Chapter 257
Chapter 257:
Silence wrapped around the room again, broken only by the soft, even rhythm of their breathing.
Instead of staying restless like she expected, the mix of hospital disinfectant and his quiet, steady presence loosened the knot in her chest.
Sleep crept over her slowly, her lashes growing heavy until she slipped into a deep, dreamless slumber.
Brinley couldn’t tell how long she’d been asleep before a sudden wave of heat jolted her awake.
𝘛𝘩е 𝗯es𝘵 r𝗲𝘷𝘪𝘦𝗐𝘀 𝗼𝘯
She blinked against the darkness and instinctively reached out, her hand brushing Austin’s arm—his skin burned hot under her palm.
Her heart skipped. She turned toward him. In the pale spill of moonlight through the window, his forehead glistened with cold sweat, his lips pressed into a tight line, and his brows drew together as if in pain.
“Austin?” Her voice came out rough with alarm as she sat up, pressing her hand to his damp forehead. “Are you hurting? Is it your stomach again p>
Austin stayed silent, a low, muffled groan slipping past his lips.
Brinley’s chest tightened, panic seizing her as the sound cut through the dark. She knew too well the agony of a gastric ulcer attack—how quickly it could spiral, even trigger more bleeding.
Without wasting a second, she bolted from the bed, ignoring her bare feet on the cold floor as she sprinted into the hallway.
“Doctor! Someone, hurry!” Her voice rang out, sharp with fear.
Within moments, the on-duty doctor and nurse rushed in, wheeling emergency equipment as they began swift, practiced treatment.
Brinley stayed in the corner, hands clenched as she watched Austin grit his teeth through the sharp sting of the painkiller. When the nurse checked his blood pressure, his face remained chalk-white, and the heavy ache in Brinley’s chest made it hard to breathe.
“The spasms are caused by a gastric ulcer,” the doctor explained, removing his stethoscope and turning to Brinley. “We’ve given him a painkiller and a hemostatic injection. His condition is stable for now, but his gastric mucosa is badly damaged. He needs to avoid food, water, and any emotional fluctuations p>
Brinley nodded, her voice rough as she murmured, “Thank you, Doctor p>
When the doctor and nurse left, the door clicked shut behind them, and silence slowly swallowed the room.
Austin had already drifted into a deep, medicated sleep, his furrowed brow smoothing out, his breathing settling into a steady rhythm.
Brinley warmed a towel and carefully dabbed away the cold sweat on his skin, her chest tight with a rush of mixed emotions. In this quiet, unguarded moment, Austin—who was always so unshakable—looked fragile.
She lingered at his bedside until his breathing evened out and he finally looked at peace. Only then did she rise softly and slip out to track down the doctor on duty.
When she pushed open the door to the doctor’s office, the older doctor was sorting through patient files.
“Mrs. Moore, you must be here to check on Mr. Moore’s condition, right?” He adjusted his glasses, his tone gentle with a hint of sympathy. “He’s been struggling with stomach problems for many years p>
Brinley lowered herself into the chair across from him, brows knitting tighter. “Can you be specific? How bad is the stomach issue p>
“He’s had this since he was a child.” The doctor reached for a file buried at the bottom of the stack, its cover faded and worn. “See here? This is his very first record with us—he was only five at the time p>