Chapter 9
“Give me a break. Like Isabel would ever beg you for anything,” Seraphina sneered.
“Isabel, this guy’s asking for it. Want me to put him in his place?” Seraphina offered with a smirk.
Isabel responded with a faint smile. “No need. He’s not my fiancé anymore—he’s Amelia’s problem. Let them deal with it.” Let Amelia keep thinking she’d landed a prize.
Then, Isabel recalled something. “Oh, Seraphina, I do need your help. I need some help from your family’s hospital.”
Seraphina didn’t hesitate. “Of course. I’ll make the arrangements.” The Flynn family’s wealth and influence were unparalleled—they even owned their own hospital. This exclusive facility catered only to VIPs, featuring state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge equipment. Isabel planned to use it for a comprehensive evaluation of Blake to develop a proper treatment plan.
After class, Isabel returned home. She needed to check on Blake.
“How’s he doing today, Mom?” she asked as soon as she arrived.
Hannah looked slightly uneasy. “He’s okay. He was in a foul mood this morning—yelling and refusing to eat. But I got him to have some soup.”
Isabel entered the room to find Blake awake.
“Stop pretending you care! Why are you even here?!” Blake snapped the moment he saw her.
Calmly, Isabel set down her things. “I’m not exactly thrilled about this either, but you are my fiancé. Quit yelling. I’m getting you better, and tonight, we’re doing a full check-up.”
“Why?” Blake retorted instantly.
Isabel turned to face him. “Why not? Don’t you want to recover?”
Blake let out a bitter laugh. “I don’t want to live, so why waste your time?”
Unfazed, Isabel replied, “It’s not your decision. I’m saving your life, whether you like it or not.”
With that, she hoisted him over her shoulder.
“Put me down! Put me down, you brute!” Blake shouted, squirming in protest. “Let me—”
She treated him like a dog, lifting and carrying him around.
“Stop struggling,” Isabel said, completely unfazed. “You’re too weak to stop me. Would you prefer I carry you in my arms like a princess instead?” Blake fumed, weighing his options before reluctantly giving up. She carried him effortlessly, bundling him into the car.
Seraphina stepped out of her car, glancing around the modest neighborhood. Her expression faltered. “His… well, his family is… financially challenged… than I imagined,” she said hesitantly. “Isabel, I mean, I’m concerned, but your new family…”
Isabel brushed off the comment. “Spare me the analysis. Just drive us to the hospital.” With that, they headed to the Flynn family hospital.
11:20 AM
Chapter 9
Thanks to Seraphina’s connections, the hospital’s director greeted them personally. He ensured Blake’s tests were expedited. The Flynn family hospital wasn’t just equipped with cutting-edge facilities—it was also renowned for its privacy. No one, no matter how wealthy or powerful, could access a patient’s medical records. It was a sanctuary for the elite.
Blake lay on the examination bed, eyeing the approaching nurse with suspicion.
“I’ll handle it,” Isabel said, holding out her hand. The nurse hesitated but handed her the syringe after recognizing her authority. Rolling up her sleeves, Isabel took over. After drawing his blood, she sent him for a series of scans.
The results came back quickly. Isabel’s expression grew serious as she studied the images, her brows knitting together tightly. As Isabel reviewed the scans, she narrated steadily, though her tone carried a grim edge. “Your condition is worse than I thought—bone dislocations, fractures, and even shattered areas.” It was as if his body had endured a lifetime of unimaginable abuse. Isabel sighed, her heart heavy. This was a tragedy far beyond anything she had anticipated. Her eyes moved to the scan of his head, and she drew a sharp breath. “There are silver needles in your brain,” she began, her voice tinged with disbelief. “They’ve been lodged there for a long time, penetrating deep into your cerebellum and damaging vital nerve fibers. If they’re not removed soon, you could end up in a vegetative state.”
As her words sank in, Blake shut his eyes. Memories long buried clawed their way back, flooding him with unbearable torment. The past he had tried to forget overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.
Isabel sighed again, quietly. She didn’t need to ask about his history. His condition spoke volumes—of pain and inhuman cruelty. Seraphina entered, breaking the silence. “Isabel, everything’s ready. The operating room is prepped.”
“Good,” Isabel replied firmly. “I’ll prepare now.”
Blake’s eyes snapped open. He stared at her. “You’re going to operate on me?”
Her gaze held unwavering resolve. “Yes. I’ll perform the surgery myself. I will save you and give you a new life.”
“I’ve told you, there’s no need,” Blake said bitterly. “I’m a cripple. Let me die. Why insist on saving me?” Isabel didn’t know the full extent of his past, but his despair and bitterness hinted at wounds far deeper than the physical. His hatred radiated like a dark aura around him.
“Blake,” she said softly but firmly, “don’t you want revenge? If you die now, do you think the people who hurt you will feel remorse? Can you reclaim what they took from you? I’ve faced death too. That’s why I value life so much now. Living is the only way to find hope.”
Her eyes darkened as her tone turned chilling. “Do you know the pain of being skinned alive, of having your bones stripped bare? Your enemies would feast on your suffering if they could. Are you really willing to let them trample over your corpse and call it victory!”
Blake fell silent, her argument cutting deep.
“Fine. Do it. I’ll cooperate,” he finally added. “If one day I can truly stand again, if I can return to who I was, my life will be yours.”
Isabel nodded with firm resolve. “Good. I’ll make sure you recover completely.”
Isabel wasted no time. She prepared the anesthesia and meticulously reviewed the surgical plan. The operation was no simple task. Blake’s injuries required procedures ranging from delicate cranial surgery to complex bone reconstructions. The scope was staggering. When everything was ready, Isabel stepped into the operating room. Blake’s injuries were severe, and every step demanded immense precision. Isabel had enlisted the best doctors in the hospital. The assisting doctors watched, awestruck. Her techniques were unconventional but innovative—a testament to her genius. What began as an arduous shift became exhilarating. Despite the fatigue, the team felt invigorated, captivated by Isabel’s moment-to-moment creativity. They hung on her every movement. Though young, Isabel wielded the scalpel with the confidence of a seasoned expert. Her motions were precise, her decisions flawless, as though backed by decades of experience. By the time the surgery ended, the assisting doctors weren’t just impressed—they were in awe of this surgeon, a true prodigy whose brilliance had left them speechless.
After more than ten grueling hours, the surgery was finally complete. Isabel, drenched in sweat, was clearly the most exhausted among them. The assisting doctors were nearing their limits, yet she had powered through without hesitation. They looked upon Isabel not as a peer but as a master. When the final suture was secured, a collective sigh of relief swept through the room.
“You’re truly extraordinary,” one of the assisting doctors said, his voice full of admiration as he exited the operating room.
“Thank you all for your hard work. Get some rest,” Isabel told the team. It was already the early hours of the morning.
After a short nap in her office, Isabel downed an energy drink to stay alert. Though fatigued, her naturally resilient body seemed mostly unaffected.
Seraphina arrived at the hospital.
“How is she?” she asked anxiously.
“Miss, she’s resting in her office,” the director replied.
“How did the surgery go?” Seraphina pressed.
The director’s excitement was palpable. “A complete success! In all my decades in medicine, I’ve never seen such remarkable skill. Dr. Galvez is in a league of her own! If we could convince her to stay at Elysian Hospital—”