The Runaway Groom
Chapter 52

Chapter 52

“I'm Zachary Slate. Irene is slightly hurt, and she’s having surgery rightnow,” Zachary answered — he was standing right outside the operatingroom. Sheryl felt as if her heart had stopped right then. “Whathappened? Did my daughter

get hurt?”

“Yes,” Zachary replied. Flustered and anxious, Sheryl quickly asked,“Which hospital?” “Central Hospital at the Second Militarized Zone.”“Okay, I got it.” Sherly hung up, and promptly hailed a taxi to headthere.

On the surgical table, Irene caught the scrubs of the doctor who wouldbe operating on her. “Can you save my baby?”

She had already been screened, and while it was confirmed that shehad suffered a miscarriage, one of the twins could still be saved.

“Are you sure you want to keep it?"

Irene’s cheeks were as white as a sheet, and her lips were dry andbleeding, “I'm sure,” she answered hoarsely. “I'm counting on you.” “I'lldo my best,” the doctor replied.

Zachary was a thoracic surgeon, so he had to get the best obstetricianto help Irene. As the chief surgeon under the obstetric division, herability was naturally indisputable.

Still, Zachary had seen Irene’s condition firsthand, and was pacingaround anxiously. By the time Sheryl rushed to the hospital and arrivedin front of the operating room, Irene was still inside.

“How did she get hurt?” she asked. “Why would anyone hurt her?”Zachary actually did not know the specifics, but he refrained from tellingSheryl anything either. He was aware that Sheryl had just recoveredfrom a major surgery herself and should not suffer from too muchshock, so he stayed silent for the moment. “Don’t worry. She will befine.”

Sheryl, however, was beside herself with worry. “Honestly, she sufferedso much just because she has me as her mother...”

If only she had understood earlier that divorcing Lionel was better forher daughter now, Irene was hurt, and there was no telling if it wasserious.

Alter over an hour, Irene was wheeled out of the operating room. Shewas beaten on her

body and not on her face, so her bruises and cuts were not visible, butshe looked very weak

Sheryl approached her with tears in her eyes, gently calling out Irene’sname. “Irene?”

Irene did not even have the strength to turn to her. She did not want hermother to worry after she had recently recovered, and asked feebly,"I'mfine, don't worry... You're discharged already?”

Sheryl nodded.

“You should replace a hotel to stay in, Mom-I'll transfer some money toyou, so rest for now. Zachary here will take care of me,” Irene saidthen, eager to make Sheryl leave just then

Sheryl, however, grasped her hand and said, “No, I'm worried for you...Ricky just had an accident in your car. I don’t know how bad it was, butI'm afraid you might get involved since it was registered under yourname.”

Irene understood right then.

She blinked feebly, her eyelashes twitching lightly even as she spacedout just then, “O Okay. I'll be fine, Mom. Like I said, go to a hotel — Iwant to rest alone for now. You're just going to make me worry aboutyour health if you stay with me. I can’t calm down.”

Sheryl realized right then that Irene was trying to make her leave, andsaid tearfully,” I've already asked your father for a divorce. Just talk tome if you have problems... Who knows, I might be able to help!”

Irene, however, was too exhausted and not eager to talk just then. “I'mreally fine, Mom. I'll tell you if I do have problems.” She needed to waitbefore she could tell Sheryl about everything, but she also had to leaveout certain details such as being beaten up.

If Sheryl were to replace out, she would definitely panic, but there was timefor that later.

Seeing that Irene was quite weak, Sheryl then asked, “I'll come visitagain at night, alright?”

Irene nodded. Sheryl rose to her feet and turned to Zachary then.“Thanks for saving my daughter.” “You don't have to thank me,”Zachary replied. “No, I should,” Sheryl insisted.

After she left, Zachary wheeled Irene to her ward. He asked nothing,because he knew that she needed a lot of rest right now. “I'll be righthere. Give me a shout if there's anything you need or if you're feelingsick, " he said quietly.

Irene nodded and closed her eyes, dozing off for two hours beforewaking up. “I'm thirsty,” she rasped.