up and down in front of the door as he repeatedly clasped his hands together before dipping them into his pockets. He also fished out a cigarette, only to put it back into the cigarette box, over and over again. Aidan would also glance up at the sign every few minutes or so, as though he was nervously waiting for something to happen. Travis had never seen his friend acting so frantic and uneasy. After a long while, the door of the operating theatre that Eliana was in swung open to reveal the medical staff running to the operating theatre that Laura was in with Eliana’s liver. Aidan couldn’t help but bite his lip anxiously at this sight - time seemed to be crawling at an excruciatingly slow pace. Aidan didn’t know just how much time had passed when Travis and another doctor exited the operating theatre and headed his way. The former immediately rushed towards them, only to be blocked by his friend as the doctor rushed into the other operating theatre. “What? What’s going on?” Aidan asked frantically. Travis informed Aidan with a grim look on his face, “Aidan, the operating theatre informed me via an internal line...that Eliana...has passed away.”