Chapter 1199

With the rest of the Quigley family deceased, Claire was technically Felix’s only legal next-of-kin. That was why the secretary had the hospital contact her.

Claire scanned the paperwork to ensure everything was in order, then swiftly scribbled her signature.

While the agonizing hours of surgery ticked by, Claire stood rigidly on the far side of the waiting area, keeping a deliberate distance from Madeline.

Secretary Lynwood stepped over to fill her in.

Felix had been driving alone when the crash occurred. Allegedly, he had dropped something vital near the pedals and had ducked down to retrieve it, completely taking his eyes off the road.

As to what that object was, the secretary had absolutely no idea.

The surgery dragged on for four agonizing hours. When the doctor finally emerged, he announced the operation was a success and Felix was out of the woods. However, he required his immediate family to monitor him in the recovery room.

Madeline instantly lunged forward, playing the part of the devoted lover. “Doctor, please give me all his post-op instructions. I’ll make sure he’s perfectly taken care of.”

The doctor frowned. “Are you his family?”

Madeline choked on her words.

“Only legal family is permitted in the recovery room,” the doctor stated coldly, scanning the hall. “Where is the patient’s wife?”

Secretary Lynwood cleared his throat. “Right here. Miss Chase, we’ll leave Mr. Quigley in your hands.”

The doctor waited for Claire to approach before rapidly detailing the post-operative care protocol. Claire committed the instructions to memory and trailed behind the gurney as they wheeled Felix into the recovery ward.

Madeline tried to push her way inside, but a stern nurse immediately blocked her path.

Her face turned a livid shade of purple as she barked at Claire like a drill sergeant. “You’d better take flawless care of him! If anything happens to Felix, I will completely destroy you!”

Claire let out a dry, mocking laugh. “Why don’t you try forcing your way in yourself, then?”

Madeline’s face contorted with rage, completely utterly powerless to do anything.

“It’s quite a shame, actually. If he really didn’t make it, the Quigley Group would be entirely mine, wouldn’t it?” Watching all the color aggressively drain from Madeline’s face, Claire finally stepped into the recovery room, deeply satisfied.

Madeline stomped her heels into the linoleum, absolutely furious “Your vicious snake! How could Felix marry someone with such a venomous heart! It’s sickening!”

Secretary Lynwood awkwardly tried to calm her down. “I’m sure she was just lashing out.”

“She crossed the line! The second Felix wakes up, I am telling him everything! I’ll make sure he sees exactly how wicked she really is!”

The recovery room was dead quiet.

Felix lay perfectly still on the bed.

His complexion was frighteningly pale, a few stark abrasions slashing across his face. While the actual surgery repaired a complex fracture In his@ght forearm, his coma was entirely caused by a severe blow to the head.

Thankfully, there was no open trauma, merely a minor hematoma in his brain.

Even though Claire had ruthlessly taunted Madeline out in the hall, she meticulously followed every single instruction the doctor had given her.

About two hours later, Felix began to stir.

The anesthesia still had a heavy grip on his system, leaving him tangled in delirium. He began muttering incoherently.

“Found it.”

“I didn’t lose it.”

Claire leaned in, listening for a couple of minutes before finally asking, “What did you find?”

Lost in his haze, he didn’t answer.

A moment later, a nurse hurried in and handed a small evidence bag to Claire. “This is what the patient was clutching when they brought him in. We practically had to pry his fingers open to get it It must be extremely precious to him, so please keep it safe.”

Claire took the plastic bag. Lying inside was a pair of cufflinks.

The exact same pair she had gifted him.

He had nearly gotten himself killed just trying to fish these off the floorboard?