Chapter 0091
One hour and thirteen minutes later, the rescue team finally arrived,
and Madison personally saw Ethan onto the helicopter.
There she stood alone on the dark and dooming coastline, as if facing the apocalypse, yet her face was a portrait of smiles.
Ahead, dark clouds loomed ominously, behind, waves roared fiercely.
Yet Madison showed no fear.
Michael, witnessing the scene, looked at the lifeless man lying in the helicopter and said, “Maybe you were right.”
An hour later.
At the capital hospital in country T.
Madison, upon her arrival, spent all the money she had.
“Use the best medicine!”
Stunned at the payment window, Michael had arrived at the hospital with Ethan, possessing nothing, not even a phone. Claiming Ethan was the chairman of Mukino Airlines, no one believed them without proof.
Michael glanced back at the imposing hospital entrance where the armed helicopter had just landed, his heart racing.
What woman travels the world in a helicopter?
“Do you even know how much the treatment will cost? How much will the hospitalization fee be?” Michael asked Madison, who had just squatted down against the wall, motionless as if exhausted.
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It took her a while to answer, “No matter the cost.”
Just four words.
Michael’s eyelids twitched….
T country’s medical technology was among the most advanced globally, and so, naturally, the costs were the highest.
Madison had emptied her coffers, paying for all the expenses.
There, sitting on the ground outside the operating room, Madison was left penniless.
Outside the operating room.
The doctor briefly described Ethan’s condition-
“The injury on the leg is severe; I’m not certain if the bone is damaged. We’ll need further examinations to assess. Family members, please wait outside.”
The leg…
The surgery seemed to stretch on forever.
Madison and Michael wouldn’t budge from the operating room entrance, not a drop of water or bite of food passed their lips, they waited, parched and famished, through the dark and into the light.
Only then did Madison’s phone chime.
Unlocking the screen, a glance was enough to freeze her.
Mukino Airlines…
They had grounded her.
The reason given was her abandonment of passenger safety and
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unauthorized departure from the flight, resulting in being grounded
from flying.
Being grounded…
For a pilot, it was akin to a career-ending blow.
Madison clenched her phone, looking towards the operating room
door.
All she hoped for was Ethan’s safety, everything else could wait until her return.
Michael, however, asked, “Weren’t you supposed to fly back to your country? How come you’re here? Is that okay?”
It mattered.
But Madison did not say a word.
She stayed silent, quietly waiting for Ethan’s surgery to conclude.
After what felt like hours but were only a couple, the operating room doors finally swung open.
“Family member?” The hospital doctor spoke in the local language.
Understanding, Michael promptly pushed Madison forward and clarified, “She’s the patient’s girlfriend.”
Madison was taken aback.
Before she could react, the doctor said, “The patient has deep
wounds, especially severe on the thigh area. He won’t be able to walk for some time.”
The examination results were handed to Madison.
Tears welled in Madison’s eyes as she asked, “When can he come out?”
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“Very soon,” the doctor left.
The heart that had been stuck in her throat finally settled back in
place.
He was okay, he was all right…
“Don’t worry now, the doctor said he’s fine. An old fortune teller once told him he has a strong fate, won’t die before eighty,” Michael tried to comfort Madison with what little conscience he had.
Madison glanced at him, “He believes in that stuff?”
Fortune-tellers and wealth gods.
Michael chuckled, “The old man grabbed him as he passed by; I couldn’t even pull him away.”
Madison, letting go of some worry, ventured, “Did the fortune-teller say he would live a peaceful life?”
Michael paused before responding, “Didn’t mention that. But he did say Ethan has a good fate; he’d marry a good wife who’d ensure his safety.”
This time Madison didn’t inquire further because her attention was drawn to Ethan, who was being wheeled out of the operating room.
Given the circumstances, the medical facilities here were top-notch; a day’s hospitalization cost was more than double that of the premium hospitals back home.
Inside the ward.
Madison swiftly approached the bedside, naturally taking the role of the next of kin, communicating with the doctor about his injuries.
Dressed in her airport uniform, Madison’s presence elicited a notably
warmer response from the leading physician, who provided more detailed information than during a routine ward round.
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Once the room had cleared, Michael went to arrange meals with the nursing staff a task he wouldn’t typically concern himself with.
Madison sat by the bed, gazing at the man with his eyes firmly shut,
his face pale from injury, devoid of his customary vibrancy and teasing smiles.
“Wake up soon, okay? Don’t you enjoy teasing me? If you wake up before morning, I’ll let you tease me forever. Deal?”
She clasped Ethan’s cold hand.
The doctor had assured her it was nothing serious, but looking at Ethan’s pallid face, memories of her lost family members resurfaced, enveloping her in the same helpless feeling she had had back in the hospital, fearing he might have an accident and never wake up again.
When Michael returned with the food, he found Madison with her face resting on Ethan’s hand, the hair around her forehead stuck to her skin with sweat, her eyes closed, fast asleep.
He hesitated on his approach, then left the room with the meals in hand.
Madison stirred from her restless slumber, feeling someone touching her. As she opened her eyes to shoo the intruder away, she met
Ethan’s deep gaze.
She stayed silent for a long while before she realized in surprise, Ethan, you’re awake?”
The question turned into a single tear that fell uncontrollably.
Ethan caught it in the palm of his hand.
Still weak, his smile was faint, “Crying? Scared I’d die?”
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Madison quickly wiped away her tears, her voice laden with emotion,” You’re still in the mood to joke!”
“Why can’t I smile?” Ethan closed his eyes, enduring the pain.
The silly girl was so scared. If she knew he couldn’t move his legs right now, she’d probably cry even more.
“Ethan, can you promise not to be so reckless in the future?”
Emotions unchecked, Madison poured out her heart, “Can’t you just go home safely? Why did you have to intercept that plane for me? What if something had happened to you? What if I hadn’t found you yesterday?”
Visions of Ethan lifeless in her arms the night before tightened her chest with each recollection.
Ethan’s eyes roiled with emotion as he asked-
“Did you say something else to me on the shore last night?”
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