Chapter 242: A Message (6)
Georgia stood frozen in the corner of the hospital room, her body racked with sobs as chaos erupted around her.
Doctors barked orders, nurses rushed in and out, and the relentless rhythm of chest compressions pounded against Wendy’s frail body. The sharp crackle of the defibrillator filled the room, each jolt making Georgia flinch as if it struck her own heart.
Nick’s arm was firm around her waist, Vicky gripping her other side, both of them holding her up as she shook violently, her knees threatening to give out.
"Wendy, please... fight. Don’t leave Katie. Don’t leave me. I need you in my life... I don’t know how to live without... Please..." Georgia whispered through broken cries, her voice nearly drowned by the beeping machines.
Seconds stretched like hours until finally—
A monitor beeped. A strong, steady rhythm returned.
"She’s back!" one of the doctors called. Relief rippled through the room. "Good work, everyone. Transfer her to the ICU. I want her under constant monitoring 24/7."
The lead doctor approached, his mask pulled down, his face lined with exhaustion. He gave Georgia’s trembling shoulder a reassuring pat. "She’s critical, but alive. The weapon missed her internal organs, which is good. But she lost significant blood and her body went into shock. At her age, the stress is dangerous. We’ll be watching her round the clock."
Vicky, still pale from the ordeal, asked hoarsely, "Why now? She was stable before."
The doctor’s expression turned grim. "In her case, many factors may have caused it. Her age, blood loss, and extreme stress on her body after that incident. We gave her three bags during surgery, but her body is still reeling from the trauma.
She’s covered in bruises and lacerations—she fought hard before that stab wound. That fight is taking its toll." He looked at them all, voice steady but firm. "She’ll be moved to the ICU. Visiting hours are tomorrow. Tonight, go home. Rest. You won’t help her if you collapse too."
"You heard the doctor, Georgia. You should rest, and tomorrow you can visit Wendy. I can look after Katie if you want," Vicky said.
Georgia wiped at her face with trembling hands, still unable to stop the sobs. "I know he’s right, but I’m terrified. Wendy’s like family to me—a mother, an aunt, everything. What if she doesn’t recover from this?"
Vicky pulled her into a fierce hug. "Don’t you say that. She will recover. Do you know the first thing she asked when she woke up earlier? Not about herself, not about the pain. She said Katie’s name. She asked for you. That kind of love doesn’t break, Georgia—it fights. And that’s what’s keeping her alive right now."
Georgia’s tears spilled harder, but she nodded against Vicky’s shoulder, clinging to her.
Beside them, Nick caught his sister’s eye. With a tight jaw and a gaze filled with gratitude, he mouthed two words that carried the weight of the night: ’Thank you.’
Oliver seized the pause in the night’s chaos to deliver a sliver of good news. His tone was firm, businesslike, yet carried a weight of reassurance. "Colleen and her niece can be moved to the safehouse tomorrow. I’ll personally escort them. And first thing in the morning, the case against Nancy will finally be filed."
"More likely, the police will arrest her before noon. We already have enough evidence for them to make a move," Oliver added.
Nick straightened, his voice crisp with resolve. "We’ll come with you. They need clothes; everything they packed was destroyed in the fire."
Before he could say more, Vicky cut in, her eyes sharp with determination. "I’ll handle it. You stay with Georgia and Katie. Whoever went after Wendy wasn’t after Colleen and Ally. The real targets are Georgia and Katie."
The truth of it landed heavily. Nick exhaled, shutting his eyes for a beat before giving a slow nod. "You’re right. Liam was right, too. I can’t put this off anymore—I need a security team of my own. More bodyguards."
"Finally!" Oliver shot back with a bite of sarcasm, the dry edge to his voice tugging a strained smile from everyone in the room. He leaned forward, tone softening. "I’ll recommend the best. Men you can trust. That way, you can stop borrowing mine, Liam’s, and whoever was not doing anything from your father’s security team at home."
Nick let a smirk curl across his face, but his grip on Georgia’s waist was protective, possessive, as if the thought of losing her again made his blood turn cold.
"If everything’s settled, we’re leaving then," he announced, his gaze locking with Oliver’s in silent command. "Update me the moment anything changes."
And with that, Nick led Georgia out into the hospital hallway, the weight of the night pressing on his shoulders, every step echoing with the promise of battles still to come.
By the time Nick and Georgia returned to the penthouse, the place was wrapped in silence.
Nick carefully pushed the door open to his bedroom, and Georgia peeked inside. Katie was curled up between Ella and Liam, the three of them huddled together in deep sleep. Down the hall, the guestroom light was off—Colleen and Ally had already retreated there.
Georgia leaned closer to Nick, her whisper breaking the silence. "Where are we going to sleep? Do you think we’ll fit on the couch?"
Nick shook his head, a half-smile tugging at his lips despite the heaviness of the night. Without a word, he took her hand and guided her to his home office.
Once inside, he crossed to a sleek black cabinet tucked neatly against the wall. He pulled it open, revealing stacked pillows and a large box tucked neatly inside.
Georgia’s brows lifted, surprise flickering across her tear-streaked face as Nick set the box down. "An air mattress?"
His smirk deepened. "I’m prepared for something like this," he quipped, the lightness in his tone pulling an unexpected chuckle from her lips.
That small laugh felt like a release, fragile, fleeting, but it eased the tension in her chest.
"Go wash up," Nick told her gently, already unsealing the box. "I’ll have this ready by the time you’re done."
Georgia nodded, suddenly aware of how drained her body was. She slipped quietly into the bathroom attached to his office, grateful for the momentary refuge. The sound of running water soon filled the space, while in the office, Nick rolled up his sleeves, bent on keeping his promise.
*******
Thank you for the Golden Tickets!
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