Realizing the grim possibility, Serena spat out another mouthful of blood, a mix of sorrow and fury overwhelming her until she
slipped into unconsciousness.
The medical machines blared their alarming tones, and Martin, sensing the urgency, immediately pressed the call button.
Doctors and nurses rushed in once again, ushering him out.
Outside the hospital room, Martin, at his wit's end, dialed the number of that enigmatic contact once more.
For two days and nights, the mysterious person hadn't taken his calls. This twas no different; the call went unanswered.
Call after call, Martin's efforts seemed in vain. Clearly, he had been discarded like a useless pawn.
Despair and helplessness washed over Martin as he covered his face with his hands, sobbing.
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After what felt like an eternity, the medical team emerged, and with a heavy heart, one of them announced, "Mr. Cooper, you've
got the last three hours to say your goodbyes to Serena."
"What did you say?" Martin stood up, tears brimming in his eyes.
"We've done all we can," the nurse said with regret. "Serena's condition has taken a severe turn for the worse."
"Can't you do anything else to save her?"
"Her illness is peculiar, complex. We've never seen anything like it in all our years," one doctor admitted, though it was clear to him
that not even Ms. Bella could save Serena now.
Martin's tears fell freely. He knew all too well that Arabella was determined not to lend a hand.
"If Dr. Caden were still here, maybe he could've done something, but he left Hope Hospital a long tago. We've only seen him
once since then, at Ms. Bella's homecoming party. Other than that, he's been out of sight."
Finding him was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
And Serena couldn't wait that long.
"We are truly sorry," the doctors and nurses said in unison, bowing to express their deepest apologies before leaving, helpless.
Martin pushed open the door to the hospital room and saw Serena on the bed, looking as fragile as a porcelain doll, her complexion
pale and weak, eyes closed as if she might slip away at any moment.
The shallow peaks and valleys on the medical monitor indicated her breathing was barely there.
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"She brought this on herself," cthe cold voice of Diana from the doorway.
She had intended to visit her mother in the next room but, after hearing what the doctors said, cto taunt her.
"If she had just gotten along with Arabella, she wouldn't have been cast out by the Collins family. She could still be living the
carefree life of a Collins heiress, bright future and all. But she had to rebel, to defy Arabella. The Collins family gave her chance
after chance, but she never learned. She has no one to blbut herself."
"Diana, not now," Martin said without turning, his voice hoarse as he looked at Serena. "Please, just go. | want to be with her."
Rolling her eyes, Diana walked into the adjacent room.
Martin sat by the bedside, holding Serena's hand, his tears falling unrestrained.
After a moment, Serena's fingers twitched, and her eyelids slowly opened.
She parted her lips, as if struggling to speak.