After carrying Nora into the hospital, Asher waited anxiously outside the suture room.
“Doctor, use the best anesthesia, the best cosmetic stitches!” he instructed frantically.
“She absolutely cannot have scars, and she’s terrified of pain–make sure she doesn’t feel even the slightest discomfort!”
After his anxious instructions, Asher turned and let out a deep breath, patting Vivian’s shoulder: “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.”
“AAAAAAHHHHH!”
A heart–wrenching scream came from the suture room, causing everyone in the hallway to turn.
Asher grabbed a passing nurse: “What happened to Nora?”
The nurse glanced at him: “It’s not Nora Sinclair. It’s another patient–she can’t afford anesthesia, so she’s toughing it out.”
Through the door crack, they could see a woman arching in agony, her face and body drenched in sweat, her eyes hollow and desperate.
“Jeez…” Vivian sucked in a sharp breath. She winced: “No matter how expensive hospital anesthesia is, no one should have to endure that… that poor woman.”
The nurse laughed: “Anesthesia is only five dollars per injection–not expensive at all.”
She looked Vivian up and down: “You clearly live comfortably. You probably can’t understand, but many people here make sacrifices for every penny. This patient is suffering through just five stitches. Last week we had a girl with an artificial heart who couldn’t afford anything–she endured over thirty stitches without medication, tore up our sheets from gripping them so hard, and eventually passed out from the pain.”
Asher and Vivian both froze.
After a moment, Vivian asked quietly: “Brother… was she talking about Riley? When she was in that car accident, you said anesthesia wasn’t necessary…”
“Don’t say anything else.” Asher’s expression darkened.
“How was I supposed to know anesthesia was so cheap? I never meant to make Riley suffer–I was just afraid our fake bankruptcy would be exposed!”
Outwardly calm, Asher’s mind was in turmoil.
The patient’s agonizing screams echoed in his ears, as if the person lying there was Riley. Like a fire, it ignited all his guilt and self–reproach, burning his heart red–hot, as if it were being scorched in oil.
Vivian considered carefully: “Brother, should we tell Riley the truth about our deception?”
“She might be so desperate from poverty that she pushed Nora down the stairs for a diamond hairpin! I’m worried that if this continues, she might do something even more extreme!”
Seeing Asher’s continued silence, Vivian nudged his shoulder: “Brother? What are you still considering? Nora’s heart transplant was successful. If we’re going to take care of her, we need to address Riley’s jealousy! Let’s just tell Riley our business ventures succeeded and we’ve recovered the company and shares. She loves you so much and trusts me
21:58
Two Chances, One Bullet: How His “Next Life” Promise Failed
63.6%
Chapter 10
completely–she’ll never figure it out!”
By now, Nora’s wound had been stitched, and she was being transferred to a room.
After ensuring she was fine, Asher instructed his sister: “Take good care of her. I’ll go get Riley. Remember, don’t slip up.”
Asher didn’t go straight home. He had his assistant drive to a boutique where he purchased a diamond hairpin identical to
Nora’s.
During his two years of pretending to be bankrupt, Riley had indeed suffered greatly alongside him.
e owed her compensation.
Opening the front door, the apartment was eerily quiet.
“…Riley?”
He searched the entire apartment but couldn’t find her. Desperate, he called her phone.
Instead, a mechanical female voice responded: “The number you have dialed is no longer in service…”
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