Chapter 1177

“Roxanne.” Lucian called out, a flicker of hope igniting within him that the sound of his voice might rouse her. Alas, silence met his plea, even after he’d spoken for a considerable time.

He leaned closer, his gaze fixed on her. If she possessed even a sliver of awareness, she would likely struggle against his approach. But she remained motionless, allowing him to draw near until only inches separated them. Her breathing remained steady.

Only then did Lucian truly register how long it had been since he'd seen Roxanne this close. Her features, though still exquisite, bore the stark pallor of illness. Hesitancy flickered in his eyes as he looked at her pale face. Slowly, he reached out, caressing her cheek with his fingertips.

“Are you mad at me? The doctors worked for hours, yet you remain asleep. Is it because you want to see me consumed by regret?” Again, no response.

Seeing her in this comatose state, Lucian felt his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He straightened, his gaze settling on Roxanne.

“I’ll be back soon. I hope you’re awake when I return.” He turned, his heart heavy, and left the room. He couldn't remain; he feared what he might do.

Roxanne's condition, though unsettling, brought a measure of relief. His rage, though still present, was tempered. He walked calmly into Zayne’s office.

“Mr. Farwell!” Zayne and several specialists, mid-discussion regarding Roxanne's condition, rose to greet him. Lucian inclined his head curtly. “How is she? How long until she wakes?”

The medical personnel exchanged glances.

“The specialists stated Ms. Jarvis’ life is not currently in danger. She’s in a coma,” Zayne replied hesitantly, his tone suggesting this was a positive outcome.

Lucian’s gaze hardened, and he glared at Zayne. Zayne fell silent, then attempted to amend his statement. “Mr. Farwell, Ms. Jarvis’ current condition is the result of the specialists' efforts. Without them, she might have…” He trailed off, the implication clear.

“I don’t want to hear it.” Lucian’s gaze shifted to the specialists. “Have you devised a method to wake her?” His tone, though still firm, lacked the earlier threat.

They shook their heads. “The poison is an exceedingly rare gas. Generally, only major research institutes produce it, and researchers take precautions due to its toxicity. This is unprecedented, requiring extreme caution,” the lead specialist explained.